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Paris is home to some of the world’s most iconic places to stay, but up there with the palatial Hôtel Plaza Athénée and decadent Le Bristol, this 16th arrondissement resort deserves a spot in the hotel hall of fame.
Molitor Hotel & Spa reopened in its reimagined form back in 2014, but it has retained the laid-back aura and eccentric Art Deco style of the original swimming pool where a generation of Parisians first learned how to swim – oh, and where the bikini was initially debuted 80 years ago.
A far cry from the ornate but cosy hotel rooms of central Paris, Molitor is an expansive, breezy retreat popular among international visitors (often in town for gigs or sports competitions at the nearby stadiums) as well as staycationing locals. Here’s what we thought of it.
What are the rooms like at Molitor Hotel & Spa?
Minimalist in their design, but luxurious in their attention to detail. The real stars of the show at this hotel are its two showstopper swimming pools, and they not only act as a massive pull for heat-fleeing guests, but also as a focal point for the 120 rooms (out of 124 in total) which have a view of at least one of them.
Rather than try and detract from its majesty, the view of the outdoor pool from my Deluxe Room is proudly showcased through multiple floor-to-ceiling windows. The glinting water gently reflected pleasing glimmers of light on the ceiling, and the canary yellow paint and cobalt doors of the ship-shaped building were nodded to subtly with pops of colour in the mostly white space
The bedding was nothing short of cloud-like, and with ample floor and wardrobe space, plus a generous walk-in shower in the en suite, fleecy carpet and pleasantly scented Clarins toiletries (thanks to a summer season-long collaboration with the brand), you can feel how much care has been put into making this space feel comfortable and high-quality.
What are the best things to eat at Molitor Hotel & Spa?
Dinner and a view is covered by Rooftop Molitor. It’s subtle, but you can get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower from up here – just be sure to follow the corridors to the lift which is separate from the one you embarked on in the lobby to access it.
The menu includes plenty of well-balanced and fresh plates, including a burrata entrée, salad niçoise and a whole-fish sharer (which will set you back a cool €90), and while it’s not quite the quintessential French bistro experience, it’ll likely hit the spot when you need a break from the delicious but rich classics. Oh, and don’t sleep on the chocolate mousse.
Head to Restaurant Molitor for a generous, poolside breakfast buffet, and La Plage by Clarins for lunch in the sun.
What are the facilities like at Molitor Hotel & Spa?
The blue-print of this building is shaped a little like a cruise ship (but a sophisticated, French one) and it houses an impressive roster of wellness and fitness-focussed amenities.
I’ve already mentioned the pools, but come on – they are spectacular. The outdoor one measures 46m long, is surrounded by pleasingly neat rows of sunbeds, and was featured in season three episode five of netflix show Emily in Paris, and the just as splendid but less holiday-coded indoor one stretches 33m. The summer opening hours for each are from 7am to 9.45pm on weekdays, and 8am until 8pm on the weekends – go for a sunny morning plunge before breakfast (but be wary you’ll have to go up to the first floor to come down again for the restaurant).
But that’s far from all – this Molitor is home to what is currently Europe’s largest hotel spa, comprising 13 treatment rooms (including a private suite which comes with a sauna), a hair salon and a menu of treatments which range from high-tech hydrafacials to personalised sports massages.
Then there’s the fitness club, where you can rely on in-house experts who’ll create a bespoke training programme for you, which incorporates use of the spin bikes, reformers, or punchbags – they’ve really got all bases covered.
What’s the area like around the Molitor Hotel & Spa?
Visiting Paris for the very first time? Well, while there are much more conveniently located hotels to base yourself for sightseeing, Molitor is still relatively well-connected to the city centre – metro line 9 stops at Exelmans, and metro line 10 stops at Porte d’Auteuil, both of which will whisk you much closer to all the blockbuster attractions.
Where Molitor really shines, aside from offering a surprisingly secluded escape away from city bustle, is its proximity to venues like Parc des Princes (the home stadium of Paris Saint-Germain F.C.), Roland Garros (home of the French Open), and Stade Jean–Bouin.
If you need to touch some grass, Paris’s second-largest park, Bois de Boulogne, is just a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
DETAILS
Address: 16 Avenue de la Porte Molitor, 75016, Paris, France
Price: From €350 per night with breakfast
Transport: Exelmans on metro line 9 and Porte d’Auteuil on metro line 10 are both within a 15 minute walk from the hotel. The closest airport is Paris Orly, which is between a 25 and 30 minute drive away, or around an hour on public transport.
Book: via Booking.com
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