On the Seine in Paris, is France’s first floating hotel. This stylish new hangout is the perfect place to be marooned for a bit of serious R&R. You can lounge in the pool while sipping on cocktails, and watch the riverboats ply down the Seine.
The Seine has always been the heart of Paris. From pre-Roman era tribes to mid-century bikini-clad bathers, the Seine has been the lifeblood of Paris. But not too long ago, the quays were paved into roads and the city was divided from its beloved river. In recent years through, Parisians have sought to reclaim the river as an essential part of the city’s public space. An artificial summer beach is set up during the Paris Plages and Berges de Seine has converted a stretch of Left Bank with cafes for children and games.
But award-winning design duo Maurizio Galante and Tal Lancman, famous for Off Paris Seine, felt there was a gap between the river and the people of the city. They wanted to celebrate a new experience of the city that hadn’t existed in Paris – until now.
This striking hotel bears a signature design aesthetic – its tall ceiling, for example, is covered with 8,800 suspended squares of metal that reflect the movement of the Seine, and also gently vibrates as the boat shifts with the river. Porthole curtains reference the river’s waves. And in the reception is a 250-year-old gem – a piece of wood embedded like a beam on the top of the copper reception desk.
The hotel experience is one that is uniquely Parisian – without of course, the urban intensity. There is a certain calming effect as the river currents flows beneath the windows of its 58 guest rooms, and especially so for the two Horizon suites positioned at the bow of the boat.
Off Paris Seine has been called the largest boat docked in the French capital. It is situated near the Gare d’Austerlitz, a short walk from the stylish Cité de la mode et du design in the 13th Arrondissement. This neighbourhood, now in the midst of stylish transformation, is a hotbed for street art and eco-friendly architecture. In the summer, the quays come alive with pop-up bars and beach clubs.
The good news is that you don’t have to be resident of the hotel to stay on the river. It is open daily between 5pm and 1 am for cocktails and tapas. The party usually spills on to the bank where the hotel opens a terrace where all the land-lovers can join the party.
See the Seine from your Bedroom Window
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