Rates: from €250 per night
Added extras: the legendary club
Services: Wifi, restaurant, bar and pool
There is a fair amount of hype surrounding the seven-storey luxury hotel in the Marais, Les Bains, former home to a club frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol and Yves Saint Laurent in the eighties. It was a risk – the place was shut for years and was threatened by the age-old torment of being deemed ‘better in the old days’. But those in the hotel business hold it in high esteem – it’s about as trendy as it gets.
The spirit of the club’s heyday is still going; now in the basement, the famous black and white checkered dancefloor is a perfect dose of hedonism and the stage has already hosted plenty of avant-garde artists from France and abroad. And of course, there’s the piece de resistance: the club's pool (built in 1885), accessible to guests during the day and clubbers in the evening.
The rest of the hotel underwent dramatic change in 2015, thanks to architect Vincent Bastie and designers Tristan Auer and Denis Montel, who have mixed subtle luxe with refined furniture and art for a chic, unique effect. Jean-Pierre Marois, the owner, had a completely functional space in mind – where you can do everything and anything; whether it’s dancing and having a dip in the pool, sleeping, eating, drinking or shopping (although not all at the same time).
The 39 rooms and suites are perfectly in line with the hotel’s aesthetic – spacious, dotted with works of art (many of which are for sale), beautiful materials like marble and rare wood, plus references to its past life, such as the Andy Warhol print sofas. The restaurant and bar seduce with delicious dishes and upscale cocktails in a movie-worthy setting. As for shops, collaborations with key lifestyle brands and cultural influencers is tantamount. We leave satisfied – it’s an impressive offering and has given the Parisian luxury hotel scene one hell of a shake-up. Bravo les Bains.
