Buzz about the Brach Hotel in Paris

A new Philippe Starck-designed hotel has opened with a bang in Paris. The 16th arrondissement neighborhood may not ooze “hip”, but by the looks of the launch party held last week— the Brach pulled out all the stops for the champagne-drenched soiree—the Brach Hotel is looking to change the quartier’s reputation. Lines were out the door for the invitation-only party, where acrobats, boxers, bird trainers (owls on their arms) and costumed revelers entertained the crowds. On a quieter day earlier in the month, we scoped out the premises and found that locals are loving the restaurant and bar. The building itself is a former mail sorting center (circa 1970s) with a wall of glass windows. Inside, the design is Starck through and through— an eclectic mix of custom furniture, books, and antiques with the 59 rooms lined with marble and exotic wood. Book a suite and you’ll be spoiled with a furnished outdoor terrace (jacuzzi, anyone?) with views of the Eiffel Tower. All suite guests get access to the hotel’s rooftop vegetable garden and henhouse; you can even choose your eggs for a morning omelette. On the lower level, the fitness club has been designed like a 1930s boxing club and has top-notch amenities and daily fitness classes. Local Parisians are already signing up to join the club in droves. The lap pool has one of the biggest hot tubs we’ve seen. This is the second Paris hotel for the Evok Hotels Collection after the Nolinski, which is a top five-star address on the Avenue de l’Opéra in the first arrondissement. Tip: The Nolinski’s brasserie is a popular place to eat lunch within proximity of both the Louvre and the Opera. Brach Hotel Paris, 1-7 Rue Jean Richepin, 75016, Tel: +33 (0)1 44 30 10 00.