HOTEL PAVILLON DE LA REINE, THE MARAIS

Have you ever dreamed of a place so cosy you never want to leave? A hotel full of country cottage interiors with a real fire; somewhere with a serene and relaxing spa to retreat to after a long day of sightseeing. I know a place and its right in the centre of Paris, the Hotel Pavillon de la Reine.

Tucked away behind one of the most picturesque and charming squares in the Marais neighbourhood is the romantic 5-star boutique hotel, The Pavillon de la Reine. Set in its own peaceful courtyard, the hotel is an oasis of tranquillity with a warm ambience and that irresistible Parisian hospitality.

I’ve long wanted to visit this hotel; it’s been on my bucket list ever since I first stumbled upon it while visiting the Place des Vosges a few years ago. I couldn’t have been more excited at the prospect of staying at the Pavillon de la Reine last month. Having visited sister hotel; Hotel du Petit Moulin in August 2019 also located in the Marais, I knew I’d be in for a real treat. Two years ago, in February 2020 just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I had the opportunity to visit the Pavillon de la Reine but I never got the chance to tell you all about it, but I am so happy that I can do that now through this post.

A Brief History of the Pavillon de la Reine 

The ivy-covered hotel is a stunning 17^th century building which was built by order of King Henry IV of France in 1612. This magnificent building was then called The Place Royal and was meant to be an official royal residence. Alas, the king didn’t live to see its completion and the property became known for hosting glamorous parties and was the hub of high society gatherings. Queen Anne of Austria was a regular visitor of this stately house and in homage to her, the hotel named their restaurant, Restaurant Anne. It’s said that Queen Anne was known to be a lover of good food and wine, a reputation the hotel has gained over the years and I’m sure Queen Anne would also agree.

Hotel Pavillon de la Reine, what To Expect?

The hotel is the perfect image of a grand country house, a stately French chateau and in keeping with its royal connections, it oozes sophistication, charm, and refined elegance. You’ll find the hotel at number 28 Place des Vosges hidden behind the square’s unmistakable arches very reminiscent of the rue de Rivoli arches in the 1^st arrondissement. Walking through the charming, cobbled passageway brings you to a private courtyard.

You can’t help but stop and stare because if front of you is a sight to behold, a façade full of creeping ivy which covers the entirety of the hotel. It’s an incredible sight especially in the summer when the ivy turns a vivid green. It elegantly weaves and trails its way around the exterior stone cladding like protective armour.

The hotel is even more beautiful in the autumn as the ivy evolves and changes throughout the season bringing with it hues of bright oranges, golden yellows, and vibrant reds until it withers away in the winter but with it comes a haunting almost eery mystery because there’s surely something quite magical about this hotel and its ever-changing façade.

Inside, the hotel is peaceful and relaxing, it’s like stepping into another world far, far away from the hustle and bustle of Paris life. The reception area is manned by the friendliest staff and concierge at your disposal 24/7 and has been made Covid secure with the addition of plastic screens and antibacterial hand gels which can be found throughout the hotel.  With the pandemic less severe than it was and reaching endemic stage, I am sure Covid measures will be relaxed in the very near future.

The warm and inviting lobby is sandwiched between two utterly charming lounges. To the left is a space with an abundance of character and vintage touches in the form of antiques and aristocratic oil paintings, a nod to its past. Plush armchairs and sofas finish off the cosy look but it’s the real log fire which adds to the already tranquil ambience which is lit throughout the day in the winter.

There’s an honesty bar which is replenished frequently; it’s here where breakfast is served in the morning.

You could choose to take breakfast in the other lounge to the right of the lobby which is The Restaurant Anne open Wednesday to Sunday. This area is like a stately home’s drawing room filled with books but on the more contemporary side with the same unmistakable vibrant furnishings and equally as cosy as its neighbour. It’s a lovely place to re-energise with a coffee, Afternoon Tea or maybe a cocktail in the evening.

The Spa de la Reine 

The ultra-modern Spa de la Reine is the envy of all the hotels in the Marais. It has a fully equipped gymnasium and fitness centre as well as an array of beauty and therapeutic massage treatments using beautifully scented calming and invigorating oils. The spa uses Codage skincare, fairly new in the art of cosmetology but they’re none the less as faithful to skincare as their better-known counterparts. The gentle caressing bubbles of the jacuzzi followed by a few minutes in the steam room is the perfect way soothe away those weary limbs particularly welcome after a day exploring the Marais.

The Rooms

The hotel has 56 rooms to choose from ranging from classic, superior and deluxe as well as a variety of stunning suites including the prestigious 80 m ² Suite de la Reine all individual in character and style richly decorated in the same vivid colours as the autumnal ivy. Rich and decadent fabrics with utterly charming interiors such as exposed beams, antique mirrors, and furnishings. Each room is unique and while some ooze English country cottage, others are more modern and sophisticated but they’re all the epitome of luxury with state-of-the-art bathrooms, up-to-date facilities, and sumptuous beds.

My Stay at the Pavillon de la Reine

As I arrived quite early at 11am, the hotel suggested stowing my luggage safely away until my room was ready which was around noon. Most all hotels have a 3:00pm check-in time but if you’re super lucky like I was at the Pavillon, they’ll have your room ready much earlier than that. The time of year probably dictates much of this and as I was travelling during the low season, I was lucky enough to find that my room was ready much earlier than is usual.

