Grand hotels can be intimidating. If you’re not used to staying in them regularly, you might feel out of place in such a classy and luxurious world, and you might shy away from these venues of elegance and refinement that nevertheless represent the very quintessence of the French art of living.
We are quite wrong to do so; the doors of luxury hotels and 5-star properties are not closed to passersby like us. We also have the right to experience exceptional moments there (I won’t say: “because we’re worth it,” but the sentiment is there!)
After immersing myself in the rich world of the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe, I wanted to encourage you to take a look, walk through the door, and enjoy the atmosphere of the place, whether by sipping a cocktail or indulging in a delicious dish.
The metamorphosis of the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe, which has just reopened after no less than 2 years of renovation, is thanks to the participation of Studio Putman and the touch that Andrée Putman herself wanted to bring to this space.
A few steps from the Champs-Elysées, behind a beautiful Haussmannian facade, the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe seduces with its very Parisian style.
Klein blue and checkered patterns, dear to Andrée Putman, serve as a common thread throughout the hotel.
A quick introduction to the premises:
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The Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe hotel
I invite you on a little guided tour in pictures; I often find that more descriptive than a long text, don’t you?
The Blue Salon is one of my favorite spots in the hotel. In front of the fireplace, it’s lovely to relax by escaping into artist books placed on the coffee table, while admiring the lithographs by Alechinsky, Bram van Velde, Niki de Saint Phalle, or even Christo on the walls, like a private gallery.
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The rooms at the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe
The 124 rooms of the hotel are meant to be soothing and reassuring refuges for travelers in the heart of the Parisian frenzy. These spaces are designed around 2 major axes: rest and well-being.
The little extra: the “well-being room” which can take up to half the surface area of the room to prioritize relaxation, well-being, and the bath ritual, complete with Hermès product bottles, bath glitter, scented candles, a bath cushion, and the possibility of enjoying a treatment or manicure in the privacy of your room.
An original mini-bar completes this well-being offer with a true world tour of flavors: artisanal lemonade, wine in tubes, beer brewed in France, surprising detox drinks, wasabi peanuts, or a square of artisanal chocolate.
On the courtesy tray, tea bags from the new Da Rosa tea house sit alongside gourmet sugars in the shape of the Arc de Triomphe, created specially for the hotel.
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The restaurant and bar at the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe
The cozy bar of the Sofitel is the first Da Rosa address to open in a hotel.
Lively at all hours, the bar changes atmosphere as the hours pass until it reaches the ambiance of a night bar, hosting live concerts and trendy DJs.
José Da Rosa’s grocery-canteen concept focuses on gastronomic local products from Southern Europe: hams, taramasalata, and wines for a gourmet journey through Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
The cocktail menu offers classics, but also creations including the “Arc Essentials,” the “Parisians” like the Vendôme (Tequila, Limoncello, vanilla liqueur, jasmine tea, smoked tea), or the Faubourg Saint-Honoré (Raspberry Vodka, crème de cassis, cranberry juice, vanilla, rose syrup, raspberry juice), and the “Da Rosa” selections like the Venice Spritz.
The tea room menu, which I really, really want to go and test, consists of an offer of 26 teas, a collection of sweet polenta, and a selection of the “best pastries in Paris,” showcasing 6 iconic pastries:
- the Paris Brest from La Pâtisserie des Rêves
- the lemon tart from Carl Marletti
- the Bambou from Sadaharu Aoki
- the old-fashioned macaron from Jean-Paul Hévin
- the Mont Blanc from Angelina
- the hotel’s signature dessert, created by pastry chef Michael Boivin (a religieuse whose flavor varies every month according to the seasons)
Second discovery: Initial, the restaurant of the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe, led by Chef Thomas Bruno, who offers modern French cuisine, advocating a certain return to simplicity. His cuisine follows the locavore movement and is crafted around fresh, local, and seasonal products from quality local producers, with the goal of sharing a certain conviviality.
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The fitness center at the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe
After the restaurant (to burn it off…), the hotel provides its guests with a SoFit fitness center, open 24/7, every day, which offers a selection of the latest cardio and weight training machines. Exercise cards allow for training according to a program adapted to one’s needs.
Personally, I would love to test the Urban Yoga cards, which offer a playful way to follow a sequence of yoga postures inspired by the most famous Parisian monuments (it sounds fun!).
We can also take advantage of Jogging maps to use with the hotel’s iPods, pre-loaded with playlists adapted to each route. It’s well thought out, really!
The little extra: the olfactory signature of the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe was created by Rami Mekdachi with the help of the famous perfumer Benoist Lapouza.
Its scent is composed of notes of mahogany wood, waxed wood, and patchouli, notes of green tea, matcha tea, smoked tea, and finally, a subtle touch of musk.
There you go, I hope this little presentation has made you want to push open the doors of the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe to discover it from the inside; in any case, that is what I encourage you to do!
Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe 14 Rue Beaujon, 75008 Paris
Find all my hotel reviews below:
⇒ All my hotel reviews
⇒ My hotel reviews in Paris
⇒ My hotel reviews in France
⇒ My hotel reviews worldwide
MY HOTELS IN PARIS
⇒ The Normandy Hotel
⇒ The Hotel Royal Madeleine
⇒ The Hotel Banke
⇒ Okko Hotel Porte de Versailles
⇒ Hotel de Malte
⇒ The Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization mandatory before any use
