Hotel Marignan Champs-Elysées

The Hotel Marignan Paris is an excellent backdrop for those who love Victorian-era and modern high-end design. The exterior is almost divided in half. The upper floors retain the white, genteel details of the building when it was built as a private mansion in the 1850s. The lower floors have been redone in a sleek black finish with modern accents. That contrast parallels how designer Pierre Yovanovitch reframed the original ornamentation of the building -- with modern, polished surfaces and sharp edges. Inside, the lobby floor echoes the black-and-white front with a digitally scrambled zebra pattern. Much of the furniture is custom-made: A curvy, candy-apple-red bench pops against the two-tone floor. Yovanovitch off sets these sharp designs with a light-oak reception area and original building details, such as the flowery, wrought-iron banister. In the Canopee restaurant, pastel-green banquettes, glossy wood tables, and floral frescoes create a more natural palette that still retains a couture style. 

The Hotel Marignan Paris is in the 8th Arrondissement. Walking to the Champs Elysees and the "Golden Triangle" (which includes several upscale boutiques, including Yves Saint Laurent and Tiffany's) takes five minutes. The Arc de Triomphe is a nine-minute ride. The Grand Palais exhibition hall, an historic Beaux-Arts building of glass and steel that continues to showcase art, is an eight-minute walk from the hotel. The Louvre is 15 minutes away on the metro. For business travelers, La Defense business district is about a half-hour away by metro, or a 15-minute cab ride. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about a half-hour drive from the hotel.

Architect Pierre Yovanovitch envisioned the 50 rooms at the Hotel Marignan Paris as luxury residences to align the new design with the building's roots as a private mansion. Rooms range in size from 215 square feet to 430 square feet, and most have light-oak wood finishes and plush beds. The Premiere Room has two twin beds or a queen and a desk, and overlooks the courtyard. The Deluxe and Prestige Rooms range in size from 248 to 377 square feet, and include separate living areas. Some have 15-foot ceilings, two floors, and a view of Rue de Marignan or the courtyard. Suites on the sixth and seventh floors have terraces with views of the Eiffel Tower. The Friends and Family Room has, in addition to the bedroom, two trundle beds and a Murphy bed. All rooms come with espresso-makers, iHome docks, minibars, safes, bathrobes and slippers, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have designer fittings, black-marble finishes, and Guerlain or Clarins toiletries. Some bathrooms have only showers, and others have shower/tub combos. Suites include a standalone tubs.

While the Hotel Marignan Paris has nice amenities, some guests may be disappointed by the lack of a fitness or business center. For lunch, the Canopée restaurant serves French-Asian fusion cuisine, including dishes such as Wild Turbot with Jasmine Tea Broth, and Black Tie Linguine with Marjoram Pistou. A continental breakfast is available for a fee. The lounge serves small plates, such as burgers and smoked salmon. The private screening room fits up to 35 people, and can be used to watch sports or a DVD. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.