This New Hotel Might Be the Most Fashionable in Paris

Maison Elle opened last month in Paris — here's a peek inside in honor of Paris Fashion Week, which kicks off on Jan. 17, 2023.

Located in Paris's 17th arrondissement, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées, the anticipated Maison Elle officially opened its doors in December 2022, a month ahead of Paris Fashion Week, which begins on Jan. 17.

It's the first hotel concept for Elle — and a homecoming of sorts. The women’s lifestyle glossy was founded in Paris in 1945. And while the brand has expanded into hospitality before with cafés, spas, and salons in cities across Asia, it has gone without a physical footprint — barring its French edition of the magazine — in the City of Light, until now.

Taking over the former Hotel Flanelles, Maison Elle Paris is a collaboration between Elle Hospitality and hotelier Pascal Donat of Valotel France. To handle the interiors of this intimate 25-key property, they enlisted local design duo Laurent & Laurence to embody the French art de vivre.

The common areas have been created for both relaxation and socialization. A dining room, decorated with inviting velvet sofas, is used for both breakfast and afternoon tea, where the latter features sweet treats by CinqSens’ pastry chef, Nicolas Paciello. If you’re looking to kick back and relax, the tranquil living room boasts a library with a curated selection of books covering fashion, art, and Paris. But for a livelier evening, head to the bar, where you can enjoy a craft cocktail while recounting your busy day of exploration. To round out the experience, there’s also a spa complete with a sauna, steam room, and yoga studio, along with a boutique selling Elle-branded products.

Up in the rooms you’ll find inspiration from Parisian wardrobes: Breton stripes on the curtains, denim upholstery, chevron parquet flooring, and tweed fabrics are all a nod to iconic French style. Meanwhile, black-and-white checkerboard–tiled bathrooms, stocked with Byca toiletries, are reminiscent of a classic bistro. Laurent Bardet, one half of Laurent & Laurence, tells lettourtheworld that the goal was to create a “home as if you were invited by a Parisian friend for a stay,” and effectively crafted a residential vibe with inviting reading nooks against the windows and custom furnishings and fixtures by the duo.

Rooms start from €250 (approximately $271).