Hotel Review| Hotel Grands Boulevard, Paris

Set inside an elegant 18th-century building on the edge of the Grands Boulevards in the 2nd Arrondissement, close to Paris’s iconic department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, this boutique bolthole is perfect for girls’ weekends, romantic escapes or a stylish shopping trip. While the area itself isn’t the prettiest part of the city, stepping inside feels like entering a completely different world; calm, cocooning and quietly glamorous.

The hotel was designed by Dorothée Meilichzon, one of France’s most sought-after interior designers. The interiors feel like a love letter to Paris’s past, but with a thoroughly contemporary feel. Deep greens, inky blues and soft blush pinks set a relaxed yet luxurious tone, while vintage details and bespoke furnishings add character and warmth.

The long, atmospheric lobby corridor, lined with antique mirrors and softly lit, feels more like the entrance to a private members’ club than a hotel. It’s cool without being intimidating or pretentious and instantly makes you feel part of something.

Each of the 50 rooms has its own personality, blending royal-inspired touches, think canopy beds and warm wooden furniture. Many rooms feature classic French windows that flood the space with natural light. I personally stayed in a room with a Juliet balcony complete with table and chairs, it was perfect for drinking coffee whilst taking in the hotel’s peaceful courtyard. 

Bathrooms are beautifully done in a vintage style with marble sinks, brass fittings and rain showers, and every room includes a Nespresso machine plus complimentary Experimental Cocktail Club ‘Travellers Cocktails’, such a great little touch to welcome you into your room. 

The restaurant sits in the heart of the building beneath a glass-roofed courtyard. By day, it’s filled with natural light; by night, you can see the Paris sky above, which only adds to the relaxed, intimate feel. It’s the kind of place you’ll linger over breakfast, then end up returning to for a late-night glass of wine.

I also loved the hotel’s speakeasy-style bar, with its plush velvet seating, ideal for a pre-dinner martini or a nightcap. Then there’s the rooftop bar, where you can sip Experimental’s signature cocktails while taking in sweeping views over the city. It’s popular with locals as well as guests, which gives it that effortlessly Parisian atmosphere, buzzy, but never try-hard.

Despite being right in the thick of the city, the hotel feels like a true hideaway. It’s also incredibly well-located for shopping and nightlife: Sézane’s flagship ‘L’Appartement’ is just a three minute walk away, Polène is a ten-minute stroll, and Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are around 15 minutes. The Marais, which, in my opinion, is now one of the best shopping and café districts in Paris is just under 20 minutes away on foot. For nights out, Club Rex and Silencio are practically on the doorstep, meaning you can quite literally roll back into bed afterwards.

There’s also something personal about staying here for me. The hotel is part of the Experimental Group, which began as a single cocktail bar back in 2007. In 2010, while I was living in Paris and working in fashion PR, I also set up a small concierge business arranging trips to the city (that’s a story for another day!) I remember booking tables at their Saint-Germain outpost for my cousin and his colleagues after they cycled from London to Paris for charity. Watching the brand grow into an acclaimed international hospitality group with bars, restaurants and hotels located in Paris, London, New York, Venice, Ibiza, Menorca, Cannes, Biarritz and even the Cotswolds feels incredibly special. 

Hotel Grands Boulevards is exactly the kind of place I love recommending: chic, characterful and quietly cool. It’s a hotel that makes you feel like a Parisian, even if you’re only there for the weekend

• Perfect for a girls’ shopping trip or romantic weekend

• Steps from Sézane, Polène, Galeries Lafayette & Printemps

• Two beautiful bars, including a rooftop

• Feels like a private members’ club

• Many rooms have Juliet balconies with table and chairs

• Complimentary Experimental Cocktail Club drinks in every room

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner & weekend brunch on site

Address:17 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002 Paris

Nearest metro: Grands Boulevards

Price: Rates start from €204 per night on a room only basis.

https://www.grandsboulevardshotel.com/