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PARIS, FRANCE: The afternoon sunlight—as warm and as amber as a Vuitton runway in the spring of the 24 season—beams onto the objects inside my hotel room on Rue du Louvre; the leather ottoman at the end of the bed, the rug which is imprinted with a telegram stamp, the marble-topped desk with the little orange pencil. It’s 5pm at Hôtel Madame Rêve, a five-star luxury boutique hotel nestled within the ornate curves of the iconic Louvre Post Office in Paris’ first arrondissement. And, while I’m significantly enjoying the gallic accents of my boudoir for the evening, it’s time for a drink.
An ascent to the property’s rooftop terrace, ROOF, via a dimly-lit elevator is the new must-do for well-heeled visitors to Paris. Panoramic views of the city stand before you with views of the Eiffel tower and all the way up to Montmartre. To the left of walking in, is the mythical and magnificent Saint Eustache’s Church, a gothic stature built in the 1500s, its storied arches to be marvelled while enjoying a ‘Back To The Roof’ cocktail. (The latter is one of the restaurant’s signatures with the usual suspects: vodka, guava, lychee, rose.)
The rooftop restaurant serves up sashimi, maki rolls and French Japanese from 7pm-10.30pm daily, and is a buzzing spot to book lunch or dinner with girlfriends during a visit in the European summer—or perhaps to replenish a weary soul post a long day traipsing the city during Paris Fashion Week. Hôtel Madame Rêve also offers two other restaurants: visit the Kitchen for contemporary French cuisine by two-Michelin starred chef Stéphanie Le Quellec, or La Plume for a Japanese-influenced dinner by Benjamin Six. The latter has a private room and balcony which you can book for special occasions or to impress a monied client.
Sleeping In The Sky
Eighty-two rooms and suites make up Hôtel Madame Rêve. All boast the hallmarks of an exceptional property: a considered curation of furniture and art, tailor made fabrics and precious woods, and the uniformity of the golden-brown colour-way flowing throughout. I experienced the Deluxe Room, a 29-square-metre offering that feels like you’re sleeping in the sky. The bright room is made that way by an overhead skylight and an architecturally-brilliant 45-degree angled window which has you propped up in line with the adjacent building’s rooftops.
The bathroom is large and expansive—by Paris standards—and is composed of thousands of tiny, pinky-bronzed mosaic tiles. The bathrobes, fluffy and luxurious, are embossed with the hotel’s name. Turn down service will see slippers at your bedside and for those who have an affinity for night-time reading, beautiful books about fashion, art and architecture can be found adjourning the room. I had a copy of photo journalist Sabine Weiss’ Emotions, as well as Paris: Portrait Of A City, a luminous patchwork collection of famous images of the city by publisher Taschen.
In my room, in the far distance, was the Eiffel Tower which I could see sparkle during the evening from my king-sized bed. It’s easily one of the most interesting rooms I have had the pleasure of experiencing. So Parisian and truly unforgettable.
A Moment To Relax
Most of our readers visit Paris to be immersed in its rhythm and romance. So many hours are spent soaking up the storied origins of artists and fashion designers and regal monuments and buildings. Covering it all can be exhausting so it’s always important to have a spot to come ‘home’ to to relax pre-dinner plans. Madame Rêve’s gym is open from 6am to 10pm daily—all with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment—and they have a fairly spacious sauna as well with a window to the city. There is also two treatment rooms for facials and massages. For Australians, may we suggest the 60-minute lymphatic drainage massage, a treatment designed to revive the blood and lymphatic circulation—something we all need post the 30-hour door-to-door journey to the French capital.
For dinner one evening, we suggest Kitchen by Stéphanie Le Quellec on the ground level. And I suggest this because I know GRAZIA readers will adore the glamorously ornate décor (the restaurant space actually dates back to the 19th century when it was the Louvre Post office) and it will give you a real taste of classic French food—minus the stuffiness of redundant fanciness. After all, isn’t the authenticity of French cuisine what we come to the city for? That, and some old-world Parisian elegance.
“There won’t be a sophisticated menu, but rather what I know how to do and cherish: classic dishes of French cuisine such as tartare, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, gently steamed cod, and intense dark chocolate mousse,” says Le Quellec, the female, French two-star chef at the restaurant’s helm. “This is my vision of local and contemporary cuisine.”
Bookings are essential.
The Final Word
Opened in October of 2021, this five-star luxury boutique hotel is the must-stay contemporary jewel with period charm in the storied first arrondissement. It’s close, too, to the Louvre and the Marais for those wanting to explore the city. Bathed in a gingery golden brown, and with its considered décor, intricate architectural decisions and exceptional views of the city, take it from me, it one of the most stylish places in Paris to set your head down.
So, the next time someone stops you to ask, “excuse me, Madame, where is the most stylish spot to stay in Paris, the one with the best rooftop views?” Well, now you know.
The Details
Hôtel Madame Rêve
48 Rue du Louvre, 75001
Paris, France
+33 1 80 40 77 70
madamereve.com
