Maison Barrière Vendôme has some very famous neighbours. Located between the Place Vendôme and the Tuileries Garden, it’s right around the corner from Le Meurice and the Ritz, two grande dames of the Paris hotel scene where the well-heeled traveler comes to see and be seen. Maison Barrière offers something quite different. The vibe here is that of a luxury townhouse, where sumptuous furnishings and spacious suites (some of which have full kitchens, where guests can cook for themselves using recipes and ingredients provided by the hotel’s restaurant team) allow guests to live out the fantasy of owning a Parisian pied-à-terre.
Each room and suite is named after a notable woman, ranging from Marie Curie to Nina Simone, and interior designer Daniel Jibert incorporates nods to their lives in the rooms’ décor. My home for the evening is the Josephine Baker suite, complete with refined nods to jazz age Paris and a selection of books about her life. Every detail here is well-considered, from the intricate mosaic detailing on the wardrobe doorhandles to the built-in bluetooth speakers in the living room and bedroom. Summer 2025 will see the opening of a spa in the hotel’s historic cellars, with treatment rooms, a cold plunge pool and a sauna.
Frida, the hotel’s bar-restaurant, is a colourful tribute to Frida Kahlo, with vibrant Murano glass pieces designed to echo the Mexican artist’s exuberant work. The menu features Parisian classics like a croque monsieur (served with truffle shavings for added glamour, naturellement) as well as some dishes that nod to the space’s Latin American vibe, such as the delicately zingy sea bream ceviche. Come summer, diners and guests will be able to enjoy Frida’s courtyard.
Neighbourhood
This is Paris at its most glamorous. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Boucheron are just some of the luxury brands with outposts on the Place Vendôme. The neighbourhoods’ iconic hotels have a selection of chic bars, but nightlife isn’t the area’s speciality, so if you’re looking to be in the heart of the action when night falls, head elsewhere.
Nearby
Cafe Nuances: for delicious coffee in a chic space that combines art deco elements with zinc countertops and chrome finishes
Le Petit Vendôme: for the jambon beurre sandwich, crowned the world’s best ‘wich by Time Out earlier this year
Charlotte Chesnais: if you don’t quite have the cash for Cartier, this French brand makes stunning sculptural jewellery at more accessible prices
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