Inside Look: Buddha Bar Hotel, Paris

With Valentine’s day around the corner, love is definitely in the air and Paris is once again calling our name. We thought it only fitting then to take an Inside Look at one of the hottest recent hotel openings in the world’s capital of amour: Buddha Bar Hotel Paris. It’s not everyday we find a place where neo-Asian fuses with classic French design, so we were definitely intrigued when a NYC hot spot hits the hotel scene in one of our favorite destinations.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic hideaway or a girls shopping weekend getaway, the decadent Buddha Bar Hotel may have just what you’re looking for. There’s a reason this place made our 2015 list of exciting openings, – let’s take a peek inside!

La Belle Epoque is alive and well in the Eighth Arrondissement, with a modern twist, that is. Thanks to the recent arrival of the Buddha Bar Hotel Paris in the heart of Faubourg Saint-Honoré, art lovers and shopaholics have a stylish new place to eat, drink and sleep.

We love it’s location (steps from Chanel, Ladurée, the Louvre, and La Madeleine church) and design which stays true to Buddha Bar’s signature contemporary Asian style in its properties around the world. However, the Paris location would not be complete without special French touches including traditional chandeliers and a garden courtyard for dining al fresco.

For those familiar with the brand, the 56-room Buddha Bar Hotel Paris definitely stays true to owner Raymond Visan’s vision to create a serene and tranquil environment. Visan, founder of George V Entertainment Group (which operates over 25 restaurants, spas, hotels and bars from New York to Budapest) partnered with interior designer Francois Wapler of Design Wapler & Associés for this property. Wapler has worked on a number of Buddha Bar properties in the past and has refined the brand’s style to fit its posh French address on the Right Bank.

We love that there’s an unexpected element when you arrive at the hotel. From the outside, you see a typical 18th century Hotel Particulier which was once owned by Augustin Blondel de Gagny, an art collector and treasurer for King Louis XV (I would love to have seen his expense reports). But as you know, facades can be misleading. Once inside the hotel, you step into a 21^st century Asian temple and are immediately greeted by 120 (to be exact) red glass lanterns. Stunning!

Vibrant yellow, red and black lacquered tones are paired with gold silk textiles and mirrored walls, giving the hotel a very contemporary yet somehow relaxing feel. Our favorite feature has to be the mosaic dragon (meant to symbolize strength and life) on the floor that greets guests upon arrival.

If you look closely, you can see dragons in other places including the light fixtures, carpeting and bathroom mirrors. We can see this turning into a fun “spot the dragon” game after a few drinks at Le Qu4tre, the hotel’s Japanese-style bar/lounge.

Of the 56 rooms, there are 19 suites with views ranging from Rue d’Anjou (the actual street of the hotel entrance), the hotel’s patio, or the famous Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The rooms are bursting with Asian-inspired furnishings such as the latticework headboard, scarlet rugs and black lacquered furniture. We also like the small, but important details such as the Nespresso coffee machines in each room, B/Attitude spa toiletries, the rain showers, and most importantly, the heated toilets.

Guests can choose between four room-types including: Rooms (choose between Superior Queen or Deluxe King), Studio Suites (comes with a lounge area), Prestige Suites (lounge area, large dressing room, 2-hour car service at your disposal) and Historical Suites (welcome bottle of champagne, fireplace, room for 12-person dining, and balcony overlooking Faubourg Saint-Honoré).

The Suite de Gagny (one of the Historic Suites) is the biggest, and most expensive room (starts at 2,000+ Euros). It includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious living room, a boudoir salon, a large balcony, a welcome bottle of champagne, caviar (of course), and VIP airport transfer. Lucky for us, wifi is free no matter what room type you book.

When it comes to food, the hotel’s contemporary restaurant, Le Vraymonde (named after the owner Raymond Visan), is a great way to start an evening. The interior design and Asian fusion food match the hotel’s style. We also like that the courtyard is open for dining (weather permitting).

After dinner, head to the hotel’s signature lounge, Le Qu4tre, which is designed with the elements of air, water, earth and fire in mind. These elements are also reflected in the selection of cocktails available which change seasonally. Don’t forget to check out the nightly DJ too.

For the morning after a late night out, we highly recommend a massage at B/Attitude spa which offers Asian and ayurvedic treatments (sign me up!).

To experience the stylish new Parisian digs for yourself, check out availability and rates with our partner, Classic Travel here. Right now, Buddha Bar is hosting a special offer: buy 2 nights, get the 3rd night free with daily breakfast included! Added amenities for signature suite (Prestige, Historic and Gagny) bookings include champagne and/or caviar 🙂

With the euro on a downward trend, these offers are hard to pass up: