Hotel Balzac is a deluxe boutique property on a side street just off the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris’s most beautiful and prestigious location.
From the moment one of the porters in an elegant black jacket, decorated with a lapel pin shaped like the letter B, ushers you into the charming pied-à-terre of the hotel’s lobby, the sense of being in the foremost place to stay in town is as sharp as the welcome drink.
Historical significance
The hotel is proud of its literary connection with Honoré de Balzac, one of the greatest and most influential French novelists. In 1848, Balzac purchased the townhouse located on this very site for his longtime lover and future wife, the Countess Ewelina Hanska, and spent his final days here.
Today, the Balzac Hotel is a grand six-story building in the Haussmannian architectural style. Inside, the classical high ceilings and large windows paired with dark, sober furniture evoke the 19th century, transporting guests to a prominent location that might be described in the pages of Balzac himself.
Extensive makeover
The hotel reopened its doors in June following an extensive renovation. The acclaimed Parisian design duo Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay, faced the challenging task of preserving the property’s heritage while making Hotel Balzac relevant to the modern day.
Unlike most hotel interior designs, rather than creating a unique and distinctive style, the designers focused on understanding that it’s not just any hotel and was important to reinvent its history while respecting its identity.
The result of this exercise is always striking. At Balzac the sense of history is palpable – in the rich oak panelling, velvet sofas, moiré fabric, natural stone, and marble mosaics – yet there’s a fabulously fresh modernity, too. For example, physical keys have digital sensors inside to activate the door. Most importantly, the hotel combines a stately, luxurious design with a generous commitment to space and a sense of rarefied seclusion.
Essence of Paris
There are 58 rooms, some of which offer views of the Eiffel Tower while being cocooned high above the busy streets and traffic below. This feeling is even more exhilarating in the suites with private open-air terraces. The highlight – best enjoyed in the comfort of a hotel robe and slippers – is breakfast on the balcony, giving the heady impression that Paris belongs to you.
The decorative concept embraces visual simplicity and exceptional materials: bespoke oak furniture and parquet floors. Bedrooms are minimalist but majestic, spacious and airy despite the huge plush bed adorned with a ‘B’ monogram on the luxury linen. An earthy colour palette provides an intimate and homely feeling.
The finest amenities
Spacious bathrooms are adorned with dark-stained wood and grey marble, featuring double sinks and offering either a bathtub, a walk-in shower, or both if you are staying in one of the suites. Towels are tremendously plush and when it comes to amenities, Hotel Balzac is a step ahead of its competitors. Toiletries are sourced from Diptyque’s signature collection, 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain. We were surprised to find not only a hairdryer but hair straighteners, which even the finest luxury hotels don’t have.
All rooms and suites come with high-end TVs like you would expect but the bedroom ones are mounted on easels so they look more like a tasteful piece of furniture. Here you’ll also find a small box next to the bed, containing a multi-region plug adapter and various charging cables which is a nice touch and very useful.
We have seen Nespresso machines before but not this particular one that’s designed to resemble a classic Italian espresso machine and makes you feel like a barista – perfect for having a morning coffee on the balcony, taking in the morning sunshine. The kettle is also very fancy and comes with an array of posh Parisian teabags. You’ll also find a cocktail mixing kit, snacks, fridge, minibar and complimentary Balzac candle.
Luxurious breakfast and chic cocktails
Breakfast is served in the central lounge under the large skylight. The ‘Balzac’ menu is the most comprehensive, including fruit juices, eggs, flaky pastries with jam and honey, cold cuts, smoked salmon, cheeses, yogurt, and fruit salad served on a three-tiered tray. There are plenty of lighter options as well, such as the Byron or Parisian breakfasts, and à la carte choices. Don’t pass on the French toast; it’s delicious.
Beyond the lounge, with its dim lighting and tranquil atmosphere, you will find a hidden bar, perfect for a romantic tête-à-tête. The menu features expertly mixed signature cocktails named after Balzac’s characters, such as Rastignac and Nucingen. Additionally, there are prestigious wines and spirits to accompany Petrossian caviar specialties or a lobster roll with Espelette pepper and ginger.
Next door to the hotel is the three-Michelin-starred Pierre Gagnaire restaurant, where you can try dishes from the acclaimed French chef and possibly meet Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique and other local and international celebrities who are often spotted dining here.
Zen escape
Hotel Balzac includes a Japanese-themed Ikoi Spa, beautifully designed with natural materials, warm lighting and soft calming music. This theme is carried through to the gym where you’ll find the equipment is accented in dark wood, including the dumbbells. It’s compact but well equipped and a nice place for a workout. The Ikoi Spa also features a sauna, plunge pool and private massage rooms.
French flair
The service at Balzac is as immaculate as you’d expect, partly because many of the employees have worked at this legendary property before the renovation. The staff truly make you feel like you’re the most important person in the room, and who doesn’t want to feel like that for a few nights?
Added to the slick professionalism, there’s also a palpable enthusiasm and extensive general knowledge about Paris, and France in general. When was the last time you had an in-depth conversation with the doorman about Napoleon and Louis XIV?
More information about Hotel Balzac can be found here.
Image credits: © Hotel Balzac, Matthieu Salvaing, Travel with Style
