Hôtel Le Cristal Champs Elysées ★★★★

The Cristal Champs Élysées is in the quiet little street of Rue Washington, stunning with its renovated 18th century building. The quiet is surprising when you consider it is in the heart of the 8th arrondissement and both within walking distance of the Arc de Triomphe and literally a minute from the Champs-Élysées. One of the most iconic streets on the planet, the Champs Élysées is one side of the famous Golden Triangle shopping district, with the Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V closing this little haven of luxury. The Arc de Triomphe is a mere 550 metres away. The George V metro stop is a 2-minute walk down the road so you have easy access to all the Parisian attractions. It is also only 2 minutes from the RER line, giving direct access to La Defense, Disneyland Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport. But if it’s shopping you’re after, you’ve come to the right place! This is the land of Vuitton, Mont Blanc, Dior, Channel and other international luxury brands.

The quiet street may have been a surprise, but that was nothing to the shock of the modernity in the interior. In the lounge bar, soft pastel pink, green, or burnt orange velour chairs with blue velour cushions just make you smile the moment you walk in. Even the bottles on display are artfully arranged in colours sometimes clashing, sometimes matching, but always different. We were greeted with a smile, and asked if we wanted any information or help with booking tickets or tours. We didn’t, but it was nice to know the offer was there.

In our bedroom, the colours were still bold, but softened by a graceful mixture of gaunt angles and curving sweeps. These colours and shapes are not random: designer Mattia Bonnetti and architect Philippe Medioni have combined their art to create a unique concept in a line of boutique hotels, with the jolt of the ultra-contemporary softened by the gentle shapes and soft tones, curved furniture and gentle lighting. A softly curving stand-alone bath in the bathroom and hand painted ceramic tiles engender a luxurious atmosphere. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom flawless, and everything was clean and fresh. Wi-Fi, safe, mini-bar and lovely toiletries meant we had four-star luxuries to hand. The hotel’s name is not random either: the rooms are furnished in rock crystal and carved wood designs. 

If you weren’t really awake by the time you arrived in the ground-floor breakfast buffet, you soon would be! Bright multi-coloured walls and chairs, shiny satin seat-backs and random coloured cushions, one stately crimson amaryllis on each table, even a deep cerise on the inside of the cereal bowl add up to a heady mix that blows away any lingering cobwebs. What a refreshing way to wake up and enjoy breakfast before going out into the legendary streets of Paris to enjoy all the city has to offer. Our packed, busy, buzzing few days in France’s capital and the world’s favourite city could not have been better. Always something new to discover, always a new fashion boutique or exciting art exhibition, always utterly invigorating. The Cristal Champs Élysées suits the city; it’s in the right place and so were we! Our colourful haven will stay in our rainbow memories of Paris for a long time.