Hotel Villa Marquis review: setting the scene for a playful stay in Paris

The theatrical undertones of the rooms are offset by technical diagrams and engineering drawings that pay homage to the industrial spirit of Paris and its monumental landmarks. Some guests need only to poke their head out of the window to marvel at perhaps the most famous… 

Hotel Villa Marquis’s luxurious bathrooms are perfect for relaxing in

Meliá Collection

Eating and drinking

Dos Almas is a new addition to the hotel – and a welcome one at that. For visitors who are tired of overpriced moules frites and steak tartare, this restaurant’s menu offers refreshingly authentic Spanish fare, including tapas sharing plates, meaty mains and the highly-recommended house sangria.

In collaboration with professional dancer Ruben Molina, diners are treated to an exclusive flamenco performance once a month. It was my first time seeing the traditional dance in the flesh and though I was initially a little sceptical, being some miles from the Spanish border, it was a delight to experience the dance and speak with Molina about how he has worked to bring the art form to Paris.

Restaurant Dos Almas is a new, and very welcome, addition to Hotel Villa Marquis

Meliá Collection

An extensive breakfast buffet is also served in the restaurant, and is sure to set guests up for a day for exploration and exertion.  

If you’re going all out, the nearby three-Michelin-starred Epicure will deliver a “culinary experience to remember” – although “the 400-euro price tag per head will seem frankly absurd” if you are just dropping in for a quick meal, said The Telegraph. Le 39v offers a “refined but relaxed” alternative on avenue George V.

What to do

If you spot the sign in reception directing you to the underground gym, you’ll be rewarded with a small but well-equipped and stylishly designed workout spot. But if exercise facilities aren’t quite your idea of a fun time, then guests can play dress-up in the Golden Triangle’s unrivalled shops, offering what is surely among the world’s best haute couture. 

A thorough renovation has seen Hotel Villa Marquis come to life with a modern style that nods to Parisian tradition

Meliá Collection

And if the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe or Sacre Coeur aren’t quite providing you with the view you’re after, there’s only one thing for it: take to the sky. For a real adventure, Hotel Villa Marquis’s team are only too happy to arrange helicopter rides for guests, offering the unique opportunity to experience Paris from an aerial perspective.

Guests will be greeted with champagne and have the chance to chat with their pilot before strapping in and getting on their way. With a range of destinations available, there’s surely no city break activity that could be more memorable, nor hit all the right kinds of rom-com drama notes.

Once back on firm ground, be sure to venture out in the evening and see the Eiffel Tower light up on the hour. Given that it’s mere moments from the hotel’s front door, it’d be rude not to.

Rooms start from £260 per (BB basis); melia.com

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/travel/957658/hotel-villa-marquis-review-paris-france