‘Wes Anderson, but make it ‘Vogue’ is one way of describing SO/ Paris. This place, with its staff decked out in cheery maritime outfits (including adorable berets) and all-pervading 1960s aesthetic, will please anyone with an eye for the chicer things in life. Frankly though, all of the architects, fashion designers and artists who contributed and collaborated on this place had their work cut out for them. They were never going to overshadow the spectacular views of Paris and the Seine offered by the hotel’s 162 rooms.
Of course, SO/ Paris offers more to this place than the natty, very stylish rooms (although we did particularly like the wood-panelled bathrooms). There’s also a spa, created by fancy beauty brand Maison Codage which offers all manner of facials and massages, and a very blissed-out 20-metre swimming pool. The main restaurant and bar Bonnie (named after a Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot song, naturally), is worth visiting, at the very least, for a night cap, as it offers frankly stunning 360-degree views of the city. Like everything else at SO/Paris, the vibe is stylish, quirky and unapologetically Parisian.
Neighbourhood
SO/ Paris is located at the bottom, right by the Seine, of the 4th arrondissement, one of the city’s most fun (and central) areas. Massive tourist attractions, including The Pompidou Centre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre are all a picturesque stroll away. Crucially, so is the Marais, Paris’ closest equivalent to Soho, often referred to as both the Jewish quarter and the gay quarter.
Nearby
Chez Marianne: A very charming, popular Middle Eastern restaurant, synonymous with the Marais. A relaxed vibe and phenomenal humus, falafel and kefta all come together to create a pretty unbeatable experience.
L’Art Brut: Rumour has it that this fashionable bar used to lace its beer with absinthe. They certainly don’t do that any more (if they ever did) but it should give you a (mind-altering) flavour of the kind of place this is.
Victor Hugo’s House: Yeah, the Pompidou Centre is just around the corner. Obvs. But why not pay a visit to the family home of one of France’s greatest writers? Victor Hugo not only designed the property, he wrote some of his best known works while living there.
Time Out tip:
There are more than 120 bits of art all over the hotel. Some of them by some pretty big names. If you’re into your visuals, you’ll enjoy the fact that each one has an adjacent QR code, so you can find out about each work in detail.