There is no shortage of impressive architecture in the centre of Paris. The entirety of the city centre was built to be beautiful, with the intention of inspiring her inhabitants by allowing them to go about their everyday lives immersed in gorgeous aesthetics.
One of the most spectacular edifices is the Grand Poste du Paris, built at the end of the 19th century in the 1st arrondissement to serve the heart of the city as the home of the postal service.
Today the post office still maintains a presence in the building, but most of the units within the grand archways of the arcade at street level are fashion boutiques, and the top floors are taken up by Hôtel Madame Rêve, a new 5-star address in the city’s most touristic neighbourhood.
Why Stay Here?
First up has to be the location. The trip from Gare du Nord – Eurostar being far and away the best way for Londoners to get to Paris – is a short one, and once installed at the hotel you are within 5 minutes’ walk of a visit to the Louvre, exploring the winding, ancient streets of Le Marais, shopping at legendary (and newly refurbished) department store La Samaritane or discovering the cultural installations at the Pompidou centre.
The Seine is just at the end of the street, meaning an evening stroll along the river bank is just moments away, and there are plenty of Metro stations nearby should you wish to travel farther afield. From this address the best of the city really is on your doorstep.
In-house, there are the usual luxury amenities to keep you occupied. The wellness centre offers plenty of pampering treatments, should you decide you deserve a little self-care, or if you fancy being a bit more active, hit the heavy bag in the gym before recovering in the warmth of a sauna with a view – as the hotel is on the top of one of the tallest buildings in the area, the vistas are impressive.
Speaking of views, those from your terrace, should you choose a room which has one, are the perfect backdrop for a glass of wine and a cigar.
How’s The Food?
An evening spent inside Hôtel Madame Rêve should begin at Roof, the expansive cocktail bar located, well, on the roof. The terrace takes up both sides of the building, offering views either north to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur or south across the incredible vaulted roof of the neighbouring Saint-Eustache church.
The vibe here is electric, with plenty of locals coming in to enjoy an aperitif and music pumping from early until late. Bar snacks here are tasty if you’re merely warming up for a night on the town, but for those intent on spending the full evening in the comfort of Madame’s embrace, the gastronomy is downstairs.
One floor below Roof is La Plume, a Japanese-inspired restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Dishes are substantial and stylish, beautifully presented and with a distinct Asian twist to French ingredients.
Go full Japanese with some of the tastiest black cod I’ve come across for a while – sticky and sweet, and a generous plate for a starter – or try something a bit more fusion-y with the roasted duck breast. It may be a Paris classic, but the flavours of the Asian spices used for the marinade give a whole new identity here.
The second restaurant, Kitchen, is just behind the lobby on the first floor. Soaring ceilings and huge windows make the space light and airy, reminiscent of Paris Grands Cafés from the Victorian era, and the menu is packed with many French classics.
Stéphanie Le Quellec, the chef in charge of proceedings, has experience in the top hotels of the French capital, having begun her career at the legendary Four Seasons George V before moving on to Prince des Galles, and later won 2 Michelin stars for her restaurant La Scène. Expect high-end versions of all your favourite French dishes, with a little international flavour thrown in for good measure.
What Are The Rooms Like?
The way the building is positioned, on the corner of a large block, means the corridors of the hotel are long. Each is handily signposted so you know which way you are facing, and elegantly decorated with subtle nods to the history of the area.
Rooms are of a good size for central Paris and face either the central hanging garden – good for a little seclusion and hint of green in the city – or the marvellous rooftops of the buildings around. Some suites come with terraces and Eiffel Tower views, but the real star is the Saint-Eustache: plenty of places offer tower views (and you can see it from pretty much everywhere in town anyway) but close-up looks at the incredible stone gargoyles at the top of a gothic church are much more rare.
Order your breakfast in bed one morning and watch as the sunrise brings them to life – it’s really quite impressive.
The Paris luxury hotel market is one of the most competitive in the world, so new additions like Hôtel Madame Rêve have to work hard to make a good first impression. This is probably one for the younger, more vibrant crowd, but once here it’s easy to be impressed by the modern homage to Paris of yesteryear. Such stylish places to spend your city break are the stuff that dreams are made of.
Hôtel Madame Rêve, 48 Rue du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France. See more at madamereve.com
