28 place des Vosges, 75003 Paris

Le Pavillon de la Reine

Name: Le Pavillon de la Reine
Address: 28 place des Vosges, Paris, 75003, FR
Price range: 656 EUR
Rating: 4.45

Hotel-restaurant 5-star with spa in Paris

Presentation

Le Pavillon de la Reine is located beneath the arcades of Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris. You enter through a carriage entrance that opens onto a square courtyard, its façade covered with Virginia creeper and geraniums, away from the noise of the street.

Anne of Austria and Louis XIII stayed here before their marriage in 1615. The building dates from the seventeenth century, but the interior has been redesigned by decorator Didier Benderli of Kérylos Intérieurs, who blends contemporary furniture with period features: marble fireplaces, oil portraits, and Versailles parquet flooring in some suites.

On the ground floor, three small salons follow one another. Reception is at the very back on the left. One of the salons, lined with old books, serves as the breakfast room in the morning before turning back into a library for evening aperitifs.

The 56 rooms and suites are all different, in both tone and furnishings. Some classic attic rooms remain compact, which actually works in favor of privacy for a solo traveler or a couple looking for a cocoon more than a space to roam through. You sleep well here, and bedding counts for a lot; the colorful fabrics, bed throws, or wrought-iron window planters warm the whole place.

For those wanting more space and independence, Le Petit Pavillon unfolds over three levels in the hotel courtyard, with its own separate entrance. There is no elevator for this triplex, and the ceilings in places dip below two meters, but the apartment earns its keep: two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom with terracotta tiles, and a view of the façade that few hotel guests get to see so closely.

Breakfast is served in the salon, in the room, or on the terrace as soon as the good weather returns. You will find the traditional scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, a cheese platter, charcuterie, and pastries fresh out of the oven. Service runs smoothly, though a busy morning can delay the arrival of the croissants, a detail easily resolved with a word to the staff.

In the evening, the Anne restaurant, awarded one Michelin star, takes over under the direction of chef Mathieu Pacaud. The menu changes with the seasons. Next door, the Honesty Bar runs on trust: you serve yourself, note down what you took, and no one keeps watch.

In the basement, the Spa Codage offers two treatment rooms, a hammam, a jacuzzi, and a fitness room. The space is modest for a hotel of this category, and the jacuzzi can sometimes lack a bit of punch, but the hammam does an excellent job after a day spent pounding the streets of the Marais.

The private, free, secure parking, with valet service and charging stations, remains a rarity in this part of Paris. Chemin Vert station is a few minutes away on foot, as are Victor Hugo’s house and Place de la Bastille.

At the end of the day, head to the fireplace lounge for a drink by the fire, or to the library right next door for those who prefer silence. One last tip: ask for a room facing the courtyard rather than the street; in the morning, the light is softer there for enjoying your coffee.

Summary of some positive reviews read on the Web

Court-facing room, no noise from Place des Vosges rises up to the upper floors, even on a Friday night.
I left a pair of shoes in the room, and the team contacted me with a photo to confirm; everything was safe when I returned.
The room was not very large but well thought out, and the closet was more than enough for a three-night solo stay.
Generous breakfast buffet, smoked salmon and quality cheeses, with just one day when the hot croissants took a while to arrive.
The hammam is really soothing after a day of walking in the Marais, and the jacuzzi is smaller than expected.
Free private parking on site and Chemin Vert station five minutes away on foot, convenient for a car-free stay.