La Bourdonnais

Paris has no shortage of hotels offering views of the Eiffel Tower. Finding one that provides an equally interesting view of the world is rather less straightforward. At Hôtel La Bourdonnais, just a short walk from the Champ-de-Mars, the famous Parisian landmark is only part of the attraction. Following a complete renovation in 2026, this 53-room boutique hotel has been reinvented by Oscar Lucien Ono, founder of Maison Numéro 20, as an imaginary journey through distant continents, historic trading routes and the golden age of exploration. The inspiration comes naturally from the hotel’s namesake, Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, the 18th-century French naval officer and colonial administrator whose career took him across the Indian Ocean. Rather than recreating a period residence, Ono has used the idea of travel to construct a decorative world where Parisian sophistication meets the romance of faraway places.

Art Deco Meets the Age of Exploration

Ono’s interiors are unapologetically decorative, but there is a clear architectural discipline beneath the ornamentation. Art Deco geometry provides the structure, while richly patterned fabrics, exotic woods, copper and burnished gold introduce warmth and an appealing sense of theatricality. The lobby immediately establishes the mood. Behind reception, a spectacular panoramic mural by Parisian atelier Ulgador depicts stylised trees in silk and gold leaf, creating something between a botanical fantasy and the opening pages of an illustrated travel journal. Throughout the public spaces, references to Asia, Africa and historic maritime trade routes appear in materials, patterns and carefully chosen details. Fabrics from houses including Rubelli, Lelièvre and Casamance contribute to an atmosphere that feels collected rather than conventionally coordinated. It is precisely the kind of richly imagined interior that could easily become overwhelming in less confident hands. Here, the combination of classical Parisian elegance and decorative escapism gives the hotel a personality entirely its own.

Three Destinations, Fifty-Three Rooms

The guestrooms continue the journey through three distinct colour palettes. Floral Blue evokes open skies and oceans, Beige and Straw suggests the warmth of Asian landscapes, while Terracotta brings to mind desert roads and golden sunsets. Custom-designed headboards are among the most memorable features. Inspired by traditional Chinese folding screens, their fan-shaped forms combine sculpted woodwork with quilted upholstery, turning an everyday piece of bedroom furniture into a decorative centrepiece. Marble bathrooms, geometric vanity units, tactile fabrics and carefully considered lighting complete the interiors. The overall effect is intimate and comfortably indulgent rather than excessively formal. And then there are the views. Selected rooms look directly towards the Eiffel Tower, offering a rather spectacular reminder that, despite the imaginary travels, this is still very much Paris.

The Midnight Express Never Departs

Perhaps the hotel’s most irresistible feature is Minuit Express, its cocktail bar conceived as a tribute to the great international trains of another era. Forget airport lounges and hurried departures. This is travel as it might have been imagined in the 1920s, when crossing continents involved elegant dining cars, handwritten postcards and the possibility of intriguing encounters with strangers. Ono has translated that atmosphere into a series of intimate compartments, upholstered banquettes and softly illuminated corners. Backlit alabaster and églomisé glass add a glamorous glow, while the arrangement encourages lingering over cocktails rather than rushing towards the next destination. The bar’s concept takes guests on an imaginary journey between Europe, Asia and the Americas, with cocktails and accompanying flavours reflecting the different stops. It is an unusually convincing piece of hospitality theatre, and a welcome reminder that a hotel bar can be a destination in its own right.

Paris Outside, the World Within

The location places guests in one of the capital’s most recognisable neighbourhoods, with the Eiffel Tower, École Militaire, Les Invalides and Musée Rodin all nearby. The surrounding streets offer the familiar pleasures of Left Bank Paris: traditional brasseries, neighbourhood cafés and elegant residential architecture. Yet the appeal of Hôtel La Bourdonnais extends beyond its enviable address. Oscar Lucien Ono has created a hotel that celebrates the imagination of travel itself, drawing on decorative history without becoming a museum of nostalgia. In a city where so many hotels compete to offer the quintessential Parisian experience, La Bourdonnais takes a more entertaining approach. It invites guests to explore the world, preferably with a cocktail in hand, without ever having to leave the seventh arrondissement.