This Trendy New Hotel in Paris Is the Ideal Spot to Experience the City Like a Local

Paris is witnessing an exciting year for new hotel openings. Two hotels designed by Martin Brudnizki—the renowned Swedish designer's debut projects in Paris—are set to launch in 2023. Luxury hotspots like Rosewood’s Hôtel de Crillon in the 8th arrondissement and Relais & Châteaux’s Saint James Paris in the 16th have recently undergone enhancements, including a new dining option for the former and an interior refresh plus expanded spa facilities for the latter. This surge of openings and renovations is largely aimed at the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

However, the first major opening of the year, signaling the start of Paris's 2023 hospitality wave, is particularly thrilling: Hôtel Dame Des Arts debuted on February 1 in the sixth arrondissement on the Left Bank.

Hôtel Dame Des Arts, part of EQ Group’s collection of 18 properties throughout Europe, aims not to be the most luxurious hotel in Paris, but to provide an experience deeply embedded in the local Parisian culture, steering clear of typical tourist traps. Situated in the vibrant Latin Quarter, it's a mere 17 steps from the St. Michel metro station, and just 20 more to the Seine River and stunning views of Notre Dame Cathedral. In a city where hotel locations often cater to either tourist hotspots or trendy wine bars, Hôtel Dame Des Arts masterfully combines both. "My vision is for this place to evolve into a hub for artists and culture in Paris," shares Imshan Jamal, co-owner of EQ Group, as we enjoy Negronis in the atmospheric hotel lobby, relaxing on a spacious beige banquette, enveloped by the hotel's enticing signature scent crafted by renowned perfumer Arthur Dupuy—a blend of cedar, dry woods, and musk.

Just three weeks into its journey, the hotel’s vision is beginning to materialize. During both evenings we dined in the hotel’s restaurant, surrounded by art and literature sourced from Paris, all reflecting the rich history of the rive gauche, as Jamal explains. My favorite pieces were the framed book covers of Blaise Cendrars, a contemporary of rive gauche luminaries Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso, published by the progressive French publisher Les Écrivains Réunis.

Musicians such as electric guitarist Max Sokolinski and DJ Gini from Syck Talent provided the perfect backdrop for our meals, their modern psychedelic sounds creating a lively atmosphere without overwhelming our conversations.

"I made it a point to sit at every table in the restaurant to ensure I could hear the person across from me while the live music played," Jamal shares.

These are the types of artists who will perform on the hotel’s ninth-floor rooftop, boasting stunning views of the Eiffel Tower on one side and Notre Dame on the other, once spring and summer arrive. Paris is a famously low city with few skyscrapers, making this rare ninth-floor rooftop a prime spot overlooking Haussmannian architecture, providing unobstructed views of the city's landmarks from one of its highest open-air bars. Similar to New York, any expansive outdoor space is a major hospitality perk in Paris, and the rooftop isn’t the only highlight at Dame des Arts. An exquisite outdoor terrace, adjacent to the dining room and lined with palm trees (yes, palm trees in Paris), completes the outdoor experience. As Jamal puts it, the "panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking the major monuments, ground-floor garden, and wall-to-wall guest room windows create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience throughout the hotel."

The bar not only serves a selection of French wines (I particularly enjoyed the Provence-sourced Super Schluck vin d’orange) but also boasts an impressive array of mezcals and tequilas to complement the restaurant’s Mexican-inspired menu. (Mexican food? In France? was my initial reaction, but the aim is to attract locals and provide an alternative to typical Parisian bistro cuisine.) As a Los Angeles native known for its Mexican cuisine, I was delighted by head chef Othoniel Alvarez’s mushroom mole, tuna tostada garnished with crispy leeks, and churros accompanied by a Paris-Brest-style praline dipping sauce. Alvarez hails from Tenancingo, a Mexican state just south of Mexico City. In contrast, breakfast remains distinctly French, featuring croissants and pain au chocolats delivered from Liberté boulangerie across the river. Visitors should note that the entry-level rooms, starting at €369 (around $393 at the time of writing), are cozy at 15 square meters (161 square feet). However, they are well-equipped with a desk, a queen-size bed, a wardrobe, a Nespresso machine with locally roasted Lomi coffee pods, and a shower stocked with Diptyque toiletries. Of the hotel’s 109 rooms, 17 feature beautiful, generously sized balconies with views of the Eiffel Tower, while over half of the accommodations are “signature suites,” slightly larger at 200 square feet.

The interiors designed by Raphael Navot blend natural materials, featuring light chestnut paneling in the hotel rooms and luxurious black floors in the lobby crafted from burnt and laminated wood, all complemented by velour-upholstered furnishings. While the furniture is sourced globally, Jamal particularly admires the Roche Bobois pieces created specifically for Raphael Navot, including the distinctive oblong Moon Couch in the lobby, which is priced at $40,000. "Our hotels strike a balance between effortless elegance and an atmosphere where guests can mingle with local trendsetters," Jamal shares, noting the warmth and meticulous attention to detail reminiscent of more traditional luxury brands, but without the fuss.

Hôtel Dame des Arts not only marks the inaugural opening in Paris’s Year of Hotels but also stands as the first of three new EQ Group establishments in the City of Light. This summer, the hospitality company plans to unveil another hotel—the train-themed Hotel Les Grands Voyageurs in Saint-Germain-des-Prés—along with a new hotel located just outside the city in Boulogne. To learn more about Hôtel Dame des Arts and to book your stay, visit damedesarts.com.