A Parisian boudoir

Hotel Costes is where the city’s cool crowd hangs out — from Kim Kardashian West to The Weeknd — and there’s enough reason for you to be there too

August 25, 2017 04:28 pm | Updated 04:28 pm IST

It had been a long day at the Musee du Louvre, spent admiring the great works of art on its walls, and encountering the enchanting Mona Lisa for the first time. And so I decided to take a dip in the pool at Hotel Costes, where I was staying.

The luminescent blue pool in the basement felt like a grotto, lit by candles, with comfortable loungers tucked behind white sheers. The lukewarm water in this indoor pool made me feel like I had returned to my mother’s womb, far removed from the cacophony of the world outside. With enough time left before dinner, I also indulged in the steam bath ritual at the spa, which included a sugar and salt body scrub followed by a massage with Clarins essential oils.

When it comes to location, Hotel Costes is as central as it gets – it’s in the 1st arrondissement, just off Place Vendome — yet, upon entering, you are certain you’ve stepped into a very private place. Designed by French architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia, with a distinct mood of its own, Costes is one of the most unique experiences one can have. The hotel channels a distinct boudoir vibe, dimly lit, with red velvet drapes, buckets of deep red roses, crystal chandeliers and dark carpets throughout.

While it feels like 17th century opulence abounds, it is one of the trendiest properties in the city. A unique line of fragrance, combining berries and spices, developed for the hotel by Olivia Giacombetti, is prevalent, from candles to the toiletries. Keeping with the rest of the decor, the walls are covered in maroon satin, adorned with erotic paintings in gilded frames which look like they’re from the Napoleonic era.

The boutique adjoining the hotel sells red roses, amongst all the other branded Costes merchandise, including music CDs, candles, fragrance and even nail lacquer; it’s also a great place to browse for memorabilia. I was looking for the limited edition coffee table publication with photographs capturing life at the hotel by Dutch photographer Arno Nollen, but as luck would have it, they had run out of stock.

Launched in 1991 by brothers Jean-Louis and Gilbert Costes, the bar at the hotel is quite legendary, with French DJ and producer Stéphane Pompougnac on the tunrtables. The courtyard bar is filled with the most fashionable people from Parisian high society, and the waitresses look like they could be fashion models.

One of my favourite tea houses, Café Angelina is a short walk from the Costes, and when in Paris, I never miss an opportunity to have a Croque Madame followed by an espresso for breakfast.

The Jardin des Tuileries just across the road is a great place to read the papers and people-watch in the mornings. As Audrey Hepburn once said, “Paris is always a good idea.”

At 239-241, Rue Saint Honoré. Priced at €600 per night.

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