I was due to meet Melissa from the blog Prête-Moi Paris. This was the first time we met although we felt like proper friends as we regularly interact on Instagram. It was a real pleasure to see her and her baby in real life as we chatted for over two hours just like old friends. We had tea and coffee in the warm comfort of the beautiful antique lounge with the fire keeping us toasty and warm.

Around 2pm I was greeted with keys to my room with my luggage following on. I was completely blown away by the Prestige Junior Suite I was staying in, I really didn’t expect that I would be staying in a suite again. When I was here in 2020, I had a suite which was just as extravagant with the bedroom on a mezzanine level and huge floor to ceiling windows looking out to the courtyard.

I was secretly hoping that I’d have a room with country cottage interiors, and I was thrilled that I did. The first thing that struck me was the sheer size. Not only did I have a separate lounge and independent bedroom but also a huge bathroom with a separate toilet.

The bathroom is sleek and sexy covered in floor to ceiling black marble tiles, mosaic tiled floor, stand-alone shower, deep bath and for extra convenience, double sinks. The softest towels, bathrobes, slippers and Codage and Nuxe care products add the final luxurious touches to this imposing bathroom.

Though my stay was in February, I was lucky that it was fairly mild but nonetheless, the radiator in the bathroom being on was a welcome addition. Such a thoughtful touch by the hotel making sure that I would be nice and warm, and another lovelier touch was the half bottle of Billecart-Salmon champagne and Alain Ducasse chocolates waiting for me!

The first thing on the agenda was checking out this gorgeous room and what it had to offer. Because the lounge is independent to the bedroom, it feels like you’re in your own privately rented home/cottage rather than a hotel room. It’s homely and intimate; comforting.

 

The lounge has a sofa and a couple of armchairs in soft mustard yellow velvet and a table in the corner should the need for work arise. The large windows were draped in heavy curtains which fall in perfect voluptuous pleats in shades of taupe, grey and black with the addition of a cream voile blind framing the window to give just enough privacy.

The walls are quite something, they’re covered in the most beautiful cream silk fabric but it’s the black toile de jouy print which really stands out, it’s so striking against the cream and the black abstract carpet. It’s a bold but perfect look flowing through the lounge to the stunning bedroom.

The main feature has to be the authentic exposed timber beams designed to create visual interest and flair to the ceiling enhancing an already characterful room.

The huge bed is dressed in crisp white with a brightly coloured throw adding a burst of colour. Next to the bed, you’ll find a mini walk-in wardrobe with ample space and plenty of shelves including a safe and a fully stocked mini bar. Also provided are USB ports for charging your phone and other gadgets, so welcome especially as I had forgotten my European adaptor.

There’s a Nespresso coffee machine but you’ll need to ring housekeeping for milk. This really is the room of dreams and I felt completely at home.

Later that evening, I had chosen to have a spa treatment as I promised myself I would the last time I was at the Pavillon de la Reine. You need to pre-book your treatment as well as the steam room and jacuzzi, I did this when I made my hotel reservation. The Spa de la Reine is a haven of tranquillity and calm, a place to delight the senses and invigorate a weary body and mind. I chose to have a full body massage with my therapist Chloe who did an amazing job. It was the most luxurious deeply relaxing treatment I’ve had to date. I was already very tired from a very early Eurostar journey to Paris, so this treatment was just what I needed followed by 20 minutes luxuriating in the jacuzzi and 5 minutes in the steam room which has a shower next door.

The perfect end to the day was relaxing by the fire enjoying a couple of glasses of champagne from the honesty bar. The idea of an honesty bar is that you make a note of the drinks you’ve had and then pass that note to the waiter or at reception so that you can be charged when you check out.

Breakfast at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel is an indulgent affair, a large selection of cold and hot buffet is offered including those delectable French pastries. Forming part of the cold buffet is an array of yoghurts, fruit compotes, cereals, fresh fruit, baguette, pastries, a variety of cheese, hams, and smoked salmon.

If you fancy something hot, there’s scrambled eggs and bacon, juice, tea, and coffee. It’s so hard to choose so I had a combination of the cold buffet, always French pastries, a slice of baguette because French bread is irresistible and scrambled eggs and bacon.

I always have a good breakfast because sightseeing can be an arduous task; but really, it’s to be savoured and enjoyed and at the Pavilion de la Reine, breakfast is a real treat.

Final Thoughts

I don’t think you’ll find a hotel as lavish as this in the Marais, above all, I love that the Pavillon de la Reine is family run and privately owned. There’s a certain magic and romance about the historic Marais neighbourhood and I can’t think of a more fitting hotel to complement that mythical authenticity other than the Pavillon de la Reine. There’s so much that I loved about my stay, the comfortable homely feel of my room, the tranquil relaxing spa, the warm hospitality, the delicious breakfast.

I was completely seduced and beguiled by its captivating charm which was why it was so hard to say goodbye, one night just isn’t enough and I can’t wait to spend more time at the Pavillon de la Reine in the very near future.

I was invited to review the hotel and my stay was complementary; all photos and thoughts are my own.

The non-refundable rate for a classic room (room only) is around £270 and varies in price depending on seasonality. Book directly with the hotel for the best price.

Link to the Hotel Website here

Email: contact@pdlr.fr

28 Place des Vosges

75003 Paris

tel: +33140291919

Thank you so much to hotel manager Tim Goddard for making my stay so special.