17 bvd Poissonnière - Paris II

2018

Back when the Grands Boulevards were still a leafy promenade and the French Revolution was in full swing in 1789, this private mansion was built. Three centuries later, the Hôtel des Grands Boulevards was born.

The rooms play with the splendour of the period: canopy beds, glass-fronted cupboards and red marble, much loved by Louis XVI, are paired with a more rustic aesthetic — antique linen, textured plaster walls, weathered wooden furniture and bronze wall sconces with a beautifully aged patina.

Set between the street and an inner courtyard, the hotel reveals itself only after passing through the building’s entrance porch. A hidden retreat, a little secret tucked away from the bustle of the city. It is home to a generous restaurant led by Giovanni Passerini and an intimate cocktail bar beloved by the Experimental Group.

Set back from the street, as was customary at the time, the building offers a wealth of terraces and courtyards in which to gather and unwind. An outdoor bar, yoga classes, lush greenery and open-air grills bring these spaces to life, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out.

Client : Experimental Group

Chef : Giovanni Passerini

Interior architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Illustration + logo : Apolline Risser

Photos : Karel Balas & Paul Bowyer