What’s Hot: Hôtel National des Arts & Métiers Opens in Paris
The latest Paris hotel to open its design-centric doors is Hôtel National des Arts & Métiers, nestled in the North Marais. It’s just a stone’s throw from the Centre National des Arts & Métiers, Paris’s centuries-old engineering and manufacturing institute, to which the hotel pays tribute with its timeless, hand-crafted design.
Similar to Hôtel Bachaumont, the Clé Group’s first masterpiece, you enter into a world that immediately captivates your imagination. Designer Raphael Navot along with architect Daniel Vaniche have taken great care in redesigning this historic space, composed of two Haussmannian buildings. The spaces are defined by color and light, with woodwork, pillars, marble floors and wall murals designed by top craftspeople.
The casual La Cicchetteria National offers a lounge and outdoor terrace where you can dine on Venetian tapas, or cicchetti. Le Ristorante National takes its cues from restauranteur Julien Cohen. This Italian trattoria features velvet couches and vintage Tatra chairs coupled with industrial wooden tables. What about the food? The menu includes seared octopus over burrata, and pasta selections from all over Italy, including cacio e pepe from Rome and Ligurian trofie al pesto. The extensive wine list comes in both Italian and French.
The hotel bar, L’Herbarium, creates its own sensory experience. Star barman Oscar Quagliarini mixes cocktails much like a perfumer would blend his fragrances. Each drink is uniquely designed to awaken the senses. It’s rumored that Kevin Spacey recently celebrated his birthday here with Bono by his side.
As if a glass roof opening up to the sky wasn’t enough of a delight, make your way to the rooftop bar and enjoy a Spritz beneath the stars with the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the distance. Be sure to book in advance as it fills up quickly!
The journey into color and texture continues inside the rooms at Hôtel National. Spread across six floors are 70 bespoke rooms, each outfitted with unique décor and artwork. Many of the spacious rooms ranging from 20m2 to 33m2 boast a balcony with views overlooking Paris’s coveted rooftops. The most luxurious option is the 100m2 penthouse on the 6th floor, in which you can live like a vrai Parisian.
Hôtel National des Arts & Métiers, 243 Rue Saint-Martin, 75003. Tel: +33 (0)1 80 97 22 80. Rates from 188 euros. Website: https://www.hotelnational.paris
Lead photo credit : Hôtel National des Arts & Métiers. © Jérôme Galland