Few hotels in Paris carry as much history as Hôtel du Louvre. It first opened in 1855 as the city’s original grand hotel, has occupied its current building on Place André Malraux since 1887 and now forms part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Following a full renovation, it reopened in 2019 with 164 rooms, including 57 suites, a two-minute walk from the museum that shares its name.
The original hotel was far larger, with around 700 rooms, before it relocated to make way for the expanding Grands Magasins du Louvre department store. Its current home has its own stories to tell. Camille Pissarro painted a series of views over avenue de l’Opéra from the windows of his suite at Hôtel du Louvre in 1897 and 1898, and a suite now carries his name.
An arrival on one of Paris’s busiest corners
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There is no driveway or forecourt here. Taxis pull up at the kerb and passengers step out quickly into the traffic, but a doorman is on hand to lift luggage straight from the boot. Beyond an old revolving door, the lobby opens up beneath a ceiling several storeys high. The footprint itself is compact, with the concierge ahead, check-in to the left and a blue-carpeted staircase curving up to the right.
Check-in comes with a small tray holding a chilled hand towel, a biscuit and a bottle of water, a thoughtful gesture in a lobby with no lounge. Rooms at Hôtel du Louvre are guaranteed from 4pm rather than the more common 3pm, which may catch out travellers arriving on morning flights. On this stay, our room was ready shortly before half past three.
Under the glass at L’Officine du Louvre
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The wait is made easier by L’Officine du Louvre, the hotel’s bar and the strongest design moment in the building. Set beneath a period glass roof, with no windows in its walls, it draws its light from above, filtering through real trees, trailing greenery and historic columns. The concept pays tribute to Napoleon III’s passion for botany, and the effect is closer to a conservatory than a hotel bar.
L’Officine serves a light breakfast menu from 9am to 11am, so early arrivals can settle in with a croissant and coffee. Hôtel du Louvre also has private cabins on the first floor, and one was arranged for us after mentioning we’d like to freshen up. With a changing room, shower, hairdryer, razors and plenty of sockets, it allowed for a proper refresh before a day exploring the city.
A Junior Suite with a view of sculpted statues
The Junior Suite View on the second floor of Hôtel du Louvre is spacious and open plan. An L-shaped blue velvet sofa scattered with blue and red cushions is plush and comfortable, and it supplies most of the room’s personality. The rest of the palette is grey, beige and white, with a single illustrated artwork above the bed, and the feel is classic rather than styled.
Compared with the public spaces downstairs, the room feels like an unfinished version of the same story. The layout leaves a large open space in the middle, and a long, high table beside the sofa does not quite create a second place to relax. Once luggage is placed in the wardrobe alcove, the doors become difficult to open, and the only full-length mirror is tucked inside.
The bathroom, by contrast, is a highlight, large and finished in marble with a spacious walk-in shower, strong water pressure and a generous, well-lit mirror. The bed is very comfortable. A welcome amenity of madeleines in a box designed to look like the hotel, fine chocolates, a welcome letter and a bottle of champagne appeared in the evening, though it would have been better enjoyed on arrival.
The real draw of this room category at Hôtel du Louvre is the balcony. It is designed for the view rather than for sitting, and a chair would be a squeeze. It looks out over a richly sculpted section of the Louvre, where morning light falls across the carvings and statues. A small bistro set would turn it into the ideal spot for a morning coffee.
Lunch on the terrace at Brasserie du Louvre
Brasserie du Louvre, the hotel’s only restaurant, features in the MICHELIN Guide and is led by chef Denis Bellon. It follows the classic Parisian brasserie template, with striped wicker chairs on the terrace, white tablecloths and a constant flow of people passing. Covered seating kept lunch dry as showers came and went, and the people-watching alone makes a table outside worthwhile.
Courgette flower fritters filled with fresh cheese arrived with a bright tomato dip, followed by thin slices of marinated smoked salmon with blinis and a light horseradish and lemon cream. The salmon had a pleasing firmness and came with a clever lemon squeezer that made a lasting impression. A French beef fillet was cooked well and served with broccoletti and a portion of roasted baby potatoes too generous to finish.
The rigatoni with stracciatella, artichokes and pistachio pesto was one of the best pasta dishes we’ve eaten in Paris. Dessert was a lemon and basil givré, sorbet served inside a hollowed-out lemon. Wine by the glass is poured generously, which is always appreciated.
Breakfast, service and the finer details
Breakfast is also served at Brasserie du Louvre, split between a buffet and an à la carte menu. The buffet is compact but well chosen, with a whole grilled salmon alongside crêpes, pancakes, fresh croissants, a large fruit selection and cold cuts. Staff circulate with a different tasting each morning, such as a fresh smoothie, and sparkling wine is on hand for a Buck’s Fizz. The coffee is served per French standards, which cannot compare with the cappuccinos you’d find in Italy.
Service at Hôtel du Louvre was strongest at the start of the stay, with the concierge team quick to ask about plans and offer recommendations. On both mornings the breakfast team did not have the booking recorded as including breakfast, and although staff accepted the correction immediately. Luggage stored after our check-out was retrieved swiftly with a ticket and loaded straight into the waiting car.
Who is Hôtel du Louvre best suited for?
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For location, few addresses in the city can compete with Hôtel du Louvre. The surrounding streets are lively with cafés, and much of Paris is within walking distance or a short ride away. The building’s heritage, the greenhouse-style bar and the brasserie terrace give the stay a strong sense of place, while the bathroom and bed deliver where it matters most.
The rooms are where there is most scope for improvement, and a more considered layout, a second seating area and a better-placed full-length mirror would bring the Junior Suite up to the level of the public spaces. For travellers who prioritise a central base, historic surroundings and good food, Hôtel du Louvre offers solid value at a respectable price-point for the 1st arrondissement.
Quick summary – Hôtel du Louvre
- Style: Historic grand hotel with classic Parisian interiors
- Location: Place André Malraux, 1st arrondissement, Paris
- Key feature: L’Officine du Louvre bar beneath a period glass roof
- Room: Junior Suite View with a balcony overlooking the Louvre
- Dining: Brasserie du Louvre (French brasserie), L’Officine du Louvre (bar)
- Wellness: 24-hour fitness centre and private changing rooms
- Ideal for: Culture-focused travellers who want to explore Paris on foot
