3, Rue Christine, 75006 Paris

Relais Christine

Name: Relais Christine
Address: 3, Rue Christine, Paris, 75006, FR
Rating: 4.6

Hotel 5-star with spa in Paris

Presentation

Le Relais Christine is located in a quiet lane in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a stone’s throw from the Seine and the art galleries of the Left Bank. It is reached through a small cobbled courtyard, almost invisible from the street, with ivy on the walls and a few swing seats that immediately set the tone of a house rather than a hotel.

The building dates from the 17th century. It was built on the remains of a 13th-century abbey, that of the Saint-Denis des Grands-Augustins college, and the establishment opened its doors in 1979. A renovation led by interior designer Laura Gonzalez, completed in 2017, redesigned the 48 rooms and suites as well as the common areas on the ground floor.

Each room has its own personality. Here, Toile de Jouy; there, a four-poster bed; elsewhere, fabrics by Pierre Frey, Hermès or Le Manach. Louis XIII furniture, often found at the Saint-Ouen flea market, sits alongside brass and marble added during the recent works. The bathrooms, in Carrara marble in some cases, embrace discreet refinement, with bathrobes, slippers and Histoires de Parfums products.

One may perhaps regret that the duplex rooms, located under the eaves, require an interior staircase to reach the mezzanine. A certain charm for those who love high ceilings, but a detail worth knowing if you are travelling with heavy luggage or have reduced mobility.

On the ground floor, the lounges are equally suited to a morning coffee or an evening cocktail. A fireplace, velvet armchairs, an honesty bar for self-service after dinner. It is also here, under the 13th-century stone vaults, that breakfast is served every morning from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.: a generous buffet of pastries and garden produce, or a simple coffee-and-baguette option for those in a hurry.

Le Relais Christine does not have a gourmet restaurant of its own. Room service, however, runs 24 hours a day, and the menus of Le Christine and Chez Fernand, right next door, remain available during standard meal times, from noon to 2 p.m. and then from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Enough to enjoy the neighbourhood without ever really leaving the address.

Beneath those same vaults lies the Guerlain spa. Two treatment cabins for solo or duo massages, a sauna, a mosaic-clad jacuzzi, and a fitness room that you discover almost by chance by opening a discreet door. Some suites, meanwhile, open directly onto a private garden planted with flowers, where afternoon tea can be enjoyed.

Outside, everything is done on foot. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Luxembourg Gardens. Saint-Michel station is five minutes away.

One last tip: ask for breakfast in your room rather than in the dining area if you like to linger over the morning, as service continues well past 9 a.m. without anyone rushing you.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

The manager introduced himself in person as soon as we arrived. We had mentioned a lack of hooks in the bathroom, and they were installed the same day.
The mattress, sheets and pillows were so comfortable that we asked for the brands so we could buy the same ones for home.
The front desk arranged a day trip to Giverny with restaurant reservations included, without us having to take care of anything.
Breakfast served in the 13th-century vaulted cellar, generous buffet with produce from the garden.
The room was well soundproofed despite the busy street right next door; you can hardly hear anything from the bed.
Biscuits and a bottle of water were left in the room on arrival, a small touch that makes all the difference after a night flight.