Literary Refuge: Pavillon des Lettres

In a modern echo of the “little Paris hotel” celebrated in story and song, the new Pavillon des Lettres, a sister hotel to the Pavillon de la Reine on the Place des Vosges, offers an alluring new theme and a great location. Just off the rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré and its luxury shopping, close to Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses and steps from the presidential Elysée Palace, the hotel’s 26 cozy rooms are named for 26 alphabetically chosen literary lions, from Hans Christian Andersen to Emile Zola by way of Victor Hugo, Henry James, Marcel Proust and William Shakespeare. Excerpts from each author’s works are stenciled on the walls, in rooms that French decorator Didier Benderli has cast in a warm palette of copper, cognac and brandy with touches of coral. Some suites offer views of the Eiffel Tower and Parisian rooftops. Bedtime reading comes with a contemporary twist: iPads are stocked not only with more literature from the room’s namesake writer, but also with a host of best sellers, along with jazz and classical music. More books crowd the shelves of the library/salon off the lobby, where novels, comic books or classics can be perused—accompanied by tea, coffee and snacks—on comfortable banquettes in front of a fire.

Rooms from €300. 12 rue des Saussaies, 8th, 01.49.24.26.26. website

Originally published in the February 2011 issue of France Today.

View Larger Map