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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s Paris Guide
The immediate area of Gare du Nord is hardly anyone’s first choice when booking a hotel in Paris. Unlike the trendy pedestrianized food and shopping haven that borders St. Pancras Street on the other side of the La Manche River, this seedy 10th Arrondissement area remains a decidedly undesirable place. I was intrigued to hear that a fashionable, child-friendly 4-star hotel was opening just a short drive from the Eurostar terminal.
Bringing a cool Balearic vibe, towering plants, beaucoup de latin, and funky lighting to the unassuming Rue Château Landon, Bloom House is like an urban oasis. Its delicate, modern exterior only hints at what’s inside. Bloom Garden is probably one of the most spacious and comfortable hotel bar-restaurants in the city.
When we arrived there was a short wait to check in. It was slow to beat other couples and families who had just departed from the Eurostar on Friday night, but it’s a sign of early success for this stylish 90s outfit. An important facility that opened at the end of last year.
restaurant and bar
The 360-degree terracotta-covered bar is at the heart of Broome’s spacious open-plan ground floor, set in a lush garden overlooking a small pool lined with trendy jelly tiles, offering everything from drinks to dinner to mid-dinner drinks. You can enjoy it. To my mind, the relaxed atmosphere is more Mallorca or North Africa than Paris, with its china shelves, fringed lampshades, Berber rugs, tiled table tops, and trailing potted plants. It had a bit of a concept store feel to it, and I thought I’d pick up some of the nice urns and vases to check the prices.
As we sipped on the Welcome Wakame Whiskey Sour (a mix of Arcachon algae, elderflower syrup, and nori-smoked whiskey created by world cocktail champion and champion barista Victor Delpierre), A Scandinavian hen party dressed in sequins gathered around a large table. In another photo, the French actor was seen drinking quietly with friends, undisturbed.
The hotel’s restaurant “Bloom Garden” is run by Olivier Streif, known for being a finalist on the French TV show “Top Chef” in 2015, and has a striking Dali-inspired exterior. He runs the acclaimed restaurant Le Relais du Saukes, which he led in Beaune. The menu he has created here reflects a Mediterranean feel with mezze-style appetizers including excellent caviar. Daubergin – his interpretation of Baba Ganoush – and sweetbread and cognac samosas. This was followed by black cod with tangy grapefruit and crunchy endive, topped with decadent truffle risotto and pineapple and caramel cheesecake.
Breakfast the next day was also in the open-plan restaurant area, with a leisurely brunch-like feel, with a buffet table filled with viennoiserie, bread, ham, smoked salmon, and cheese. The only downside was the mushy fruit salad and when we asked for coffee we were pointed to the coffee machine with a gesture to make our own coffee, which is certainly a good machine but still a disappointment.
Guest room
Our room was certainly small, but it was well-designed to make good use of the space, with an integrated sink, mirror, coat rack, and a small shower and toilet tucked away. A relaxing palette of sage, terracotta, and wood and tufted straw lampshades made the space feel inviting rather than claustrophobic. A small balcony with two cane chairs opens onto the building’s courtyard, a vast whitewashed wall emblazoned with the Bloom House logo, and a neon light sculpture echoes over the bed. Ta. Cheerful artwork, such as the now-classic framed fern painting and block-printed posters that say “Mon Cour Fe Bloom”, add to the decidedly millennial vibe.
spa and pool
Swimming pools are popping up in new hotels across Paris these days, but most are less than 10 meters long. The Blumhouse fish is located on the minus one floor and measures a whopping 18 x 4 meters in length. On a Sunday morning, it was busy with guests taking full advantage of the massage jets, lounging on cabana beds, and wandering in gowns and slippers between the two treatment rooms and the sauna. There are a variety of treatments on offer, from standard massages to luxurious treatments such as a full body wrap with 24-carat gold powder, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to sample them. The stylish gym next door was stocked with Nohrd’s classy wood-inlaid machines and cork yoga mats for those looking to stretch in style.
At a glance
Number of rooms: 90
What we love about it: Central location with easy access to Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est makes for a fun family stay.
Not suitable for: People who want to expand – the room is small
FYI: Pets are allowed for an additional fee
Price: double from €160
Address: 23 Rue du Château Landon, 75010 Paris
Website; Directions
Rebecca Rose stays as a guest at Blumhouse
Do you have a favorite hotel in Paris? Tell us about it in the comments below. Follow FT Globetrotter (@FTGlobetrotter) on Instagram.
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