Review / Le Grand Mazarin is the Marais, Paris’ new eccentric boutique hotel: the colourful, characterful property is covered in patterns and art, with influences from Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Maison Pariente’s Le Grand Mazarin is Paris’ hottest new opening of the summer, located on a side street in the heart of the bustling, LGBT-friendly Marais district
- The dollhouse-like hotel has artwork curated by Amélie du Chalard, fabrics from Maison Pierre Frey and bronzeworks by Maison Lucien Gau while the pool has a hand-painted, vaulted ceiling
Don’t let the unassuming entrance of Paris’ newest luxury hotel, Le Grand Mazarin, fool you. Located on a side street in the heart of the bustling Marais district, the hotel is easy to miss but once you step inside, the more-is-more decor of the place will certainly make an impression. Colour clashes, vibrant wallpaper and a great mix of artworks – more than 500 pieces curated by gallery owner Amélie du Chalard – seamlessly come together to create a chic and cosy vibe that’s a nice departure from the cookie-cutter approach of many hotels these days.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki, founder of London and New York-based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS), the hotel was six years in the making and is the first Parisian property from independent hospitality group Maisons Pariente, which already boasts five-star hotels in the South of France, Provence and the French Alps.
Reminiscent of a dollhouse, the hotel is quirky and adorable. Every single surface is covered in patterns, from the interiors of the wardrobes in the bedrooms to the tapestried canopy beds. Brudnizki and the company’s founders sourced vintage furniture at flea markets in Paris, London and beyond to give the place its distinctive eclectic look.
Some of France’s most prized artisans were commissioned to provide their services for Le Grand Mazarin, from Maison Pierre Frey for fabrics, Maison Lucien Gau for bronzeworks and Henryrot & Cie for furniture to Art de Lys for tapestry canopies, Pinton 1867 for rugs and Ateliers Gohard for paintings. The company also enlisted a number of artists to produce artworks within the historic 14th-century building, which has been completely refurbished but is very much rooted in the history of the Marais.
Most of the 50 rooms and 11 suites offer views of the happening neighbourhood, which is the former Jewish quarter of Paris and has long been a fashionable and gay-friendly area filled with hip boutiques, art galleries and all kinds of restaurants and bars. Le Grand Mazarin is also around the corner from one of Paris’ most beloved department stores, BHV, known for its great selection of fashion and design items.
The hotel’s only restaurant, Boubalé, specialises in Eastern European cuisine, serving Ashkenazi fare from Michelin-starred Israeli chef Assaf Granit.
A basement speakeasy, referred to by staffers as “le secret cabaret”, had yet to open during our stay but is certainly going to be a fun addition to the Marais’ already thriving nightlife scene.