Travelling toute seule in Paris? The HDGV has all you need to keep you occupied…
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A hotel by design, a pied-à-terre in spirit, the Hotel Des Grands Voyageurs (HDGV) is made for solo travellers, though not exclusively so – your best companion will be the one who loves a low-key, neighbourhood vibe like this.
LOCATION: The historic heart of the sixième is smart and semi-residential (the arrondissement is the one where most Parisians want to live) with atmospheric cobblestone streets laced with cafés, galleries and wonderful shops from independent artisan boutiques to Hermès and Le Bon Marché (a mere five-minute walk). Iconic neighbours include the Cafés de Flore and Deux Magots, the sixth-century Église Saint Germain Des Pres, and the Jardin du Luxembourg, while the hotel is well located for those wanting to explore some of Paris’s grandest and most famous sights. The Musée d’Orsay is a short stroll down the Seine, and the Tour Eiffel and Notre Dame are each a brisk walk in opposite directions.
STYLE AND CHARACTER: Designed by young design star Fabrizio Casiraghi, HDGV is modernist with vintage details, inspired by the golden age of 1930s travel. There’s lots of lovely mahoghany panelling, art by Klimt and Chagall, and mirrors by Osanna Visconti. The corridors between rooms are lined with ropes to create a highly effective ocean cruise-liner effect.
SERVICE AND FACILITIES: HDGV aims for discreet, unobtrusive service. The lobby blends into the bar, with staff at the reception at the end of the bar magically appearing just when you need them, going above and beyond to enrich your stay. (As the bartender mixed martinis, he managed to book me a table for lunch at the Halle aux Grains, the Bras family’s new restaurant in the glass dome of the Bourse du Commerce, now a contemporary art museum. Michel and Sebastien’s unique cooking style, defined by grains, is enhanced by the Bouroullec interiors and the breathtaking views of Paris. Definitely worth a look.)
DINING: The hotel’s intimate, dimly lit restaurant La Brasserie offers a Franco-American-style menu, playing up the influences from that gilded era of transatlantic travel. At breakfast, expect great coffee, fruit, pastries, granola, charcuterie and cheese, and cooked options too.
RAISON D’ÊTRE: If you can tear yourself away from the hotel (trust me, it’s tough), this wonderful part of the French capital is right on the doorstep, ready to explore. Prime people-watching terrain, you won’t feel alone for a second.
Hotel des Grands Voyageurs, 92, Rue de Vaugirard, Paris 75006; www.hoteldesgrandsvoyageurs.com. Rooms from €183.