La Réserve Paris Is A Hotel That Emily In Paris Would Sell Her Chanel To Stay In

With views Emily in Paris would give her Chanel shearling flapbag handbag for, this gem of a hotel is for those who want the French capital as designed for the haute monde – especially if you’re staying in one of La Réserve Paris’ 26 suites.

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La Réserve Paris – Hotel Review

STAY

Glass of Champagne in one hand, balcony doors flung open by the other, bathrobe slung on after a dreamy soak in the Carrara marble tub, Paris is crystallised before you in one jaw-dropping view. It happens to be Christmas at the time of this visit, so the festive lights illuminate the silhouetted trees along the Champs-Élysées beyond and above which soars a bedazzled Eiffel Tower. 

Chin chin, you’ve lucked out. You’re in the Eiffel Junior suite – all 52 square metres of it – at La Réserve Paris, designed to within an inch of its 19th-century life – but with lashings of comfort and humour oozing through too – courtesy of Jacques Garcia. Cascades of velvet, silk damask, interesting artwork, gilt and lashings of dark wood serve up opulent intimacy par excellence, once you step through the elegant entrance. 

The Eiffel Junior Suite

You couldn’t ask for a finer address if living the high life is your ambition in the City of Lights. The Eiffel suite is larger than most Parisian apartments, and comes with its own bar, naturellement, all the contents of which are gratifyingly complimentary. The wine list features vintages from the owner’s own vineyards – as does the spa downstairs feature his own skincare range Nescens.

It’s definitely worth heading down to said spa for a  swim in the 52-foot pool (larger than you’d assume for the size of the hotel) and sauna, and perhaps a facial and a shoulder-lowering massage (the gym is open 24 hours, as an aside). 

But perhaps you’d rather hit the bar. On warmer evenings, take a seat outside in the courtyard, otherwise bag a cosy corner in Bar Le Gaspard – all deep red brocade upholstery, shiny topped tables and dark panelling – it’s intimate and bijou and attracts not just the hotel guests. A cocktail and the most delicate of croque monsieurs will set you up for an afternoon walking the city streets.

DO

Walk, walk, walk. You’re on the Champs-Élysées, so turn left and head for Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries, the Louvre, Place Vendôme… All the classics. 

Call reception and see if the driver’s available to whisk you to Atelier Lumiere, the immersive experience venue to lose yourself in Marc Chagall or Paul Klee. Or one of the quirkier museums such as Musée des Arts Forains – the museum of fairground arts, a nostalgia hit if ever you wanted one. 

And of course, shopping: for vintage finds, head to Pretty Box, it’s where all the chic Parisian stylists scour the rails for inspiration; for one-off beautiful craftworks to deck out your house back home with, don’t miss Empreintes. 

EAT

Yes, you’re spoilt for choice in Paris, but the food at La Réserve Paris is exquisite – wherever you eat, from the Library to contemporary Pagode De Cos. Think everything from quinoa, burnt avocado, tofu and cashew sauce for the plant-eater to pasta, ham, comté, truffle and mascarpone for the comfort eater; via lamb shoulder candied in juice and cote de boeuf for the meat-eater. Something, therefore, for everyone.

Bar Le Gaspard

The main restaurant – Le Gabriel – also overseen by two-Michelin-starred Executive Chef Jérôme Banctel, sees menus change seasonally and you take your pick from two to three starters, mains and puds all picked to present you with an extraordinary foodie journey. Both French cuisine aficionados and those who might prefer to go lighter will be pleased.

THE FINAL WORD

Emily, what can I say? You’re welcome here anytime. You’ll feel quite at home. 

BOOK IT: Stays start from 950 EUR per night in a Prestige Room. lareserve-paris.com

GET THERE

From London, there’s no other way to travel to Paris than by Eurostar. No small plastic bags to fill with cosmetics, no oxygen deprived air cabins, just the gentle chug of an enviable piece of engineering to take you seamlessly from city to city. Plus, one flight is the equivalent of making 13 Eurostar journeys in terms of your carbon footprint. Eurostar operates 14 trains a day from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord with one-way fares starting from £39 (based on a return journey) and all tickets are flexible with no exchange fee on changes up to seven days pre departure. eurostar.com

Images courtesy of La Réserve Paris (c) Gregoire Gardette.