Located just a stone’s throw from the Champs-Élysées, Le Pavillon des Lettres is a discreet homage to the literary history of both Paris and the wider world. If you looked up the word “boutique” in the French-English Dictionary, you would find this; a 26-room establishment that blends perfectly into its surroundings. Stepping into the reception area, you feel more like a Parisian that a tourist.
Each of the rooms and suites are dedicated to a different letter in the alphabet, and a great writer from European history; think S for Shakespeare and B for Baudelaire. It certainly adds a more human twist to the usual ordering of numbers rather than names. Our room, T for Tolstoy, was very clean and, although quite small, it had huge floor-to-ceiling windows and Juliet balconies overlooking the street below. The views down the street and towards the Arc de Triomphe were definitely impressive. The en-suite bathroom was actually quite large for the room, with a very deep bath and well-finished furnishings. Quotes were inscribed over the head board and the glass for the bathroom, which made for a good read.
In the mornings, breakfast was served either in-room or downstairs. Surprisingly, the in-room option actually provided more of a variety in terms of dishes, so I’d actually advocate being slightly lazier if you stay at Le Pavillon des Lettres. We found that there wasn’t too much else of the hotel to explore anyway, apart from an al fresco terrace, as most of the focus is on the actual rooms. That being said, all of the staff were incredibly friendly and were very helpful in helping us navigate the local area.
For me, the main selling point of Le Pavillon des Lettres is the location. The 8th arrondissement is a lot less tourist-laden than other parts of the French capital, yet most landmarks are within easy walking distance. It took less than half an hour to walk to Galeries Lafayette or the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower was only a ten minute drive away. If you are after a big hotel then this may not be for you, but if you want peace, quiet and a sense of being a local with easy access to the most important parts of the city, then Le Pavillon de Lettres is definitely for you.
