En route to Hôtel Vernet from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the taxi driver circled Place Charles de Gaulle, better known as the Étoile, and turned right between the distinctive Louis Vuitton flagship store and iconic Le Fouquet’s restaurant on chic Avenue George V, one of the better known of the 12 streets radiating from the largest of the Parisian circles.

Moments later, the first right turn was onto the smaller rue Vernet to No. 20, a 5-star boutique hotel within one of the city’s many historic Haussmann-style buildings, a recognizable architectural legacy that contributes much to the beauty of Paris. In the 19^th century, Haussmann designed buildings for Napoleon III that are sized uniformly, with six-story facades, Mansard roofs with dormer windows, and wrought iron wraparound balconies on the “first” and upper floors.

© Irvina Lew

I was welcomed at the front door and, once inside, noticed the imposing original details — a curved staircase, both checkerboard marble and parquet flooring, high ceilings, wood and plaster moldings, and marble fireplaces. To connect the historic with the present, interior architect François Champsaur added a contemporary flair to the décor. On one side of the lobby, the library does double duty as a boardroom or cozy, private dining space; on the other, there’s a spacious lounge and bar — with white paneled walls and mirrors and a colorfully patterned carpet on the marble floor. The room is furnished with soft grey armchairs facing round marble tables under an abstract ceiling decorated with abstract art. Yet it’s the gorgeous ceiling in the adjacent V restaurant that is most notable; it was created by Gustave Eiffel.

© Christophe Bielsa

The dining room is reached through the lounge via a couple of wide steps bordered by stunning, scroll-like, black wrought iron handrails and is decorated with blue leather banquettes and green velvet chairs; framed abstract prints hanging in front of large mirrors repeat the colors.

Our top-floor living room and bedroom suite is tucked under the Mansard roof and boasts two sets of French doors opening to individual small terraces. They were so inviting we decided to have a piquenique in plein air. Then, we celebrated with our first apéro: Champagne, a grilled croque monsieur and pastries outside while taking in neighboring buildings.

© Christophe Bielsa

The modern living room houses a couch, two chairs, a desk and television large enough to view from the bed, which has a wood-paneled headboard wall and stunning lighting. Smartly designed wooden doors divide the two rooms and custom-crafted wooden built-ins occupy the dressing area, which leads to the large, marble-floored bathroom with twin-raised sinks and black and white tile work on the floors and around the tub.

© Irvina Lew

Hôtel Vernet is intimate, historic and stylish with an excellent location, lovely accommodations and first-class service. The hotel recently enhanced its culinary status by welcoming a new chef to its acclaimed V restaurant. Chef Baldassare Mazzara began his career in Italy and worked at Michelin-starred kitchens with Chef Andrea Incerti Vezzani and Chef Carlo Cracco. In France, he honed his skills with chef and World Champion Sommelier Enrico Bernardo, and with Meilleur Ouvrier de France, three-star Michelin Chef Eric Frechon, and at prestigious hotel establishments including Les Airelles and at George V.

Hôtel Vernet is part of BSignature Hotels & Resorts Group, a small chain of privately owned properties that includes Domaine De La Bretesche, in Brittany, France; Manopany, on Saint Barthélemy; and five hotels in Paris.

Hotel Vernet, Champs-Élysées

25 Rue Vernet
75008 Paris, France
tel 33 1 44 31 98 00