Hôtel Montalembert | Pascal Allaman

It is one of the most charming hotels in Paris. In perfect agreement with the small palace trend which, in the past several years, has conquered the hearts of the great travelers. Meeting spot for the world of fashion and of the arts, the Hotel Montalembert has been a pioneer of the “boutique hotels” movement. Ideally located in the heart of the Left Bank, a short 5 minute walk from the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church, this establishment of 50 rooms, including 10 suites, turns its facade of golden stones toward the “rue du Bac,” the antique shops and the art galleries.

The Montalembert, built in 1926, lived through the great moments of the interwar period, through the celebrations of the 50s Saint-Germain quarter and through so many prosperous and resplendent times that a guest book would never suffice to mention all these bygone moments, that together form the heart of an establishment. If the foundations could tell their tale, they would without a doubt speak of the joyful dinners, amorous meetings, the intimate confessions, the lively discussions… everything that is the soul of a palace and explains its success with the public during all these years. For its ninetieth birthday, the Montalembert has treated itself to a gentle renovation. It was not the first, but this one draws from the wishes of the owner, Anne Jousse, to “reawaken” her house. And because the Hotel Montalembert made the headlines by being the first "Boutique Hotel” in Paris, twenty-five years ago, it felt natural to recreate an event of similar proportions, without limiting themselves to a simple concept. “This hotel is ingrained in its neighborhood,” explains Anne Jousse. “It is the hotel of writers and artists. So we wanted to preserve this spirit, particularly for the restaurant whose costumers are primarily local regulars.” It is to the architect-decorator Pascal Allaman that the owner has entrusted the care to carry out an operation which, from the original project (to renovate the Restaurant) has now extended to the whole of the establishment. The decoration of the lobby and the design of the carpets have been entrusted to Géraldine Prieur, an interior architect.