Perfectly Parisian: Hotel Maison Colbert review

I always get excited where Paris is concerned. Maybe it's my fondness for the tingle of Paris fashion weeks, during which I dress to the nines, drink only champagne and black coffee, and never felt the need to remove my sunglasses. But even when no haute couture festivities are going ahead, the City of Lights always leaves me wanting more. After all, one is guaranteed to have a good time here, no matter the time of year. 

But for me, it’s selecting where to lay your head that really makes a difference, and for a slice of authentic Paris, the Hotel Maison Colbert, a Meliá Collection hotel, should be on speed dial. Situated in the vibrant Latin Quarter, it is within walking distance of Ile de la Cite, Ile Saint Louis and Notre-Dame in the 5th arrondissement. And honestly, my first impression of the wrought-iron Juliette balconies and decorative flower boxes of its facade was that it could be on a postcard.

Spread across five floors, this stunning hotel is situated in a converted townhouse on a quiet residential backstreet. All 39 rooms are all decorated in tastefully muted tones with classical furnishings, including antique artefacts, lots of velvet and gold clad mirrors, which ooze 19th-century elegance.

You’ll enter via a shady courtyard which offers bistro tables and seating for brunch and drinks; once inside the atmosphere is serene and sumptuous, which is in keeping with the gilt and grandeur that is quintessentially Parisian. The high-ceilinged lobby area is emphasised by Louis XIV-style furnishings finished in velvet and gold leaf, and as soon as you enter, the clam atmosphere is summed up with hushed refinement and sophisticated backing soundtrack.

The Melia Colbert is named after the street on which it’s located, which previously was dedicated to Jean Baptiste Colbert. Built in 1856, the hotel was once a lavish private mansion which has been meticulously renovated (in 2000 and 2010) and retains its classical finesse. 

The bedrooms are spread over five floors, accessible by a snug lift, and provide ample furniture for a city break. Not all rooms have a bath-tub, but the power shower more than makes up for it, and you can buzz for room service, which is available midday to 10pm and consists of a selection of gastronomic French specialties.

After admiring your hotel's surroundings, you are in the ideal spot to explore, and what could be better than getting to grips with Paris’s couture scene? The reception at the hotel can arrange a personal or small group workshop with Teran Conde Paris -a conscious fashion brand that tailors sustainable Mediterranean inspired clothes, sourcing unique fabric from surplus Valencian stock. Book in for a tutorial on how the glamorous world of couture works, and, along with personal guidance from Esperanza,  you can make your own scrunchie, bow tie or scarf from a range of high fashion fabrics.

It doesn’t matter whether this is your first or fiftieth time to Paris, a sojourn down the Seine never fails to ignite the imagination. The hotel can charter a boat for couples or groups so you can enjoy cruising past the chic Parisians, bustling cafes, and see the highlights including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Neuf, and Pont Alexandre III from a different vantage. Don’t forget to lean in for a kiss as you cross under Pont-Marie if you’re with your lover…

Back on solid ground, you will be in the ideal location to soak up some of Paris’s history- or perhaps you’d prefer to swerve the crowds of tourists and head to Butte-aux-Cailles in the 13th arrondissement. With its labyrinthine cobbled streets and town houses draped in ivy, the quirky hilltop area is an idyllic escape.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, let the discerning staff at the Hotel Maison Colbert advise on the most unique and exciting experiences the city has to offer.

melia.com