Les Plumes Hotel

Many great works of literature have been inspired by writers' love lives, and Les Plumes Hotel taps that theme for its interior decor. The building's facade establishes a lofty aura with neo-classical details such as an arched entryway accented with female figures, carved columns framing the doorway, and a wrought-iron relief covering the front doors. Inside, books are displayed on shelves and window sills alongside quill pens and top hats, suggesting a grand Victorian aura. The lobby also has a lounge/restaurant with cloth-covered Louis XV chairs set around cafe tables and a vintage fireplace. In the back, a patio with black wrought-iron cafe chairs and bistro tables gives guests an alfresco respite. Wallpaper patterned with black-and-white book spines makes the hallways resemble library stacks so that opening a room to the door looks like stepping behind the shelves.

Les Plumes Hotel is located on the Right Bank in the 9th Arrondissement, known as a business hub and as the home of the Paris Palais Garnier Opera house and several notable department stores. A metro stop is a short three-minute walk from the hotel. The Palais Garnier  is a 13-minute walk from the hotel, and other historic theaters are also nearby, such as the Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens, which is 16 minutes away on foot. The tree-lined Boulevard Haussmann, an eight-minute walk away, is home to several small boutiques as well as the flagship store for the Galeries Lafayette department store chain, which hosts a weekly fashion show, and the adjacent Au Printemps, which opened in 1865. A few interesting small museums are also in walking distance, such as the Musee Grevin wax museum (11 minutes) and the Fragonard Musee du Parfum (16 minutes). The Louvre is a 12-minute ride on the metro. Both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport are about a 30-minute drive from the hotel.

Les Plumes' Standard Rooms are decorated with Victorian-era flourishes, and several of the suites celebrate specific literary romances. The flowery oatmeal-beige walls and bedding in the 35 guest rooms are offset with bone-white headboards. Adding to the whimsy of the design are small details, such as oversize keyholes on the cabinets and reproduction antique telephones. Suites are thematically linked to specific writer romances, such as Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine. These rooms have pictures of the authors, silhouettes, and quotes written on the shower doors. Claw-foot tubs and antique wooden beams enhance the atmosphere. Bathrooms are modern, with polished stone walls and modern designer fixtures. Standard Rooms are showers only, while Suites have tubs. All rooms come with minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. 

The features at Les Plumes are limited, which is typical for a small boutique hotel in Paris. The lobby lounge serves a buffet breakfast (for a fee), with drinks available later in the day. Free coffee and tea are available throughout the day as well. Newspapers and laundry service are also available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.