THE NEW WAVE

RECENT HOTEL OPENINGS e Paris hotel scene boasts a wealth of stylish new hotel addresses that you should be visiting now.

1. LUXURY HOTELS

T HE 5 -STAR R E VO LU TIO N Paris’s luxury hotel scene is currently undergoing a major facelift, following the temporary closure for renovation of several historic palaces, such as the Plaza Athénée, the Hôtel de Crillon and the iconic Hôtel Ritz Several international luxury brands have also recently arrived in Paris, notably the Mandarin Oriental Paris located in the ultra-chic Saint-Honoré shopping district. Designed by a dream team of architects and designers, the hotel features a glamorous spa, gourmet cuisine by chef ierry Marx, and a verdant in-house garden lounge. Set within the former palace of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, the Shangri-la Paris has also been turning heads with opulent 19th century-inspired interiors by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and sweeping views of the Ei el Tower.

2. DESIGN HOTELS

S U P E R S LEE K e arrival of the 33-room Hotel de Nell to Paris’s 9th district o ers stylish yet understated designer living spaces, along with a highly acclaimed modern bistro by chef Bruno Doucet, La Régalade Conservatoire, located on the hotel’s ground oor. e minimalist, contemporary interiors by Jean-Michel Wilmotte feature a wealth of thoughtful touches such as heated parquet oors, luxurious bedding and deep Japanese soaking tubs. Other noteworthy recent openings include the Buddha Bar Hotel in the 8th district which combines classic French architecture with Far Easterninspired interiors.

3. BOUTIQUE GEMS

AFFORDAB LE L IVI N G Let’s be honest, rooms in Paris can be small (particularly those in historic buildings), soundproo ng and narrow stairwells can often be an issue, and room rates can be exorbitantly high during peak periods. Fortunately, Paris has seen a wave of new boutique hotel openings throughout the city that come with an a ordableprice tag. Set within a former textile factory in Paris’s up-and-coming Oberkampf district, Hôtel Fabric exudes a sense of the city’s secret, bygone cabarets and theatres. e stylish Hôtel du Ministère is situated close to Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and the Hôtel du Temps is a Parisian jewel box near Opera. O ering a new angle on classic 18th-century interior design, the cosy La Maison Favart is named after Paris’s most famous theatre couple. e family-run Hôtel Edgar o ers nine highly original rooms, each designed by a creative friend or family member of the owner, including award-winning photographer Yann ArthusBertrand and Chanel stylist, Pascal Brualt.

4. PRIVATE APARTMENT RENTAL

H OM ELY A popular trend in Paris is to rent a private apartment, enabling you to live like a local Parisian during your time in the city with the comforts of home. Our pick of the best rental apartment rental sites include Airbnb (airbnb.com), One Fine Stay (one nestay.com), Paris Luxury Rentals (parisluxuryrentals.com) and Rue Amandine (rueamandine.com).