"Blink and you might miss the entrance; apart from one modest sign, there is little that signals you've arrived at this Paris hotel overlooking Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris (originally called Place Royale). It feels more like a guesthouse, with only 12 rooms and suites, than a standard hotel, and there's no lobby or formal reception desk. It's all very confidential and intimate which, if you've booked this place, is what you're after. The building was once a school and more recently a textile warehouse—Lecoadic & Scotto architecture redesigned the space with the help of Bâtiments de France to preserve its heritage as a royal gathering place. Talk about grand (although it might be the high ceilings, too): Louis XIII and Anne of Austria celebrated their engagement here in 1612, and it was the site of trysts and duels during the 17th and 18th centuries. Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal the Place des Vosges and its leafy Louis XIII square; this is the only property that offers such views from all rooms. It's got all the trappings of high luxury, with the benefit of privacy, and royal gardens at your doorstep." - Sandra Ramani, Lindsey Tramuta
