I recently had the privileged of staying in the Hotel Mansart located in the prestigious L’Opéra district of Paris. First and foremost you can not beat the location. It’s located at the corner of the prestigious Place Vendôme, which is just a few steps from what I would call diamond row, the absolute most stunning jewelry you have even seen is on display in the famous Cartier, Tiffany’s and more. You are also just steps from the famous department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, the palais Garnier Opéra House, the Madeleine, the Louvre Museum and the Jardin des Tuileries.
It’s not just the location that makes this hotel worth a visit, the hotel itself was modeled after Louis XIV ‘s great architect, Jules Hardouin Mansart (1646-1708), who notably designed the Place Vendôme, the Palace of Versailles and the great Invalides dome. The decoration of the lobby is inspired by the famous drawings of the French-style gardens.
The rooms are well appointed in the style and are a very generous size for Paris. They are on a slightly quieter street with beautiful windows that open up giving you the perfect observation point to take in Parisian life.
A beautifully appointed breakfast room becomes an honesty bar in the evening giving guest the perfect place to relax and unwind before heading to dinner. Kahina, who gave us the grand tour of the hotel and it’s history recommended Café de la Paix for an authentic French experience.
What really blew me away was the stately Mansart rooms. They are impressive in size, over 50 sqm with 2 story windows and some have an elegant bathroom located upstairs. The hotel is full of history and charm and these rooms are as impressive as they come.
As we finished our tour, we couldn’t help but ask Kahina for her Paris tips. “Paris doesn’t open until 10am so don’t rush out of bed!”she says but a serious note she warned to keep your bags close and be weary in tourist spots. “Pick-pocketers know what they are doing, they sometimes work in teams where one person will ask for directions and another will grab your wallet, just be aware of your belongings.” Good advice for any traveller!
