Hotel des Grands Boulevards hotel - Paris, France

On first impression, it seems the Experimental Group has certainly gone against the grain by locating its second Parisian property, Hotel des Grand Boulevards, on a busy boulevard lined with theatres and riotous bars and clubs. Nip down a discreet passage though, and the atmosphere transforms into a picture of peace.

Inside, designer Dorothée Meilichzon takes her cues from the building’s history, weaving both the Louis XVI splendour and a simple peasant aesthetic of Revolutionary France, with her trademark retro touches. This has resulted in elegant canopy beds, rustic wooden stools and nightstands along with bevelled mirrors and curved velvet headboards in a vibrant inky palette that nod to the era’s neoclassical paintings. 

Downstairs, chef Giovanni Passerini doles out countryside Italian-meets French fare from the covered courtyard restaurant, while staying true to the brand’s DNA, bien sûr, serves up a menu of cocktails definitely worth coming back for.