L'Hôtel

"How did it strike you on arrival?The spirit of Oscar Wilde—or, at least, his love of decadence—lives on at the one of the smallest five-star hotels in Paris. Housed in a 19th-century building (built on what was once the site of Queen Margot’s “pavilion of love”), the intimate hotel was for decades a popular hideaway for solace-seeking celebs, from Wilde (who lived at the hotel until his death) to, later, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Jim Morrison. Re-designed by interiors guru Jacques Garcia, the décor pays tribute to that Old World glamour with lots of jewel-toned fabrics, dim lighting, and velvet couches set under a central domed ceiling. Nice. What’s the crowd like?You'll find a mix of global nomads, discreet lovebirds, and history buffs talking low in the warren of cushy nooks. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The 20 rooms have been individually decorated in a range of styles; some adhere to the romantic, Baroque and Indochine drama of the public spaces, with brocade-covered headboards, textured wallpaper, and ornate antiques, while others have mirrored Art Deco detailing, or clean Scandinavian lines. The Oscar Wilde Suite, in which the writer lived, has its own terrace, while the Apartment, the largest suite, has silk-covered walls and a terrace with views of the bell tower at Saint-Germain-des-Prés; it also comes with one hour of private access to the pool. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Bathrooms vary in size (most just have showers, while the suites have separate showers and tubs), but all come with Green & Spring bath products. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi is free, as is daily continental breakfast. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The appropriately dramatic Wilde’s Lounge serves cheese and charcuterie boards, cocktails and wine, plus live jazz the first Thursday of every month. The hotel's underground hammam pool and steam room—set in the building’s former vaults—can be privately reserved; just ask the concierge. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Soak up history, as seen through the lens of one of today's top design masters, in this discreet, charming, and thoroughly romantic hideaway. It's easy to see why Oscar Wilde famously "lived above (his) means" to stay here." - Sandra Ramani