Amy Adejokun
Section editor
This gem of a hotel, made up entirely of double rooms, has been decorated in a mix of 'Second Empire' and modern styles. It has many assets and a lot of charm, as seen in its splendid little interior courtyard.
17/20
Standing at the corner of the Rue de Archives and Rue de la Verrerie, this is a magnificent hotel in the heart of the Marais district. The neighbourhood has a completely strategic location and is also stunningly beauty. From the hotel, you can visit the entire historic centre of Paris on foot: Notre-Dame, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Ile Saint-Louis, and the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall): all are only a 20 minute walk away. Plus, one of the most picturesque sights in Paris is also only a few streets away: the Place des Vosges. The history-laden alleys that run through the Marais neighbourhood are rich in surprises and easily accessible from the hotel. A few metro stations and voilà: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Latin Quarter. The banks of the Seine are sometimes closed to traffic and provide the perfect setting for a nice stroll. Villa Mazarine is right next to the Hôtel de Ville metro station, on line 1, which runs across the whole of Paris; each stop leads to a world famous monument.
The hotel includes standard and superior double rooms, some duplex rooms, and an apartment. The simple categories are decorated with as much elegance as the luxury rooms. The only difference resides in their respective sizes. An original feature of this hotel is that each floor has a different style and personality, although the establishment follows a general common theme. The colour of the rooms and corridors changes from one floor to the next, here a green one, there a blue one, and then a grey one. Each floor is marked by a unique and particular atmosphere. Despite this diversity, all of the units are warm and inviting, and you'd be hard pushed to choose your favourite decorative theme. The elegant white furniture is made of wood and there are armchairs in every room, some even have a Hindu statue. The tiled bathrooms are decorated in dark grey and boast a very modern style. In the entrance of each room there is a 'courtesy' area with a sink, some crockery, and a minibar. The rooms on the 5th floor have a large balcony. The nicest units are the duplex rooms, with their beautiful sitting room on the bottom level and a cosy and charming room on the top one. Wi-Fi access is available for free.
The hotel stands on a street corner above a restaurant. The wrap-around windows afford some pretty nice views. Villa Mazarine is a beautiful hotel, full of charm and personality. It skillfully blends modern and designer interior and furniture with more traditional decorative elements. Thus, the corridors are painted in pastel colours (quite modern) and boast finely worked mirrors. 'Empire' style furniture covered with white fabrics has also been added for a modern touch. Finally, the old stone walls are lit up in pink. Thus, various styles, fashions, and trends are cleverly thrown together. One of the assets of the hotel is a little interior courtyard with a wooden terrace, furnished with chairs and tables. It's a nice place to have breakfast. In the basement, the 'official' breakfast room and hotel bar occupy a pretty cellar with vaulted ceilings. The highly sophisticated furniture and the tables with white tablecloths are another added touch of refinement.
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