Hôtel Daniel

Entrance
The Hôtel Daniel may look like a classic Parisian hotel with its Haussmann façade, canopy and shrubs, but cross the threshold and you arrive in an astonishing oriental lounge.

A series of sofas, armchairs and low tables, this lounge stretches the full length of the building and sets the tone of the establishment. Its walls are lined with wonderful hand-painted Chinese wallpaper depicting birds with bright plumage set off against the soft colours of garden scenes and it delivers a sophisticated array of marquetry tables incrusted with mother of pearl, cushions, silver plates, earthenware, bamboo screens, orchids, paintings and Chinese porcelain.

The mix of patterns and shapes is clever but unexpected, and the tones of soft green, blues, bronze, mauve and orange come together in perfect harmony. The lighting brings out the vivid colours of the silk cushions and the more muted shades of the velvet sofas.

Access to the bar and restaurant is through reception. This is a more confined space, concealed behind a partition opposite the entrance, with a long banquette and a few tables where a combination of bamboo light fittings and silk cushions, silver leaf, a display cabinet full of brightly-coloured glasses and mother of pearl incrustation transports you to an imaginary Saigon.

The rooms
The rooms are designed like veritable little cocoons, all with a different décor and atmosphere: some are softer, some are fresher and some cosier, depending on the dominant colour scheme and the Toiles de Jouy motifs that adorn them, each from a grand designer, be it Pierre Frey, Nobilis or Schumacher. Predominantly delicate motifs in plum, grey-blue, brown or raspberry, they evoke travels to far-off countries: “Voyage de Marco Polo”, “Kipling”, “Bahia” or the “Foire du Caire”.

The designer has managed to bring the voyage to life with the quirky addition of statuettes of the characters on the fabrics, from a little monkey to a Chinese pilgrim, in some of the rooms.

Self-coloured curtains and bedspreads with overstitching, wardrobes and voiles all tie in with the dominant colour scheme. The light-coloured, thick-pile carpets are also self-coloured. The furnishings combine elegant George Smith English-style armchairs and Oriental bureaus heavily encrusted with mother of pearl. Retro switches control the indirect lighting provided by standard lamps or lamps of Chinese inspiration. There is a selection of games, magazines and books available in the rooms.

The bathrooms are well-equipped, most with a bath, and covered in white mosaic tiles or marble. A mix of styles gives you hammered metal sinks with retro taps and Molton Brown products with traditional olive oil soaps and Dead Sea bath salts.

A weather forecast for the following day is provided at evening turndown. A gourmet bistro menu is available from room service 24 hours a day. There is a bellboy service and guests can borrow a music system or DVD player or hire a mobile phone. 

Room types
The hotel has five types of room: the Classic Single, Classic Double, Junior Suite, Suite and the “Suite Daniel”.

The Classic Doubles are more spacious than the Classic Singles and have a small sitting area with an armchair.

The Junior Suites have a more comfortable sitting area, sometimes separate from the bedroom, while all the Suites have a separate lounge.

The most spacious of the suites is the “Suite Daniel” which has a lounge with beautiful middle-Eastern furniture and a pleasant private balcony. The fern-patterned Toile de Jouy in incredible blues, verdigris and creams, sets a very soothing ambience.

The rooms look over the street or a large courtyard. Those on the top floor have sloping ceilings and a few beams for added charm. The rooms overlooking the street on the second and fifth floors have a balcony on which you can breakfast.

Breakfast
Meticulously served in beautiful crockery, there is a choice between a Continental breakfast, comprising hot drinks, freshly-squeezed juices, pastries, compotes and jams, and an American breakfast which also offers fruit salad, cereals, dairy products and egg dishes.