La Fantaisie is utterly charming. The boutique hotel, located in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, in the Faubourg-Montmartre neighborhood, is a garden-themed fever dream, where color is queen, and whimsy reigns. Not yet a year old, La Fantaisie has captured the imaginations of Instagrammers who visit the City of Lights. (It also recently captured the imagination of “Swifties” who filled the restaurant, café, and bar during the chanteuse’s recent Parisian tour.) Step inside its front door, and it’s easy to see the reason for its popularity. Here are seven reasons to put this gem on your “must visit” list:
Location: Situated between two of the city’s most dynamic areas, Pigalle and Grands Boulevards, La Fantaisie is located on delightful Rue Cadet, named for the 16th century master gardener brothers Jacques and Jean Cadet who once supplied the street with fruit and vegetables. Though you’re steps from the region’s best bars, boulangeries, restaurants, and boutiques (outlined in a quaint little booklet provided at check-in), the truth is, when at La Fantaisie, the “best” is right at your fingertips.
Refined, Yet Relaxed: The hotel is a five star establishment, and the holder of one Michelin Key (recognition for an outstanding hotel), yet it possesses none of the pomposity often associated with the highest level of Parisian hospitality. Guests are made to feel wholly at-home. Front desk clerks and hosts are friendly, welcoming, and hospitable.
A Secret Garden, and a Somewhat Secret Rooftop Bar: Unique to Parisian hospitality options is the hotel’s verdant garden courtyard, a “secret” space. Nearly jungle-like, the courtyard is one of Paris’ most charming gathering spots. As is the hotel’s rooftop Bar Sur le Toit where guests can lounge on interior comfy couches or al fresco at bistro tables while overlooking the city, and while selecting their own tunes from the free-to-use jukebox.
Whimsical Décor: The vibe begins at the entry, with its canary yellow bistro tables—a sunny harbinger of what’s to come. The entire hotel is a feast for the senses, illustrative of Swedish interior designer Martin Brudnizki’s famed sense of exuberance, revelry, and playfulness. (La Fantaisie marks his first entry into the Parisian hotel scene.) Drawing on nature as his chief inspiration, Brudnizki, whose interiors respect and harness the context, history and character of the building, street, and locality in which they are located, chose a color palette of soft greens, warm yellows, and corals. Floral wallpaper covers halls and ceilings, and upholstery is rich in texture, creating a soothing and warm environment. Communal spaces seem nearly untouchable in their vibrant and sumptuous splendor, but they are meant to be lived-in.
A Subterranean Spa: While Bar Sur la Toit holds court above, the La Fantaisie Spa commands the hotel’s subterranean space and is devoted to total relaxation and wellbeing. The spa adopts a holistic approach inspired by ancient healing rituals and the curative power of underground springs and features a cold plunge, a hot bath, a mineral water pool, and a jetted hot tub. In addition, guests will find traditional and infrared saunas and a steam room. The spa partners with French brand Holidermie, the company of which advocates a unique, naturally vegan approach and a pledge to effective, simple, and radiant beauty.
Charming Guest Rooms & Suites: Brudnizki envisioned the 73 guest rooms and suites (of varying sizes and layouts) as singular retreats from the bustling urban energy of the hotel’s neighborhood, an area that’s slowly becoming the epicenter of the Parisian creative community. Sumptuous bedding, vividly tiled bathrooms, furnished balconies, and delightful touches, such as teas, coffee, and quality stationary, create a pied-à-terre vibe.
A Restaurant of Pedigree: Opened under the direction of famed chef Dominique Crenn of San Francisco’s three Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, La Fantaisie’s main restaurant (currently named Golden Poppy in honor of Crenn’s chosen California home) will soon transition to new leadership, offering both guests and Parisian locals a new menu that follows in Crenn’s distinctive footsteps. Crenn helped to set La Fantaisie’s stage as a culinary destination; her creative (and sustainable) vision leaves no room for compromise, and the restaurant’s next iteration will no doubt continue to surprise and delight.
All photos by Jérome Galland unless otherwise noted
