Reviewed: Hôtel Opéra Richepanse in Paris

Long is the history of the building that now stands in the rue Chevalier de Saint Georges in Paris’ 1st arrondisement. Dating back to 1637 and the convent of the Filles de la Conception, the building has been a hotel since 1807.

Famous guests included none other the famous Russian composer Tchaïkovski, who frequented the hotel on a regular basis with lengthy stays between 1883 and 1889. Indeed when he was visiting Paris he would stay nowhere else!

Back to the modern era and a newly revamped 4 star hotel is about to emerge! Once an art-deco lover’s paradise, the refurbishment of the Hôtel Opéra Richepanse will be completed by the end of August 2015. In terms of the decor, think clean lines, cosy neutral furnishings, white marble bathrooms tiled with golden mosaics. Not to mention all the latest technology.

I was lucky enough to enjoy a stay in one of two suites at the Richepanse, the Suite Chevalier de Saint George. If you’ve travelled to Paris before you’ll know that space is at a premium. Not so in this suite. As I walked in, I encountered my very own mini apartment– all newly decorated. The living room comes complete with a couch, coffee table, Nespresso machine, minibar, cupboards, two street-view windows and a huge flat screen TV. I veered left on the corridor and checked out the bathroom: his and hers sinks, TV mirror, spacious rainfall shower and a standalone bath tub with a beautiful gold mosaic tiled wall.

The bedroom is equally as spacious as the living room, and with this suite there’s the added bonus of a small terrace with ample room for its two chairs that overlook the Place de la Madeleine. A perfect spot to enjoy a sun downer at the end of another hard day in Paris! And if you fancy curling up in bed and watching a movie, take advantage of the suite’s (2nd) extremely large flat screen TV and flick your light setting in the room to ‘movie’ mode.

Did I mention new technology? The Richepanse has almost completed its renovation, and with it comes all the latest gadgetry. All 39 rooms including the 2 suites will have flat screen TVs, cordless telephones, air conditioning, master controlled lighting, and the 2 suites will feature a bathroom TV with mini iPads connected to their launch ports.

No expense has been spared on the fixtures and fittings. Bathroom products are supplied by Lanvin, curtains by Lelièvre, furniture coverings by Dedar and cups and saucers by Bernardaud.

Come the end of August, the Hotel Opera Richepanse will emerge from its refurbishment as a delightfully modern and relaxing 4-star hotel. A wonderful modernisation of an historic building has been achieved, with the old foundations in the breakfast area still providing a glance back to old times, whilst above the hotel has a brand new smile.  You’ll also see from a map that the hotel is within walking distance of everything you need. For a green escape, the Jardin des Tuileries is five-minute walk away. Enjoy!

Hôtel Opéra Richepanse is part of the Hotels & Preference collection. 14 Rue du Chevalier de Saint-George, 75001 Paris. Tel: +33 1 42 60 36 00. Current rates on the official website: 179 euros/night including breakfast when booked directly online.