So full of historical atmosphere that you could end up sharing your bed with a ghost. They don’t make cupboards or beds or curtains – or anything – like this anymore. They were all created a century ago for the world’s traveling élite. The rooftop restaurant is a must for summer dining.
Telephone: +3 (0)1 53 64 32 00
Price: from EUR 505
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One could argue that the Raphael was Paris’ first boutique hotel (although it has 86 rooms), created by the owners of the then (we’re talking 1907) largest hotel in Europe, The Majestic (29 rue Dumont d’Urville, 16th), in response to demands for a smaller, more exclusive place to stay. And what’s more, it is still owned by the same Parisian family (Baverez), who built it in 1925.
The décor stays true to the original – it’s recently undergone a loving restoration that spanned more than a decade. The French walnut-panelled lobby is galleried; the marvellous lifts are still manually closed with sliding barriers; and the stained-glass windows, antique tapestries and furniture are as beautiful as they ever were. T
he sumptuously decorated bedrooms have high, wooden-arched ceilings, Louis XVI furnishings and spacious built-in wardrobes designed to accommodate the contents of the extensive luggage commonly brought by tourists at the time.
The style is actually English, probably because the upper-class Brits from the Roaring ’20s were the main visitors then. The Bar Anglais is famous for its cocktails, and the Jardins Plein Ciel top-floor terrace offers a 360 degree view of Paris; here, you can eat or simply enjoy an aperitif. This hotel is not to be missed: come to visit, even if you’re not you’re staying overnight.
