Hotel Maison Colbert review: an elegant Parisian palace with iconic views

The French capital is synonymous with art, style and history – and as a visitor, finding a way to experience all three in a time-limited city break can be something of a challenge.

For a whistlestop trip to Paris, I’d argue there’s almost no better location – at least where I’ve had the joy of staying – than Hotel Maison Colbert. Tucked away just off Quai de Montebello, which runs along the southern side of the Seine river, it takes mere minutes to walk from the hotel’s charming reception to the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, beloved Shakespeare and Company bookshop, and the renowned cafe culture of the Latin Quarter.

“Boutique” doesn’t get close to doing this Meliá Collection hotel justice. The impressive building, which dates back to the 16th century, has the feel of a palatial gallery. Designed by Álvaro Sans and his daughter Adrianna Sans, Hotel Maison Colbert offers the chicness one would hope for when visiting Paris.

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Why stay here?

The hotel itself strikes that enviable Parisian balance between an effortlessly chic aesthetic and comfort in its most luxurious form. Enter through the street-facing courtyard, overlooked by Juliet balconies and windows trimmed with greenery, before being welcomed in the decadent reception. Classic French furniture adds more than a little style to checking in.

Being a Meliá Collection hotel, it’s only fair that there’s a little Spanish flare on show too. Each of Maison Colbert’s 39 rooms are inspired by a Joaquín Sorolla painting – a fitting choice, given Sorolla is dubbed “Spain’s Impressionist”, according to The National Gallery.

Each room or suite has been individually designed to maximise the space. Have a coffee and peer out the window to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, if you’re lucky enough to have a room with a view on it, or flick through art books and magazines while reclining on the magnificent beds.

The red velvet curtains in my room added a Moulin Rouge-esque flare to the ambience (which is only a good thing, in my opinion), and the en suites feature waterfall showers and sumptuous Rituals toiletries.

Eating and drinking

Café Clotilde, named in tribute to Sorolla’s wife, serves an extensive breakfast menu, with a buffet, hot and cold menu, and delicious cafe au laits (or whichever caffeine hit you might require). Enjoy it in the stylish dining room, or al fresco in the courtyard.

For lunch and evening fare, walk just a few minutes around the corner from the hotel and you’ll be presented with a host of different eateries catering to different budgets. Atelier Maître Albert is one that comes highly recommended by the hotel. With a menu designed around grilling and spit-roasts, it’s a feast for meat-eaters, and features changing daily specials depending on what’s on offer at the market.

A little further into the heart of the Latin Quarter, the famous Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots fight it out for literary-lovers’ attention. Both brasseries have hosted their fair share of creatives and intellectuals, including Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway. Though a touch on the touristy side as a result, it’s worth stopping and watching the world go by with a coffee in hand – or something stronger.

What to do

After idling along historic Parisian streets and visiting the city’s unrivalled art galleries and most-famed attractions, you might be after a slightly different view of the French capital. There’s arguably few better than those offered by a cruise along the Seine.

Arranged through Hotel Maison Colbert, you won’t find yourself packed into one of the many tourist-laden ferries that traipse up and down the river each day. Instead, a much smaller (and more comfortable) vessel will allow you to drift up the river at a more leisurely pace for a much more enjoyable experience.

And if fashion is more your creative outlet than literature, then there’s no better place to express it than in Paris. The history of couture is interwoven with the city’s, but experiencing this cultural legacy as a visitor can be a tricky task, unless you happen to be visiting during Fashion Week.

Hotel Maison Colbert has collaborated with Teran Conde, a Spanish brand with its roots firmly planted in both Valencia and Paris, to offer guests an exclusive opportunity to learn first-hand about the art of couture. Spend a morning crafting a couture accessory with designer Esperanza, using traditional techniques and exquisite materials to leave Paris with a souvenir that’s leagues above your run-of-the-mill fridge magnet…

Hotel Maison Colbert, 7 Rue de l’Hôtel Colbert, 75005 Paris, France. Rooms start from £302 per night (B&B basis); melia.com