Le Metropolitan ★★★★★

In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, Le Metropolitan occupies prime real estate in the 16th arrondissement. The Knightsbridge of Paris, the 16th is elegant and affluent, and well-populated by charming pavement cafés and bakeries. It is calm and sophisticated – a bit like this hotel. We were warmly welcomed by a smiling concierge and escorted upstairs to our well-appointed room. Request a street-side room if possible and you won’t be disappointed; and don’t worry about traffic noise, though it looks onto the bustling Place de Mexico, we weren’t bothered by it at all.

Every room offers four-star contemporary comfort; though admittedly very simple, the rooms and suites are tastefully decorated in a monochrome palette with furniture accents in rich, warm walnut. Our bed was dressed in crisp white linens with soft, downy pillows. In

Zimbabwean black granite, the slick bathroom strikes a balance between opulence and functionality.
The interior design, by François Champsaur, combines contemporary minimalism with luxurious comfort and refined designer furniture in clean white, glossy lacquered wood and smooth granites. A calm, hospitable atmosphere permeates the whole hotel, largely attributable to discreet, accommodating staff: the concierge offers a range of services to make your stay as comfortable and effortless as possible, including same-day laundry, 24-hour room service, and transfer services, as well as going above and beyond for even the most fastidious of requests.

We head next to Le Metropolitan’s pristine spa. For those seeking central city-living but want a calming retreat from the hubbub of the Parisian streets, Le Metropolitan is ideal: with private massage rooms, a hammam, and – rare for such a central hotel – a stunning indoor pool overlooking a contemporary fireplace.

After unwinding with a soak in the pool, we ventured downstairs to the Le Bar Eiffel, where we toasted our success at finding such an intimate, exclusive boutique hotel in the heart of Paris. After several more toasts, we tipsily moved into the Hokusaï Restaurant. Here, we enjoyed an innovative Japanese menu, tucking into a succession of dishes made from fresh & local produce.