"How did it strike you on arrival?Reflecting its surrounding area—where the Tuileries gardens and Place Vendôme mingle with residential buildings and neighborhood schools and churches—La Roche tempers high design and haute cuisine with a relaxed, unassuming vibe. The first hotel project for designer Sarah Lavoine, known for her Parisian boutiques and lifestyle product collections, the tucked-away hotel (pronounced “la rock”) nails the home-away-from-home feel with spaces that flow gently into the next, beginning with a smart library filled with art and design books, a fireplace, and sofas made for sinking into. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Discerning travelers with an eye for detail and a love of the authentic nod in recognition of each other over cocktails in the garden. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Upholstered headboards, Art Deco-inspired style, patterned rugs, limited-edition lithographs, and a palette of mustards, woods, and deep blues help infuse the 37 rooms with both style and soul. Sizes range from a not-too-tight Cozy to Indulgence suites with private steam baths. All are kitted out with flatscreen TVs, Bluetooth speakers, tea and coffee making hardware, and an interactive tablet that connects you to the internet, room service, and a live chat with the concierge. Everything is bathed in flattering lighting, courtesy of the large windows, interior reflective paneling, and discreetly-placed bulbs. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Stylish bathrooms are powered by Italian showers or bathtubs (ask in advance, if you have a preference), and products from French brand, Codage. The Deluxe Indulgence rooms have beautifully tiled en-suite hammams. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi is complimentary. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?All the staff are helpful and quick with tips, but particularly notable is the concierge team. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The kitchen crafts seasonal, flavorful works of culinary art, from hearty breakfasts and gourmet lunches and dinners in the restaurant to light bites in the lounge (Note that the restaurant is open for lunch Monday to Friday and dinner Tuesday to Saturday.) Handcrafted cocktails and fine wines can be enjoyed around the fireplace, on the terrace, or in the peaceful garden. The wellness level helps you keep active with a small, mirror-lined gym, detoxed with a steam hammam, and relaxed with personalized Codage spa treatments, including a signature, 75-minute massage/facial combo. Rare for Paris is the swimming pool, this one made of black lava rock, and flowing right into the hammam. Bottom line: worth it, and why?If you like discerning design without the attitude, this central hideaway is yours for the savoring." - Sandra Ramani
