Heavenly. That’s some praise, as Yorkshire is only described as the “Edge of heaven” in the title of Selina Scott’s study of the Yorkshire Coast. This wonderful hotel is set in a leafy private courtyard accessed off the stunning Place des Voges in the Marais. If you’ve been to one of the Firmdale Hotels in London [Covent Garden, the Haymarket etc] then you’ll appreciate this as the Paris equivalent. No restaurant, but elegantly comfortable rooms, with breakfast served in the large salon, or in the courtyard – the French really know how to do breakfasts. There are a couple of “drinks stations” where you help yourselves to a glass of something soothing in the evening [or lunch…hey, we’re on holiday] and you just jot down what you’ve had and it will magically appear on your bill. Our place of choice in Paris, even if just for a night passing through to somewhere equally heavenly…

Ask for a room at the front overlooking the courtyard, they’re lighter and brighter. Great shopping, eating and strolling in the Marais, and with easy access to some cultural spots – the Centre Georges Pompidou and the newly regenerated Musée Georges Picasso…which will hopefully have finished its long and drawn out refurbishment by the time you read this.

Hotel Pavillion de la Reine

They have a couple of sister hotels, which we haven’t tried – Hotel des Lettres, and Hotel du petit Moulin

Edge of Heaven: The Yorkshire Coast: Selina Scott. Great Northern Books ISBN-10: 1905080875

Hotel Pavillion de la Reine

Place des Voges looking to the Pavillion

Pavillion de la Reine Salon

Pavillion de la Reine Salon

Image 4 from the hotel website