Hotel Recamier

Gracefully elegant maison bourgeoise offering understated luxury and supreme service at an intimate address in Saint Germain des Près

Take a tired 2-star hotel set on one of the chic Place St. Sulpice on Paris’ Left Bank, add one new lady owner with a passion for the superlative, throw in a renovation by the renowned interior designer/architect Jean Louis Deniot, et voilà: the Hotel Récamier.

Reopened in July 2009 by the delightful Madame de Lattre, this 24-room hotel has been transformed into a very stylish yet homely townhouse B&B. Stepping through the door, thoughtful touches abound. The daily weather forecast is displayed - and the umbrella stand is stuffed with parapluies to cope with unpredictable Parisian downpours. Sweep through to the stylish salon, where you find snug sofas and comfy armchairs at tête-à-tête tables set for complimentary afternoon tea, or saunter out to the courtyard terrace for an alfresco apéritif. Drift upstairs to the handsome bedrooms: original artwork adorns the walls, the unique furniture is sourced from brocantes, and every aspect has been sumptuously finished.

Named after Madame Récamier, a 19th-century beauty famous for entertaining key political and intellectual figures, this gracious hotel extends a welcome worthy of its namesake and provides a pleasingly personal reception to Paris.

Highs

• The courtyard terrace, equipped with cushioned wicker couches and a wrought-iron canopy of large lanterns; perfect for lazy breakfasts or pre-dinner drinks
• Gorgeous classic-contemporary design; take time to descend the spiralling staircase with its cascade lighting and contemporary artists’ reworkings of Mme Récamier’s bust
• Outstanding personnel, with service, smiles and suggestions day and night
• Faultless location in the intellectual heart of the city, on a square that feels both exclusive and accessible - minutes from the Jardin du Luxembourg

Lows

• In a city with over 10 million inhabitants, space is always at a premium, and the rooms here are no exception (most are 15-20 sq.m.)
• Breakfast is expensive - if all you fancy is a quick croissant, skip it; but splurge if you're planning a long day exploring the city
• No restaurant - but eating out is one of the reasons you come to Paris