Le Konfidentiel

Le Konfidentiel
64 rue de l'Arbre Sec, 1st
M° Louvre-Rivoli
Tel 01 55 34 40 40

Le Konfidentiel is perfect for solo travelers or couples looking for a romantic getaway in a cozy, exclusive boutique hotel in central Paris, just a block from the Louvre Museum.

Don't look for a big sign announcing the entrance of a hotel called Le Konfidentiel. You'd walk right past its discreet entrance if you didn't recall that there was once a very old Parisian restaurant called Le Caveau François Villon there, famous for its 15th-century cellar and chatty owner. But the old wooden façade with its lace curtains covering the windows has been replaced by a sleek new entrance to a high-tech, luxury boutique hotel with just six suites and a gourmet restaurant.

Rooms

Inside, the compact lobby is screened with an image of Versailles' Hall of Mirrors. The elevator takes you to the suites, one on each floor. The Eiffel Tower duplex at the top is the largest, and will have a private balcony installed this winter. The other rooms have different Paris themes screened onto the walls: the raspberry red Marie Antoinette Suite, the royal blue Louis XIV Suite (Roi de France), the red Molière Suite, the white Revolution Français Suite, and the beige Pont Neuf Suite. All have the same marble bathrooms with walk-in showers (no baths, to save space), air conditioning units disguised behind paintings, beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls and chandeliers. Of course, all the latest high-tech comforts are included, like iPod stations and WiFi. Suites are €490 (Eiffel Tower Duplex is €590), including breakfast and taxes.

Restaurant

The former cellar has been transformed into a tiny, contemporary restaurant. Even though it only opened in October, it has already been getting a ton of raves. And it should. For just €25 (lunch; €45 at dinner, drinks not included) you get a three-course gourmet meal of creative French cuisine by chef Akrame Benallal, who came from Le Notaboo restaurant at the Château des Sept tours in the Loire Valley, and has already been designated one of Gault Millau's 2011 “Grand de Demain”. There is no menu, the chef makes what he wants (you'll be asked if you have allergies, of course), and it's all delicious! The best part is that they can serve the meal in your room if the restaurant is already full (and it fills up fast).

Service

Le Konfidentiel is a family-owned hotel (if the manager Esteban speaks suspiciously good English, it's because he's from Southern California, married to a French woman), with service at the top of their priorities. In a hotel with only six rooms, you can be sure to get individual attention!

I Like:

- The central location just a block from the Louvre, on a quiet street full of excellent cafés and shops.

- The decor and historical aspect of the rooms are very romantic.

- The fabulous restaurant.

- The friendly service.

I Dislike:

- There are only showers, no bathtubs (I love to relax in the tub on vacation).

- The small closets (if your suitcase is big enough for a small child to hide inside, you won't fit everything in the closet).

Photos (the blurry ones were taken with my cell phone, sorry!)

The Lobby Elevator

The Eiffel tower Duplex

The Eiffel Tower Duplex

Bryan the Intern in the Eiffel Tower Duplex.

The Pont Neuf Suite

The Roi de France Suite

The Bathroom (they're all the same)

The Cleverly-Disguised Air Conditioning Unit (it tilts open when on)

Two Tables in the Lobby

Dining Room of the Restaurant