Just off the Champs-Elysées and close to the Arc de Triomphe, Hotel Balzac Paris is one of the most outstanding deluxe boutique hotels in Paris’ 8th arrondissement. Moments from both Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V, the luxury five-star hotel sits grandly on the famous Rue Balzac and is perfectly located for the very best Paris has to offer.
Built for the director of the Paris Opera in the 19th century, the hotel boasts a rich history and has been immortalised in fiction by a selection of the world’s finest writers.
Completed at the turn of the 19th century it has served as an exotic private residence, a salon for epicureans and Champagne lovers and was even owned by the great novelist Honoré de Balzac – who spent his final days there. A haven of peace and a shining example of Parisian chic, the luxury Paris hotel, is a blend of the elegant and the modern. The 13 suites and 56 rooms at the hotel are sublimely decorated by Anne-Marie Sabatier, and mix a neo-classical style with rich colours, fabrics and contemporary furnishings.
Some of the rooms, including the Royal Suite, exhibit stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and across Paris. Hotel Balzac has been home to the world renowned chef, Pierre Gagnaire, for the past fifteen years. Here the flagship restaurant bearing his name serves up three Michelin Star modern French cuisine, and is recognised as the standard bearer for iconic, fusion cooking the world over. Travelling to the hotel could not be simpler: it is just 40 minutes from Roissy Charles de Gaulle International Airport; two minutes from George V or Charles de Gaulles Etoile Metro stations; and just three stops on the RER from Gare du Nord and the Eurostar trains to London. Hotel Balzac is a taste of classic Paris that simply cannot be bettered.
HISTORY
The history of luxury Hotel Balzac reads like a novel. In the beginning of the 19th century, French banker Nicolas Beaujon commissioned the architect Nicolas-Claude Girardin to create a 'folie' for him on the considerable land attached to his principal residence. The result was a pleasure palace built at the intersection of the present day rue Beaujon and rue Balzac and known as 'La Folie Beaujon'.
This 'folie' was regarded by contemporaries as extraordinary and was built in an exotic style with a large central pavilion anchoring four attached apartments.
After Nicolas Beaujon's death, this well-known establishment evolved and changed hands several times before becoming home to a 'salon' for epicureans and champagne lovers. It was around this time that the legendary French writer took a fancy to the property…
THE SPIRIT OF HONORE DE BALZAC
Regarded as one of the founders of realism, Honoré de Balzac was a noted French novelist, playwright and short story writer, most famous for his collective works of La Comedie humaine, a panoramic look at French life between the Restoration and the July Monarchy (1815 – 1848).
After a sickly and fairly dismal childhood, Balzac arrived in Paris with his family and spent two years under private tutelage before entering the Sorbonne, where he studied under future Prime Minister Francois Guizot, classicist Abel-Francois Villemain and Victor Cousin, the famous philosopher.
On completing his education, the future author spent three years as a law clerk before announcing his intention to become a writer.
For the next ten years, Balzac honed his craft as an author. Though some of his writings bore faint hallmarks of his later works, this was a learning phase. He wrote mainly under pseudonyms, creating strange stories, trashy novels and titillating potboilers.
Shortly after he eventually began to publish work under his own name, Balzac hit upon the idea for his masterwork, La Comedie humaine and for the next 20 years his individually published novels, plays and short stories painted a complex portrait of French society, which were eventually combined into one expansive masterpiece
Over the years his writing has influenced a litany of, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Marie Corelli, Henry James, Jack Kerouac, and Italo Calvino as well as important philosophers such as Friedrich Engels.
It was towards the end of his career that Honoré de Balzac became enchanted with the future hotel, and in 1846 he acquired the property to give to Countess Ewelina Hanska, who he married in May 1850. He spent his last days in the house and died without ever having paid the purchase price.
Balzac's spirit lives on in the luxury hotel where collections of antique books as well as lithographs depicting the writer, and scenes from his work can be found.
The 13 suites and 56 rooms at Hotel Balzac are decorated using refined colour combinations. The sublime tones, soft lighting, luxurious materials and state-of-the-art technologies (LCD televisions, cable TV, DVD player (on request), Internet access make each room and suite at Hotel Balzac in Paris an exceptional setting.
Some of hotel rooms have romantic skyline views of the Eiffel Tower, available by special request only.
The Royal Suite has a terrace with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower and Paris, while the adjacent Presidential Suite is appreciated for its warm, intimate decor.
Those who really want to have it all can reserve the entire luxury top floor and have use of both the Hotel Balzac Royal and Presidential suites.
Together the combined Royal suite and Presidential suite offer 3 bedrooms, dining room and a large terrace, for an unforgettable experience.
Hotel Balzac features 3 disabled friendly rooms for one or two guests and specific equipments (on request) such as phone, alarm clock, TV remote and wheel chair.
The Royal suite is located on the top floor of Hotel Balzac in Paris Champs-Elysées, where a warm, intimate atmosphere is conveyed by vibrant tones and wood floors.
It features a terrace with stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and Paris. A large sitting room with a dining area opens out onto the terrace.
Next to the Royal suite master bedroom which also has a view of the Eiffel tower, is a luxurious bathroom with a double sink, large bath and a separate shower.
A magnificent entrance with a minibar leads through to the Presidential suite's elegant, refined dining room and a large sitting room that is entirely separate from the bedroom. The luxurious Presidential suite bathroom has a double sink, large bath and separate shower.
