The modernist olive-green building, clad in pre-weathered zinc (by French architects Petitdidierprioux) hugs an ample space on the relatively small Rue Cadet, a street named after Jean and Jacques Cadet, master gardeners who once supplied the royal court with produce during the reign of Charles IX.
The hotel’s design pays tribute to the area’s horticultural history. Imagine lush greenery, floral wallpapers, rich upholstery, a blend of botanical together with modern luxury. In the heart of Paris’s historic centre, Montmartre, it captures the young bohemian feel and is a vibrant meeting place for locals and travellers alike.
The hotel is part of the Leitmotiv hotel group, a family-owned business that launched this property as a new landmark in Paris. Their first hotel was a 30-room boutique in the village of Megéve. The site was originally the former L’Opéra Cadet Hotel originally built in the 1970’s and had decayed very badly. The whole transformation project took three and half years to become “Le Fantaisie”.
The interiors were designed by Swedish interior architect, Martin Brudnizki who has incorporated the colour scheme from the gardens with soft green, warm yellow and touches of coral hues. The heart of the lobby is a gloriously cosy lounge with distinct flavours of the “Bloomsbury set” and honouring Paris’s literary salons. Imagine floor to ceiling wallpaper in botanical print with oversized parquet flooring, gilded bookshelves and marble table top all of which overflows in the Golden Poppy restaurant.
With 63 rooms and 10 suites, each offer a small haven of peace with either city views or balconies. Warm herbaceous colours reflecting the character of the neighbourhood with bespoke carpets and rugs by Pyerre Frey, ceramics from Danish brand Hay, a collection of artworks by local artist Daniel Milliner together with Zahra Holm and Mafalda Vasconcelos. All are equipped with air-conditioning, minibar, safe, tv and amenities by Holidermie, a vegan brand founded by Vogue Paris veteran Mélanie Huynh. For holistic health you will find bite sized vegan chocolate, ayurvedic tongue cleaners, CBD tinctures and L’Officine Botanique’s sleep elixir.
Celebrated chef Dominique Crenn reigns supreme in the culinary realm, and yet it is her Golden Poppy restaurant that truly shines as La Fantaisie centrepiece whose sunshine yellow walls and floral brocade invokes a 1950’s look. This marks her debut in France, seamlessly blending her liberated culinary flair with the Parisian scene, a contrast to the city’s grandiose dining establishments. Dominique Crenn weaves together her Breton heritage with her second home, the San Francisco coast, to spotlight seafood in a menu that exclusively features oceanic delights.
Take the lift to the equally over-the-top, pink-velvet-and-candy-striped tree-lined decadence of the terraced rooftop “Bar Sur La Toit” for another view of the cherished garden, Paris’ famous skyscape and Crenn’s California-inspired cocktails.
The Spa formed out of the underground car park is a holistic healing centre with a compact gym, two single treatment rooms and a series of small pools, thermal hot and cold baths, jacuzzi, hammam and infrared room. All products used are by Holidermie.
The staff exudes a trendy hipster charm, youthful and brimming with expertise. Adorned in crisp white shirts, blue jeans, and Converse sneakers, they sport botanical brooches crafted by the Parisian jeweller Philippe Ferrandis, subtly signalling the hotel’s five-star luxury in a relaxed, unpretentious manner.
It’s the perfect selection for those who desire opulence without the façade, offering an atmosphere of understated elegance and a staff that embodies chic sophistication while ensuring a warm, inviting experience.