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This five-star resort on the north financial institution of the Seine has been the discuss of the city because it opened in 2022. Its distinguished location means hundreds of thousands of tourists have seemed up at its now-famous restaurant terrace and longed to be there, having fun with a sun-drenched breakfast whereas gazing out over the town’s rooftops.
Does SO/ Paris reside as much as the hype? Within seconds of sitting down at one of many coveted tables at sky-high Bonnie restaurant and tucking right into a ache au chocolat, you’ll be hooked. You can see round for miles, with the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame punctuating the skyline.
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The rooms and suites are equally beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling home windows letting within the superb gentle for which Paris is legendary. South and west-facing rooms have views of the Eiffel Tower, whereas these on the north aspect look over Le Marais and the Place de la Bastille. When the sundown is excellent, the sunshine hits the gold statue of the Spirit of Freedom determine on high of the July Column on the Bastille, making it glisten.
Middle East Traveller checked in to a Collection Rooftop room at SO/ Paris for a glowing stick with distinctive views over the town’s most iconic sights.
The Hotel
Middle East readers might know the resort model from the Dubai property within the Uptown Tower, however that is the primary SO/ resort in France and one in all solely 4 in Europe. SO/ Hotels are an ideal marriage of hospitality and trend derived by partnerships with designers resembling Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor & Rolf, Guillaume Henry and extra.
You may suppose this property, delivered to life by RDAI, the design agency behind the Hermès shops, would have the identical pretentious air that usually pervades the style world but it surely’s the alternative. The workers are delightfully down-to-earth, from the super-helpful reception and baggage staff to the charming waiters and waitresses in Bonnie.
The resort additionally boasts a small however completely fashioned Maison CODAGE Spa and gymnasium with views of Paris. Hotel company have entry to the neighbouring health centre’s indoor pool. And when you’re an evening owl, there’s Bonnie bar and nightclub on the highest ground, above the restaurant.
The Arrival
Whatever day you examine in at SO/ Paris seems like Fashion Week. The reception workers are très stylish, wearing nautical-themed uniforms designed by Patou trend home inventive director Guillaume Henry. There are plenty of sailor stripes, boatswain jackets and bachi-style pompom bonnets, which replicate the resort’s proximity to the Seine and the yacht-packed Arsenal basin.
As we have been being warmly welcomed, a trio of black-suited women from an area Chanel department carried no fewer than eight extra-large baggage by the foyer en path to a well-heeled fellow visitor.
It all seemed a bit staged as they strolled confidently below the fluted white columns that maintain up the foyer and previous the beautiful floral glass art work that dominates one wall. It was like a pop-up trend present runway. But the check-in staff advised me “it occurs most days — our company love trend”.
We have been introduced with scrumptious welcome mocktails, which change seasonally — ours was inexperienced tea, lemon and ginger, puréed berries, do-it-yourself basil cordial, apple and lime juice, topped with a backyard pansy. We sipped these, ready for the subsequent runway expertise to start out, and have been greeted by one of many resort’s fabulous concierges, who was to be our private information and guru for the subsequent few days. What a welcome.
The Room
SO/ Paris has 140 rooms and 22 suites. At entry-level, Collection rooms are well-sized, however for higher views e-book a Collection Rooftop on one of many larger flooring. Iconic Paris Skyline rooms are barely larger at 57sqm and soak up wider panoramas of the town.
For a splurge, examine into one of many two Atelier nook suites, every of which affords double the house and 180o views, one wanting north and the opposite south. Or, go all in and e-book the SO/ Paris Suite. It takes up an enormous nook suite of the 14th ground with unbeatable views of Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower, a spa toilet with hammam bathe, yoga mat and weights, and never one however two balconies.
All rooms and suites are adorned in heat, calming colors. Ours had crimson and peach carpet, matching armchairs, Japanese-style wood screens and wood lamps that subtle mushy gentle. Our minibar got here with free non-alcoholic drinks, and there was a super-cute, super-cool, black, wi-fi speaker within the form of a French bulldog sporting sun shades.
The Service
Immaculate. Friendly. Welcoming. There are quite a few methods to explain the staff operating SO/ Paris, however above all they’re real. They have been genuinely happy to welcome us at check-in, keen to assist us navigate the resort and discover our method round Paris.
You would count on such effectivity at a resort of this standing however not, maybe, the obvious willingness and pleasure with which it’s delivered. No pretensions, no perspective, simply classically good service.
Our concierge was super-efficient and charming. She was our information, info professional and all-round fixer, giving us tips about the very best Seine boat excursions and snagging us tables at eating places — even on the well-known Le Train Bleu, which is normally booked out for weeks.
The Restaurants and Bars
Breakfast is an occasion at SO/ Paris, so gown to impress. It occurs in Bonnie restaurant which occupies the 15th ground and wraps across the east, west and south flanks of the resort.
The restaurant is a design delight, with beige, woollen banquettes and mushroom-coloured velvet armchairs, chrome wall lights, an Art Nouveau meets Flower Power carpet and a mirrored ceiling set up referred to as ‘The Seeing City’.
The tables have been a bit too shut collectively for our liking, which is okay in case you have well-behaved neighbours — the most secure possibility is to get to breakfast early, seize desk, and soak within the view amid relative quiet earlier than most company arrive.
We have been there throughout an unusually chilly snap in spring, but when it’s heat sufficient, attempt to get a desk outdoors. Few issues are as thrilling and romantic as having breakfast a number of hundred toes above the Seine and gazing out over the rooftops of Paris.
The waiters have been impeccable and pleasant, and the meals scrumptious, particularly the Eggs Benedict and the avocado toast with crème fraiche. If you come again for lunch or dinner don’t miss the ocean bass fillet with greens and smoked broth.
Above the restaurant is Bonnie Bar, which has extra mirrors and chrome lights, plus blue, velvet bar stools, a midnight blue carpet and spectacular sundown views over La Bastille. It’s the right spot for lobster tacos and a Parisian Rhapsody mocktail with myrtle, contemporary mint and lemon.
The Activities
If the rain hits, keep in and hit the Maison CODAGE Spa, which has personal remedy rooms and a public hammam. SO/ Paris additionally has an on-site gymnasium and pool that it shares with a personal membership.
During sunnier hours, sketch out a strolling path to Notre-Dame – it’s lower than 1km on foot – or the Institut du Monde Arabe, the fascinating cultural centre devoted to the Arab world straight over the river.
Just past the Institut are the charming eating places and squares of the Left Bank, and additional east is the attractive Jardin des Plantes, Paris’s botanic gardens, that are a riot of color from spring by to autumn.
Northwest of the resort are the winding procuring streets of Le Marais trend district and when you’d moderately see Paris from the water, you’ll be able to take something from a personal yacht to the sensible hop-on/hop-off Batobus.
Why Stay?
There’s nothing like SO/ Paris within the metropolis. It’s superbly designed and stylish but unpretentious, with distinctive views of the town, impeccable service and an all-round nice atmosphere.
Just think about consuming croissants and coffee whereas gazing out over the rooftops to Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Hotel views don’t get a lot better than that.
The Essentials
- Rates: Rates for a Collection Rooftop room in August/September begin from €550, excluding taxes — breakfast is €38 per individual
- Phone quantity: +33 (0)1 78 90 74 00
- Website: so-hotels.com
- Address: SO/ Paris, 10 rue Agrippa d’Aubigné, 75004 Paris, France
