A quirky slant on Paris’s treasures
THE unobtrusively cool but welcomingly warm Hotel Panache, housed in a 19th-century building, has recently opened in Paris with a slant on retro, making the most of its corner location and quirkily-shaped rooms.
Embracing Art Nouveau with a modern twist, the reception features relaxed burnt orange sofas and a bounty of mirrors, designed by up-and-coming interior designer Dorothee Meilichzon, who has taken inspiration from the Flatiron Building in New York City.
The 40 oddly-shaped rooms are spread over a jigsaw of seven floors, and each is unique in design.
Eye-catching geometric patterns take pride of place on dramatic feature walls, while other touches include cane bedheads, luminous globes for reading, and ceramic light switches reminiscent of the 20s. XXXXXX xxxxxx Retro black phones – replicas of
Xxxx the Ericsson Bakelite phones from the 30s – are fixed on the walls, while strategically placed mirrors emphasise the feeling of space.
Two entrances serve the cool restaurant and most of the evening trade comes from the street.
The place is contemporary, but with a warm atmosphere and friendly young staff.
The music, largely from the 70s but more sedate in the evening, is from the restaurant director’s own playlist.
The small menu changes daily, offering sharing plates such as charcuterie, or stand-alones including monkfish with spicy mayonnaise, or suckling pig with mushrooms and violet broccoli.
It’s adventurous, but not pretentious. Mains average around 25 euros, which is about £21.
Anyone who has breakfast here – expect deliciously creamy yoghurt with granola, pastries, dried figs and apricots, hams and cheeses – should be ready for a lively accompaniment.
On the morning I ate there, James Brown was urging me to Get Up Offa That Thing.
The upbeat wake-up tempo is a fun way to start the day.
The hotel is a two-minute walk from the famous, flamboyant cabaret music hall, the Folies Bergere, in the buzzing, 9th arrondissement – the place for hot clubs and happening shops.
Four Metro stations are within easy walking distance – Le Peletier, Cadet, Richelieu Drouot and Grands Boulevards – providing a passport to exploring the main sites of the city.
Pick up a Paris Pass (www.parispass.com) to save money if you’re planning a lot of visits to landmark buildings, including The Louvre and Notre Dame.
However, be aware that it doesn’t include the Eiffel Tower.
Closer to the hotel you can walk to the Galeries Lafayette, the city’s most famous department store.
Or you can exlore the Rue Des Martyrs, a vibrant street filled with cafes and shops, and explore the nooks and crannies of Montmartre.