Hotel Balzac Paris Review | Hotels Above Par

"Standing at the quiet cobblestoned intersection of Rue Balzac and Rue Lord Byron in the 8th, this Relais & Chateaux townhouse has been reimagined by hospitality whizz Olivier Bertrand and styled by Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay in a restrained, 1930s Gatsby-esque Art Deco that nods to Japanese influences—modern, clean lines, lots of marble, varnished wood and tiles, and the odd signed art piece and sketch curated by the Galerie Francaise team. Rooms feel like a classic Parisian boudoir with Art Deco trimmings (custom block-style lamps and groovy headboards); I spent the night in a fourth-floor junior suite with a wraparound balcony and sprawling city views, where deep yellows, sultry browns and brilliant white walls created a sexy, moody ambience, and a Maison Tréca bed so cushty I slept in and cancelled half my morning plans. The bathroom delivered a deep tub, roomy shower, double subway-style vanity and fancy Diptyque amenities, plus rooftop and Eiffel Tower views, though the taps didn’t work well during my stay—a victim of those old pipes. Minibars are stocked with hand-crafted spirits and a Sjöstrand coffee machine alongside teas, and you can request any bottle of wine. Service is speedy and friendly—especially housekeeping—though the check-in desk can verge on the stiff upper lip side. We skipped dinner when a full house left the late-night brasserie menu slim and exhausted; if you do manage to get something, the bell boy said the black truffle croque monsieur and the Balzac burger are must-tries. Breakfast is a restrained but good spread of European and American classics—eggs any way, French toast, pancakes and cheese platters—with pastries as highlights (I wanted a tad more butter), and jams and other sweet bits from Parisian cult café classic, Angelina. The location is hard to beat: mere steps from the Champs Elysees, Avenue Montaigne and the Arc di Triomphe, with Rue Saint Honore’s boutiques a 10-minute stroll, Dior and Givenchy on Avenue Montaigne, Louis Vuitton virtually next door on the Champs Elysees, and The Louvre a 20-minute walk, yet the street outside stays irresistibly quiet. The vibe is moody and apartment-esque, drawing a well-heeled crowd that refuses to smile in fear of screwing with their latest round of botox; there are 58 rooms, and rates generally run from the $400s to $800+ per night. Downstairs, the Japanese-inspired Ikoi spa is an unexpected subterranean wonder with bamboo massages and a sauna." - Luke Abrahams