If you’re fed up of period features, and would gladly trade-in atmosphere for modern mod-con creature comforts (spa, gym, state of the art flat-screens) then Bel Ami’s ultra modern minimalist style is a happy, if soulless, alternative.
Telephone: +33 (0)1 42 61 53 53
Price: from EUR 210
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The hotel Bel Ami takes its name from Guy de Maupassant’s eponymous novel in an attempt to draw on the literary heritage of the Saint-Germain area, but there is little else about this Zen-style establishment that reflects it.
The elegant minimalism of the interior is designed to exude calm and tranquillity, with the whole possessing a delicate smell of green tea. When it first opened in 2000 it caused a bit of a stir, but has since been overshadowed by other designer hotels in Paris. In response to the competition, Bel Ami has opened a new spa, which includes three exclusive treatment rooms and a gym complete with fish tank and large flat-screen TV.
The opening of a café seems less wise, especially with Café Flore and Les Deux Magots around the corner. Rooms come in three shades – green, blue and orange (‘one to suit each mood’) – perhaps trying too hard to please all and therefore lacking in impact.
