Hotel Le Grand Mazarin

Opened June 2023 in the heart of the Marais, Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin is lately one of the most buzzed-about additions to Paris' boutique hotel scene. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the 61-room property is a jewel box of patterns and textures, painted in cheerfully Parisian colors and bedecked in the playful details that have made Brudnizki one of the most sought-after in the industry. The hotel sparkles with personality and dials up the cozy factor, inviting guests to imagine themselves à la maison. Added delights to this otherwise petite property include a beautifully decorated indoor pool and hammam, an Ashkenazi restaurant by the Michelin-acclaimed chef Assaf Granit and an excellent cocktail bar.

• The warmly whimsical (and unforgettable) décor by Martin Brudnizki
• The Boubalé restaurant and Le Bar cocktail lounge, which provide impressive, unique departures from the typical fare of Paris, celebrating Eastern European and Ashkenazi flavors and ingredients
• The hotel's local atmosphere and central Marais address, which invites exploration off the beaten path and the chance to plug into Paris' current scene

At the corner of rue de la Verrerie and rue des Archives, in the heart of the stylish Marais district (just steps from Hôtel de Ville, Paris' city hall), Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin is located within three historic buildings dating back to the 14th-century. The buildings were combined and redesigned for the contemporary moment by hospitality star (and Swedish) designer Martin Brudnizki, in collaboration with artistic director Kimberley Cohen. Employing a wide range of colors—but especially shades like rose, gold, mint and powder blue—and a veritable treasure trove of vintage accents, singular artworks and rich fabrics—the resulting aesthetic is sweet, contemporary and feminine, with just the right traces of Paris' historical flamboyance and classical glamour. Opulent, quirky details are carefully layered within intimate spaces to create a certain warmth and coziness—inviting guests to burrow themselves into this lavishly decorated hideaway, away from the bustle of the city.

Martin Brudnizki elaborates on the inspiration behind the design: "I love the concept of an old-fashioned salon... We wanted the hotel to feel like it had always been part of the Marais landscape. We were therefore inspired by the great Houses of the aristocratic era, where personalities of literature, art and music would gather in sumptuous residences to indulge in the pleasures of letters and fine conversation. Our concept for Le Grand Mazarin was to revive this atmosphere and adapt it to the contemporary era, where guests feel at home and have the freedom to express themselves."

The hotel offers 50 rooms and 11 suites, some with connecting options and terraces. Beds are draped with custom tapestry canopies designed by Art de Lys, while the bathrooms are lined with rose and black-and-white tiles (and the closets have lobster-print wallpaper). Rooms err on the smaller side (while some of the suites have two floors), but they are well laid out, with spacious wardrobes and well-appointed mini bars—and there are plenty of thoughtful details that make the space feel homey, like turn-down macarons in the Mazarin colors, curated book selections for afternoon reading, and complimentary tote bags for shopping in the Marais.

The 147-seat all-day restaurant, Boubalé, and 27-seat cocktail bar—which also offers a speakeasy-style underground Library Bar, open only select nights a week (with live entertainment; no cellphones allowed)—attract a fashionable set of locals. Headed by culinary giant Assaf Granit—who has twelve restaurants in his hometown of Jerusalem, three in London and five in Paris, including the Michelin-starred Shabour—Boubalé seeks to elevate Eastern European, Ashkenazi and Israeli culinary traditions, while paying homage to the kitchen of Granit's grandmother ("Boubalé" is a Yiddish term of endearment that roughly translates to "my little darling."). Many of the menu items present sophisticated, cheeky takes on comfort foods, like goulash, gnocchi and gravlax. The result is totally unexpected—but it somehow works. The cocktail bar continues the conversation, serving concoctions that are a true testament to the craft, highlighting flavors like harissa, paprika, sesame, apricot and fennel. A selection of widely international wines are also available. In both the restaurant and the bar, the color palette favors burnt orange, maroon, currant, sage and navy—creating a space with a bit more strength and spice, while maintaining the cozy feeling of intimacy. The bar space extends out into a more spacious interior patio, which is enclosed and heated; however, guests should note that smoking is allowed here. Boubalé is closed on Sundays, so guests should plan accordingly.

Downstairs, there is a heated indoor lap pool and jacuzzi, which sit below a curved, cavernous ceiling covered with a gorgeous, botanically-inspired mural painted by Jacques Merle. Across the hall is a hammam and modest gym.

The staff at Le Grand Mazarin are welcoming and helpful, and butler service, 24-hour room service, valet service and Clefs d'Or concierge service are all available.

Le Grand Mazarin is part of the Maisons Pariente collection, a family-run, contemporary portfolio with just three other properties: Crillon le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou in Méribel.

Travelers who prefer boutique hotels—especially those with playful, more feminine décor—and a cozy, more local, off-the-beaten path atmosphere. The rooms and lounge areas are smaller and more intimate, and the amenities are edited, so travelers who are looking for a hotel with lots of space to relax, a bustling lobby, robust wellness offerings and great views will be happier elsewhere. If you want to feel as though you are living in your own apartment in the Paris of the current moment, Le Grand Mazarin is for you.

While the property is family-friendly, the atmosphere is more mature and would be best appreciated by adult friends, solo travelers and couples. Small pets allowed for a fee, and private parking is available.

In the words of an Indagare member who stayed at Le Grand Mazarin in November 2023: "We had a lovely stay. The décor and ambience are quite lovely, whimsical and charming. From the fabrics, to the art, wall coverings and light fixtures—it's all unique. The staff were very accommodating and concierge was terrific. While the rooms were beautifully decorated, they were a bit small (for us). Personally, we prefer large rooms, ample sitting rooms and large bathrooms. The ceilings were a bit low, the view was of the courtyard, and the bathroom was very tight (so I would not put a tall client there!). I took a peek at the gym and pool, which were very nice, although I did not use them. The hotel sadly doesn’t not have a separate concierge desk so there were often several staff members squished behind a small front desk. The lobby/sitting room is quaint, but it is small and has no windows, and in my opinion not ideal if you want a respite from the room to do work off-hours. The bar was charming."