04 October, 2018
Charming hotels in Paris aren't exactly hard to find, but for that perfect combination of good location, chic design and friendly staff, Hotel Panache ticks all the boxes. Though situated in the heart of the 9th arrondissement and surrounded by cafés, arty boutiques and lively bars, the hotel itself is an enclave of calm, from the cosy lobby with its inviting velvet couches to the eclectic suites awaiting up the spiralling staircase.
Taking up residence across two 19th-century buildings, the hotel has a somewhat peculiar floor plan. Rather than attempt to conform, award-winning Parisian designer Dorothee Meilichzon made the most of the nooks and crannies, turning the curved walls, tight angles and triangular alcoves into features, and pairing them with eye-catching art-deco touches. Bold wallpapers, retro carpets and gold finishes complete the look, giving the hotel an old-world feel - just like the streets in the city of lights.
The 40 rooms within this seven-storey hotel might have the same colour palette, but the resemblance ends there - the jigsaw of room shapes ensures that every suite has a unique layout and interiors to complement them. Depending on your luck (and budget) you might get a long corridor with a cosy reading corner, floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrought-iron balcony or a super-sized bathroom with a corner bath. The one common feature across every room is a retro black telephone by the bed, which you'll want to make a sultry phone call on in order to revel in the sheer novelty of using a rotary dial.
Morning victuals are a fairly French affair, with a selection of pastries, cheese, cold meats, yoghurt and fruit to enjoy in the street-front restaurant on the ground floor.
The Panache bistro is a hit in its own right, usually buzzing with both guests and locals enjoying fresh, cosmopolitan dishes in stylish surrounds - think muted tones and geometric tiles. This is Paris though, so don't expect it to be busy until at least 9pm.
Not as such, but the bistro offers a well-curated list of wine and cocktails to be be sipped while perched atop dusty blue stools at the white marble bar.
Don't expect frills like a gym, porters or bathrobes. Still, if there is anything you're missing, the staff will be more than happy to help you find it.
Though often overlooked by visitors, the 9th arrondissement has plenty to offer - bars, restaurants, boutiques and arcades - for a home-away-from-home weekend in Paris.