Discreet, unassuming, and exceptionally luxurious, Le Grand Mazarin, one of Paris’s latest five-star hotels, likes to play with tradition.
Not one to show off – despite its location in the heart of the bohemian Marais – you won’t find uniformed bellboys manning the entrance or fancy cars parked outside.
Instead, Le Grand Mazarin plays it more cool, cocooned in a chic historic corner building along a side street. With little signage and a low-key entrance – a simple sliding door – it’s easy to walk past this world of five-star whimsical elegance without realising.
The Vibe
From the outside, this 61-room hotel looks much bigger than it actually is, but the typical spacious polished-marble lobby and wide corridors aren’t missed. At Le Grand Mazarin, it’s all about feeling at home, in an Alice in Wonderland kind of way; this means lots of doors, small rooms and short corridors, decorated whimsically in bold, muted colours with impeccable attention to detail, by the legendary British interior designer, Martin Brudzinski. As soon as you set foot inside, a kind of magic happens. The noise disappears, and super-efficient staff in vibrant mauve suits with gold buttons – that match the house umbrellas – usher you calmly past a Wes Anderson-esque reception desk and around a corner, before plumping you onto a fringed cocktail chair in a fanciful lounge where you check in on iPads over a glass of pink Champagne.
The Rooms
Taking in the details of my deluxe room – one of 47 – I press a button to open the two layers of curtains for a view onto the restaurant’s terrace room with glass roof. While front-facing rooms have street views, those flanking the centre offer peace and tranquillity – at times, you feel you have the hotel to yourself. The décor mixes classic French style with playful colours and features. Think walls and corniced ceilings of salmon pink, elaborately carved wardrobe doors in bright blue, crystal flower ceiling lights, Fleur de Lys on beaded cornicing, and compact bathrooms in mustard yellow and rich orange. A distinct feature of each room is a heavily embroidered tapestry draped above beds with heavenly soft sheets and scallop-edged pillowcases. It’s also fun to notice seaside motifs like shells on custom-made rugs and waves on heavy curtains. The 14 light-green-hued suites have entryways and separate lounges.
The Food + Drink
Start with a cocktail at the hotel’s award-winning bar, staffed with talented young cocktail makers. Their most famous is the Meshiggene – tequila, red bell pepper, harissa, Aryan – which comes served in a long green-stemmed glass with a layer of creamy foam. Not sure? Tell them your favourite spirit and they’ll concoct a drink to suit the mood. Through the curtains at vintage-inspired restaurant Boubalé, an upbeat disco playlist fills the air at dinner. Seats at the counter offer an immersive experience overlooking the kitchen where a small team serves up Levantine dishes, like tahini hummus with pita, heaped herbed salads, and chicken breast with sumac and potatoes purée, onto chintzy vintage plates. Come morning, it’s a relaxing spot for a buffet breakfast and popular weekend brunch.
The Little Extras
All soft drinks in the mini bar are complementary and nothing is too much trouble for the impeccably mannered staff. They remember your name, even if you unexpectedly bump into them in the lift. Butlers are on hand to accommodate every whim. Each night at turndown, a floral postcard quoting Audrey Hepburn that reads, ‘elegance is the only beauty that never fades’ is left on your bedside table along with a sumptuous praline chocolate in a beautiful box. When you leave, you’re presented with a refreshing hand towel and a bottle of alpine spring water. Don’t miss a trip into the basement, if only for a peek at the incredible ceiling frescoes in the swimming pool room, complete with hot tub and steam room.
The To-Do List
Steps from the hotel is Paris’s oldest museum in a grand old home, Musée de Carnavalet, which tells the story of the city; Le Marche des Enfants Rouges, the oldest food market in Paris; French fashion paradise, Merci Market; and Au Petit Versailles du Marais, a delightful bakery with an Instagram-worthy historic façade near Rue de Rivoli, the main shopping street in the Marais lined with independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. End your afternoon with a massage at Maison Suisen, a luxurious holistic spa, before dinner at Au top, a sleek yet casual restaurant with rooftop views.
Image credit: Le Grand Mazarin, Paris
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