Woody Allen reminds us in “Midnight in Paris” that the City of Light inspires all manner of writerly types, from F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald to, well, Allen himself. The barely year-old property Pavillon des Lettres brings this reality to an elegant address, offering 26 elegant, author-themed rooms all within a short walk of the Champs-Elysees and shopping of rue Faubourg St-Honore.
Mind you, this is no kitschy hotel for book geeks. It is, first and foremost, a sleek, comfortable stunner that provides its guests with personal, friendly service. I recently stayed in the Victor Hugo room, a fourth-floor chamber with a view of the city’s storied rooftops. On my bedside table was a copy of Hugo’s “Les Contemplations,” which includes one of his most famous poems, “Demain des l’ aube,” part of which is printed onto the shimmering grey walls. Decorated with modern furnishings and in soft, muted colors, each room includes a large flat-screen television, iPod docking station and free access to iPads, which are ideal for booking exhibit tickets at the always-busy Grand Palais. Did it ever dawn on me that I was in the Hugo room? No. It dawned on me that all this restrained comfort rendered me pas du tout miserable. I assume that guests in the Shakespeare, Woolf or Zola rooms felt the same way.
The lobby includes an honor bar in the evening, where you can help yourself to any manner of cocktail and charge it to your room. Room service includes classic Parisian pastries in the morning and offerings such as charcuterie plates that are a perfect before a night out on the town. So dog-ear this beauty as a possibility the next time you’re in the French capital.
Comfort, luxury, and a marvelous city view.
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