The Presidential suite at Hotel Balzac is located on the top floor where a warm, intimate atmosphere is conveyed through vibrant tones and oak floors.
Connecting rooms are ideal for families travelling to Paris. Our connecting rooms are composed of one Deluxe room and one Executive room.
Each of these rooms have a double bed, a desk, Wifi internet connection, a flat screen TV with international channels, a safe and a minibar.
Executive Room:
Accommodates up to a maximum of 3 adults. Room size approximately 30m².
Deluxe Room:
Accommodates up to a maximum of 2 adults. Room size approximately 22m².
All Suites at Hotel Balzac have large sitting rooms and dining areas. They are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, individual bedrooms and an astounding amount of natural light.
Most of the Suites come equipped with luxurious marble bathrooms with bathtub and separated shower.
Junior suites at Hotel Balzac have dressing rooms and luxurious marble bathrooms with bathtubs and separate showers.
The entrance to Junior suites with its wood floor and minibar leads you to a sitting room.
Deluxe rooms have minibars and large sitting areas. All Deluxe rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and have luxurious marble bathrooms. Some Deluxe rooms have a view of the city and others of the Hotel Balzac interior courtyard, but all benefit from a calm and quiet location.
A few of the Deluxe rooms can be interconnecting with Superior rooms.
Executive rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and have luxurious marble bathrooms with bathtub and separated shower.
All rooms benefit from a calm and quiet location. A few of the Executive rooms can be interconnecting with Deluxe rooms.
Some of Superior rooms have views over Paris, whilst others overlook Hotel Balzac's inner courtyard. All benefit from a calm, quiet location.
All Superior rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and have luxurious marble bathrooms.
Each of these rooms have a single but large bed, a desk, Wifi internet connection, a flat screen TV with international channels, a safe and a minibar.
Single rooms are ideal for business travellers or guests travelling alone to Paris.
The dining and drawing room areas of the Hotel Balzac restaurant and bar are lit with natural light that pours in from the glass ceilinged atrium, behind which a beautiful hanging garden forms the backdrop.
The atmosphere is elegant and intimate and is complimented perfectly by its long black granite bar, high stools, dark velvet upholstery and soft lighting.
This exclusive atmosphere makes the lounge bar at luxury Hotel Balzac Paris a perfect place to meet for breakfast, lunch, supper or even a cocktail.
The Lounge Bar is furnished with floral compositions and plum-coloured sofas.
07.00h - 23.00h
3 GUIDE MICHELIN STARS
Pierre Gagnaire at Hotel Balzac: Innovation, Passion & Quality. "Tourné vers demain mais soucieux d'hier". Hotel Balzac has long been home to the world renowned chef, Pierre Gagnaire.
This flagship restaurant, specialising in modern French cuisine, is recognised as a standard bearer for iconic, fusion cooking the world over.
Chef Pierre Gagnaire describes the ethos behind his successful vision as: Tourné vers demain mais soucieux d'hier (Facing tomorrow but respectful of yesterday).
And it is this combination of embracing the future, whilst giving a hearty nod to the past that delivers the innovation, passion and quality which is so closely associated with the master chef.
After cutting his teeth under some of the finest chefs in the business, Pierre Gagnaire struck out on his own in the town of St Etienne. It was here that his illustrious career really began to take off - and where he won his first collection of three Michelin Stars.
Since then he has overseen the development of a number of restaurants the world over. Each of which stay true to the defining ethos of quality and innovation synonymous with Chef Gagnaire.
Alongside the venture at Hotel Balzac, his services and expertise as a head chef are devoted to:
Sketch in London, Gaya in Paris, Pierre Gagnaire Pour les Airelles in Courchevel, Twist at the Manderin Oriental in Las Vegas, Pierre Gagnaire A Seoul in Seoul, Reflets in Dubai, Pierre Gagnaire - Tokyo in Tokyo, Les Menus in Moscow and Pierre in Hong Kong,
Pierre Gagnaire has been based at the luxury Paris hotel, Hotel Balzac, for the last fifteen years.
In the time he has been based at this luxury hotel, Chef Gagnaire has remained on the cutting edge of contemporary cuisine, his dedication to the craft and the quality of delivery have ensured that the tables in his restaurant are never empty.
Contemporary
Closed
The intricately sculpted triumphal arch stands sentinel in the centre of the Étoile (‘Star’) roundabout.
Paris' most visited unticketed site, with upwards of 14 million visitors per year, is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture.
Centre Pompidou brings together galleries and cutting-edge exhibitions, hands-on workshops, dance performances, cinemas and other entertainment venues.
No one could imagine Paris today without it. But Gustave Eiffel only constructed this elegant, 320m-tall signature spire as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World's Fair.
This inner-city oasis of formal terraces, chestnut groves and lush lawns has a special place in Parisians' hearts.
One VIP conference and meeting room is available at Hotel Balzac Paris which can accommodate between 6 and 10 guests or delegates.
Few art galleries are as prized as the Musée du Louvre, Paris’ pièce de résistance and the world's most visited museum.
Back to the classics : French, British, Black American ! 100% high qualities covers mixed by SD for Sarah Doraghi in exclusivity for the Hotel de Nell.
HOTEL BALZAC
6 Rue Balzac75008 ParisFrance