A heady blend of architectural history and contemporary design with a distinct literary flavor is what distinguishes the aptly-named Hotel Bel Ami in the posh Parisian quarter of Saint-Germain-des-Près. The five-star boutique hotel, which features 102 rooms including five new private apartments, plus a restaurant, bar and spa, is housed in an 18th century building, a former printing house, that’s one of the prettiest on the Left Bank. If you’re planning a trip to Paris during the Olympics, which run from July 26 to Aug 11, checking in here will put you ahead of the pack.
Located just mere minutes away from iconic neighborhood destinations such as the Café de Flore and Les
Deux Magots, also known for their famed literary clientele back in the day, the property is part of the B. Signature Hotels portfolio, a collection of handpicked hospitality gems.
Renowned Parisian architect and designer Pascal Allaman custom made all the furniture in the rooms and suites including the desk and the bedside tables, which are finished in natural oak and adorned with orange lacquered glass trays. “The spirit of the rooms is a very graphical concept in reference to the calligraphy and to the former printing house which now houses the Bel Ami,” the property notes.
“I wanted to create an ergonomic space reminiscent of sliding Japanese panels,” says Allaman, who also had the curtains and carpets, inspired by vintage paintings, custom made. Leather-trimmed tartan rugs with an equestrian motif and Ikat ethnic patterns “recapture the avant-garde spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Pres in the 1950s.” Even the bathrooms were designed to evoke the workshop of a Parisian artist.
On the hotel’s second floor are now five new chic private apartments, also designed by Allaman, “offering a soothing décor and a chance to live inside the boutique hotel. “They offer a true feeling of the Parisian lifestyle,” Bel Ami notes, inspired by Saint Germain-des-Prés in the 19th century. “Here, guests can experience an environment where everything evokes the artistic and cultural lifestyle.”
The hotel notes that the apartments, which come complete with kitchenettes, “exude a feeling of comfort that is both cozy and uncluttered. The décor features a mix of carpets, throw rugs and a “taste of old-fashioned Paris” with upholstered canopy beds. Blue accents contribute to a sense of harmony and contrast with pops of color elsewhere.
The Bel Ami Bar, popular with authors and publishing types, features cocktails inspired by figures from classic French literature as well as a complete tapas menu. “As you enter, two Silvera bubble
armchairs set the tone” in the space designed by Geraldine Prieur who approached the project with “an audacious and modern spirit.”
And of course there’s a well-curated and eclectic library, which spills over into the restaurant, complete with editions signed by local authors and editors, set off by round mirrors framed in chrome and wooden alcoves made of Macassar ebony. It’s the perfect locale for an afternoon cup of tea or something stronger such as an Aperol Spritz or glass of absinthe.
The cozy nooks and crannies are designed for intimate rendez-vous, whether discussing a book deal or something even more intriguing. The lobby is much more intimate and not the usual kind of hotel space designed to impress with its cavernous dimensions, but far from inviting. And the concierge staff can fulfill almost any request.
A delicious breakfast is served in the Bel Ami Café, with its large bay window and collection of art books, screens reflecting Parisian life on the ceiling, and objets d’art designed to lend the space a contemporary, cheerful and warm spirit. The signature blue elements are carried over here as well, and we have hopes that the Café might eventually extend its hours.
Of course the hotel has its dedicated regular guests who always book their favored rooms, typically the ones with the best views and most natural light, so be sure of securing them for the season, so be sure to make your plans well in advance. Settle in if you plan to write your first novel or edit a manuscript à la Guy de Maupassant and Marcel Proust.
The Bel Ami Spa was created to offer guests a “moment of well-being after a busy day.” Here’s where the nod to antiquity ends; facial care rituals combine oxygen gently delivered by a patented device using the latest biotechnology. The spa offerings are a “true invitation to relaxation”, comprising aesthetics, massage, facial treatments, a sauna, and more. So the only decision remains: visit the spa first and then the bar, or the other way around…?