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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s Paris Guide
A recent conversation with a North American friend told me that for all its features, Paris lacks the cheerful U-shaped lobby bars common in hotels and brasseries on the other side of the Atlantic. That’s what he said. Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs’ beautiful brass and wood-paneled number is the first thing you see upon entering the hotel, and is a great value that tempts travelers and passersby to lean against it while enjoying a well-mixed cocktail. This is an addition.
Tucked away off the Boulevard Raspail, this hotel is nestled between Paris’ many family-run two- and three-star hotels, and one of the city’s few mid-market categories with a sophisticated style. It opened just a year ago with the aim of offering a stellar selection. There are accommodations of varying quality and famous palace hotels where you can stay from 1,300 euros per night. The store has a distinctly mid-century feel, from the brass table-top lamps and varnished wood in the bar to the record players and carefully selected vinyl records in some of the more expensive rooms. It advertises that it offers a “cross-section” concept.
Grands Voyageurs is located in a quiet corner of the exclusive 6th arrondissement, a few minutes walk from the Luxembourg Gardens and the exclusive shopping streets of Le Bon Marche. That said, Poppy, the luxurious speakeasy bar downstairs where we spotted a group of women doing lemon drop shots before a night out at a club in Saint-Germain, is a great addition to the area’s nightlife is.
While its sibling Hôtel Dame des Arts, which opened in 2023, has a more “party atmosphere” with a very lively rooftop bar when the weather is nice, London managing director Imshan “It’s the opposite,” Jamal says. Based owner EQ Group also owns properties in Switzerland and the UK and manages a portfolio of franchised hotels across Europe. “We wanted this to be like a secret hideaway, more discreet, a little more quiet in a secluded area.”
The interior, designed by Milan’s Fabrizio Casiraghi, aims to evoke the “golden age of travel,” Jamal said. This was a time when matching suitcases were sewn in leather, when transatlantic voyages often took weeks on ocean liners, and when flying was still free. A luxurious experience. Sources of inspiration range from sculptures at the nearby Bolduel Museum to 1940s riverboats. The bar area captures this well with golden uplight lighting that reflects off mirrors and glassware, and a cocktail menu that puts a travel-inspired twist on American classics. The bartender was knowledgeable and easily mixed up an off-menu Boulevardier for my companion and a Lemon Drop for me.
Guest room
The 130 rooms and eight suites are spacious for Paris in this price range and are well-appointed with teal carpets, warm wood paneling, and cream walls and linens. The midcentury style extends to the accommodation, from the black and cream tiles and porcelain finishes in the bathroom to the chrome desk with green leather blotting paper, reminiscent of ocean liners of the era. It has decorations and furniture that suggest. Nods to retro travel are tastefully done throughout, although the faux rope railing in the hallway feels a little on the nose. I ended the night satisfied listening to Charles Mingus on the indoor record player while looking out the window at the quiet street.
restaurant and bar
The restaurant takes heavy inspiration from New York brasserie cuisine, including burgers, lobster rolls, and cheesecake. At the time of our visit, the food and wine were serviceable but not memorable. Especially when compared to the many excellent choices Paris has to offer, from simple bistro fare to Michelin-starred explosives. The mignonette lacked punch and the chenin was a little flat on the palate, but the steak frites were a solid take on the classics, the oysters were plump and beautiful, and the service was attentive.
My other diners were a mix of English-speaking and French travelers. A polite standard poodle patiently waited under one of the tables for his owner to finish his meal, while a group of about two dozen women blew out the candles on their birthday cakes and drank champagne. Breakfast the next morning was a large buffet with both American (eggs, bacon, cereal) and Continental (toast, fruit, pastries) options.
For long-term guests, we also have a compact but well-equipped gym and infrared sauna. Electric bikes are available for rent, but adventurous tourists should be careful. Drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists in Paris can be said to be generous and flexible with the rules of the road.
On a rare sunny December morning in Paris, I felt refreshed and headed for the Jardin du Luxembourg, passing through the cafe terraces and browsing the boutiques on the Left Bank. Even though we were just across the Seine from our apartment, it felt like we had taken a short trip away from everyday reality. It was like staying in a good hotel.
Rooms and Suites: 130 rooms and 8 junior suites. 16 rooms can also be connected on request
Recommended for: A stylish yet relaxing stay on the left bank and a chic nightcap
Not suitable for: People looking for high-class cuisine
FYI: Artwork on display includes bas-reliefs by sculptor François Gilles and prints by Gustav Klimt, and the room’s star map carpet is inspired by the theme of transatlantic voyages.
Price: double from €380
Address: 92 Rue de Vaagirard, Paris 75006
Website; Directions
Adrien Classa stays as a guest at Hotel des Grands Voyageurs
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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