Madame Rêve embodies French luxury hospitality – imagined by the hotel’s founder and art director, seasoned Parisian businessman, restaurateur and hospitality expert Laurent Taïeb, whose hospitality group owns notable Paris restaurants Kong, and Le Trésor.
Madam Rêve is located in the heart of historic Paris, in the 1st arrondissement, a few minutes from the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, the newly reopened Samaritaine department store, Les Halles, the Louvre, the Palais-Royal, and just four blocks away from the Seine.
The area has undergone a massive cosmetic overhaul, and is slowly, but surely, replacing the chicest section of the 8th arrondissement as the city’s new “triangle d’Or” – golden triangle.
The hotel’s discreet luxury comes in a perfect blend of old-world meets modern day in the old La Poste du Louvre, built in 1888 – a giant arcaded Haussmann building that was the city’s first (and only) 24-hour post office in Paris’ Rue du Louvre.
After nine years of painstaking work under the direction of Taïeb, the magnificent landmark building is now home to Madam Rêve, offices, shops, a police station, and a working post office. The newly opened hotel already feels like a destination.
Taïeb wanted to tell a contemporary Parisian tale – “Madame Rêve” (madam is dreaming) is the title of a 2015 book by Pierre Grillet, and of a 1991 song he wrote for Alain Bashung, the French singer, songwriter and actor, who in France is considered the most influential singer of French chanson and French rock.
A deceptively small entrance belies the hotel’s grandeur – there are no flashy signs, flags or sentries at the door – you either know it’s a hotel, or you don’t. But it’s not going to be a secret for long!
The ground floor evokes the 1880s, while the upper two levels transport you back into the 21st century. The small, but perfectly formed lobby is resplendent with mosaics, murals and antiques.
The glittering mosaic on the floor pays homage to the post office, bearing its opening date of 1888. The ethereal mural behind the check-in desk is a romantic fresco of Madame Rêve by French artist Jacques Villeglé, merely a taster of the art that celebrates women, along with self-portraits by Inès Longevial and Christine Safa, and photosets of female-led sports throughout the 20th century on display in the hotel.
Working with architect Dominique Perrault, who designed the imposing Bibliothèque nationale de France, Taïeb employed the best French craftsmanship in furniture, cabinetry, mosaics and glassworks to complete his vision.
For the decoration, historical pieces have been tastefully renovated or reinterpreted for the 21st century, drawing on a late 19th-century aesthetic created by the best French artists, and artisans to develop luxurious fittings and fixtures in rich woods, marbles, and bronze.
Sofas take inspiration from the French designer Louis Majorelle. Vases by Emile Gallé, chandeliers by Josef Hoffmann, and bespoke lamp fittings come in the shape of a woman’s décolleté in a nod to the imaginary Madame Rêve, as does the hotel’s signature scent that permeates the hotel in warm rose and cedar created by French perfumer Olivia Giacobetti.
Colours are driven by the late designer Andrée Putman who, it is said, told Taïeb, “that if life has a colour, it’s golden brown”, so expect much of this warming hue throughout. Appropriately, the decoration pays homage to its past with 800 pieces of mail art purchased from one collector.
The corridors form an infinite loop, and all rooms are easy to find thanks to the signs and directions denoting the street they’re facing – the building is enormous and faces four streets: Rue du Louvre, Rue Etienne Marcel, Rue Jean- Jacques Rousseau, and Cour Gutenberg.
The rooms embody the essence of French savoir faire. They are smart, sophisticated, and seductive with warm golden browns. The bathrooms feature Bisazza bronzed mosaic tiles and gold-flecked lights. The subtle, yet elegant mail theme, continues in the rooms where a bespoke rug created to look like a telegram peeps out from underneath the bed with a tongue-in-cheek quote from comedian Jean Yanne that, in French, reads: “Dear, I tried to pay my taxes with a smile, but they preferred a check.”
There are onyx desks, tables, tan leather chairs, brass lamps, sleek walnut wood panelling, and parquet flooring. A good night’s sleep is almost guaranteed with sumptuous linens and perfectly plump king-size pillows.
Plus, the rooms come with the smoothest electrically operated blinds and curtains covering all daylight, night light, and blackout options. The same for the skylights – dramatic sloping windows that offer cinematic views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Saint-Eustache cathedral. In this case – Madam was dreaming!
Forty-nine of the rooms overlook the city, with fabulous views of its zinc rooftops and some of its most emblematic monuments, including the Eiffel Tower. But don’t worry, the rest have lovely views too. The 40 inner courtyards overlook the hotel’s vegetal rooftop (living, green roof), and they all have balconies.
A highlight of the rooftop is a bar and sky garden known as “Roof”. Spreading over some 10,000 square feet, Roof is the largest rooftop terrace in the city with fabulous views of Paris’ iconic skyline, along with the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Church of Saint-Eustache, Beaubourg, Forum des Halles, the Bourse de Commerce, and the Panthéon.
There’s a fabulous vibe – this is the place to be right now – sipping artfully designed cocktails at the 37-seat bar. Try the Summer Perfume, a long refreshing drink delicately scented with lavender, cucumber and cider brandy, or the Paloma Picasso, a cocktail with sweet notes of grapefruit and rosemary enhanced by a hint of tequila, while nibbling freshly made sushi from La Plume.
There’s also an impressive green roof, the vegetal rooftop is a vast burst of nature in the heart of the frenetic city with glass rooftops either side that let light pour into the arcade below.
Roof is already attracting the smart Parisian crowd from mid-morning coffees to late-night cocktails. It is quite something any time of the day, especially at sunrise and sunset. With wellness in mind, Madame Rêve also offers guests a journey to tranquillity with the luxury Madame Rêve’s Spa. Nestled in the heart of the hotel and designed in a boudoir-esque aesthetic, Madame Rêve’s
Spa is the ultimate place to unwind and detox after a day of shopping and exploring.
The huge sauna has views over the Paris streets. Body treatments include the sweet or savoury scrub,
and the Madame Rêve Modelling Massage, all with Paris-born KOS products.
A fitness room is equipped with the latest technology to help work off the extra kilos gained from feasting
on the deliciously decadent, yet irresistible French food. Madame Rêve will have you dreaming of returning.
