Le Grand Mazarin Boutique Hotel Opens in Marais

Le Grand Mazarin, a boutique hotel in Paris’ Le Marais district, offers an unexpected experience. The hotel, designed by Martin Brudnizki, is located in a historic area known for its artistic and cultural significance.

While many five-star hotels gravitate toward the 8th arrondissement, Le Grand Mazarin perches on a corner of the Marais, the arty 3rd- and 4th-district.

The Marais district has a rich history, dating back to the 13th century when the Knights Templar constructed the first historic building, L’Enclos du Temple. Over the centuries, the area has been home to aristocrats, the city’s Jewish population, and more recently, the LGBTQ community and arts scene.

L’Enclos du Temple, built by the Knights Templar in 1240, anchors the area; in 1913 Hector Guimard added the Art Nouveau Agoudas Hakehilos synagogue, and since the 1980s the quarter has thrived as a LGBTQ and arts hub.

Hotel Design and Features

Le Grand Mazarin is an extension of the district’s character, with Brudnizki’s design firm, MBDS, creating an immersive and kaleidoscopic space. The hotel is made up of three historic buildings from the 14th century, now connected into one larger building.

Brudnizki sought to revive historic Parisian salons where artists and patrons gathered.

The hotel features a pool, hot tub, and steam bath, as well as an elaborate gym with treadmills lit by chandeliers. The pool area includes a ceiling mural painted by contemporary artist Jacques Merle, which tells the Narcissus myth in a style reminiscent of Cocteau.

The pool required two new subterranean levels beneath the original façade.

Rooms and Dining

The hotel has 61 rooms, including 11 suites, situated across six floors and connected by art-covered hallways. Each room features a canopy made by Art de Lys, resembling an Aubusson-style mix, and the walls are adorned with hanging art, each piece lit as if it were in a museum.

More than 500 artworks line the winding hallways, and each bed is crowned with an Art de Lys canopy resembling an Aubusson mix.

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Boubalé, is led by Chef Assaf Granit, who also runs the Michelin-starred Israeli spot, Shabour. The restaurant offers a range of dishes, including sweet halloumi and creamy lobster linguini, and is popular with both hotel guests and locals.

The hotel’s location in Le Marais, with its vintage shopping and nightlife scene, makes it an ideal base for exploring the city. The nearby Centre Pompidou, currently slated to reopen in 2030, and historic department store Le BHV, are just a few of the many attractions in the area.