Located in the exclusive 16th district, just around the corner from the Arc de Triomphe. The tone is set the moment you walk through the grand iron gates, pass by the lavish fountain and parked Aston Martin, and up the regal staircase before entering the majestic lobby.
Surrounded by a secluded 50,000-square-foot garden, the only château-hotel in the French capital embodies the spirit of a private sanctuary within an already exclusive area.
From fields to finery
Saint James Paris has a rich history, blending cultural, intellectual, and social evolution. The site initially served as the city’s first hot air balloon landing field when the neighbourhood was leafy countryside.
Then it transformed into the private residence of President Louis-Adolphe Thiers. By 1892, it became the Thiers Foundation, supporting talented students with scholarships and lodging.
Later, it evolved into the Saint James Club of Paris, a premier Parisian members-only gentlemen’s club. Now part of the Relais & Châteaux collection, it remains a trusted holder of the club tradition and hosts members as well as functions as a luxury hotel, but we would rather call it an exclusive hotel.
Each room is unique
Thanks to a recent renovation led by French architect and interior designer Laura Gonzalez, Saint James shines brighter than ever. Each of the 50 rooms and suites – including some duplexes and two ground floor suites with terraces – are unique in colour schemes and design.
Spacious and bright, with high ceilings and floral wallpapers, they feature huge supple beds with velvet cushions, mirrored walls and doors, Versailles parquet floors, and antique details like vintage books, sculptures, and paintings.
The spirit of a collector's manor
Art Deco, ancient Greece, 19th-century Far East, and nature motifs coexist peacefully, alongside a Marshall Bluetooth speaker. It’s like a palace with the soul of a real home, inviting you to relax on the vintage chaise lounge or admire the luxurious curtains.
Once entered the room you instantly feel cosy and understand what the French call ‘art de vivre,’ a rare emotional comfort in hotels. The traditionally styled marble bathrooms, equipped with double sinks and Guerlain amenities, add to the luxury. The bath headrest pillow is a nice touch, making the sumptuous bath even more inviting.
Epitome of elegance and sophistication
As enticing as the rooms are, you will feel the need to spend time in the hotel’s common spaces. Starting with the open spaces outside the rooms, where you’ll find a supremely elegant and vast atrium with interconnecting walk ways and staircases.
To say that this grand labyrinth is beautiful just doesn’t do it justice; it’s an eye-catching display of busts and drawings, ornate ceilings and columns. Champagne-shade walls complimented by burgundy geometric carpets and a spiral staircase surrounded by mirrors creating a dreamy optical illusion. This is the ideal spot for your red carpet moment.
Downstairs the soaring, frescoed reception is an extraordinary setting on its own. Lavishly furnished with antiques it elevates the space beyond a generic boutique hotel lobby. A glorious place to sit and spend time admiring the architecture.
Fine dining
Breakfast is served at the exquisite Bellefeuille restaurant overlooking the serene garden with a beautiful gazebo bar and outdoor lounge. The garden décor is also reflected inside the restaurant with various plants and a green colour palette.
While there is no strict dress code, the ornate vases, lamps, frescos, and tinkling silver cutlery make wearing jeans and T-shirts feel almost disrespectful, even first thing in the morning.
The restaurant transforms into a Michelin-starred dining experience at night, allowing everyone to indulge in gastronomic creations by Chef Julien Dumas. When we say everyone we mean that dinner is the only time Saint James Paris is open beyond club members and hotel guests.
The Library Bar
Another perfect spot to enjoy a coffee in the morning or a cocktail in the evening is The Library Bar. This wood-panelled space feels very prestigious and classy, with its plush velvet sofas, antique lamps, winding staircase, coffered ceiling and literary spirit in the leather-bound book-filled walls. Nothing says ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ quite like this room.
The Guerlain Spa
The Romanesque-styled spa is a calming space filled with natural light pouring in through a glass ceiling. Guests can enjoy a 15m long swimming pool, bas-relief by François Mascarello, and Greco-Roman interior décor like roman columns, vases and white marble everywhere. The spa also features a thermal sauna, steam room, and hydro pool. Comfy loungers are a nice place to relax after a swim.
The spa spotlights products and fragrances from Guerlain, including some made exclusively for the hotel. Guests are also invited to try one of the signature treatments including the Imperial Relaxing Massage, Honey Repair Treatment or Dédicace Guerlain. Being asked to choose between several Guerlain’s perfumes to scent the treatment room is another lovely touch.
Down the hall is the well-equipped gym and studio that can be booked for classes, for those who still have energy after exploring Paris.
Saint James society
The time-honoured hotel traditions have been scrupulously respected, including a welcome note waiting for guests in the room and turn down service. The seamless service will impress even the most discerning of guests. The concierge will be only too happy to help organise your plans while you’re in town, whether that’s visiting one of the city’s most exciting exhibitions or catching a show.
The concierge staff wear a small golden keys badge attached to their lapels. This signifies Saint James Paris being a member of the prestigious hotel concierge society, Les Clefs d’Or, giving them skills, knowledge and connections to fulfil almost every wish you have. So guests can be reassured they’re in safe hands.
Vintage room keys dangle on wall hooks behind the reception desk, which of course is there as a place to store the keys while guests go out for the day – but why make the keys so impractical? They’re designed this way on purpose. “By requiring the key to be left at the front desk, staff can check on guests, ensuring their well-being and engage in friendly conversation. Thus, the key fosters a connection between guests and our team,” explains Nicolas Egloff, Director of Sales and Marketing at Saint James Paris.
The hotel also has a small fleet of high-end cars guests can hire, including an Aston Martin DB12 and Porshe 911 and allows well-behaved pets to join their humans. These cars have even been used for marriage proposals – which the hotel staff are happy to help facilitate.
Saint James Paris offers something other hotels can’t – an exclusive Château-Hotel that makes you feel like you’re in a private villa near the coast, with close proximity to famous landmarks like Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées and Place du Trocadero. It’s on another level when it comes to service, luxury and escapism, and stands with the very best.
More information about Saint James Paris can be found here.
Image credits: © Saint James Paris, Julien Mouffron Gardner, Peachy Prod
