Madame Rêve is one of the most hyped hotels in Paris right now, and it’s not hard to see why – this a place that’ll make you feel ten times cooler just by walking through the front door. It’s classy. It’s refined. It has dimly lit, lightly perfumed corridors that feel like a catwalk and warm wood hugging every wall.
It wasn’t always so stylish. In its previous incarnation the building was a 24-hour post office, but apart from the odd subtle nod – mail art hung on the walls, postage stamp rugs in each room – you’d never really know. Now, the ground floor is dominated by a high-ceilinged bar with tall black columns, marble tables and chairs arranged side-by-side so that you can watch what everyone else in the room is up to whilst chatting to your neighbour.
For a different kind of view, head to the roof. Here, you’ll find one of the city’s biggest terraces and a pulsating bar with a small number of cocktails and an eclectic food menu. But you’re really up there for the Paris skyline – seriously, the views are incredible, with pretty much every famous landmark in the city on display, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré Cœur.
Back inside, the hotel’s rooms are smart and well-proportioned, with panoramic sloping windows showcasing more of those unbeatable skyline views. Simple bathrooms are speckled with mosaic tiles and the beds are enormous and soft. There are desks that’ll actually make you want to sit down and do some work, and leather sofas for reading a magazine or book. It’s all incredibly tasteful and chic.
Does this all add up to the founder’s vision of creating ‘the hotel of tomorrow’? It’s impossible to say, but if this is what the hotel of tomorrow looks like we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
Neighbourhood
Madame Rêve sits in the first arrondissement of Paris, which means it’s smack-bang in the centre of the city. You really can’t beat this location. World-class museums and galleries including the Louvre and Centre Pompidou are just around the corner, as are iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame. Plus, you’re right on the edge of the most walkable parts of the city, whether it’s the shops of the Marais or a stroll down the Seine.
Nearby
1. Musée de l’Orangerie for an immersive experience of Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’.
2. Télescope Café for a perfect cup of coffee in a minimalist setting.
3. E. DEHILLERIN for just about every piece of cooking equipment you could ever want to buy in a timeless 200-year-old shop.
Time Out tip
Up your sightseeing game by taking one of Madame Rêve’s electric bikes out for a spin. It’s not cheating – it’s just more fun to see the city this way.