Hôtel Balzac

Where:
Paris, France
Why:48-hour layover
When:August 2025
Who:Solo sojourn

"An ode to classic hotel glamour, tucked in the heart of Paris."

Steps from the Arc de Triomphe, Hôtel Balzac is a discreet hideaway in the 8th Arrondissement, once the private residence of literary icon Honoré de Balzac. Revived by Vivre – Les Maisons Bertrands and reimagined by Festen Architecture, its interiors channel the quiet glamour of 1930s Paris with a softly lit lobby, intimate lounge, and elegant bar. 58 guestrooms and suites offer luxe accommodation, some with terraces and others with sweeping Eiffel Tower views. Downstairs, Spa Ikoï offers a Japanese-inspired sanctuary replete with treatment rooms, sauna, gym, and a private plunge pool.

Check-in at the beautiful lobby of Hôtel Balzac, welcome to Paris

You’d never know you’re a block away from the Champs-Élysées

The cozy lobby lounge

My private Parisian apartment for le weekend

Is there anything better than a luxe hotel bathroom?

Pre-dinner drinks at the gorgeous Balzac bar

The Arc de Triomphe is your neighbor and the M1 Metro line takes you anywhere you need to go

Spa Ikoï is a subterranean respite below Hôtel Balzac

Unwinding at the plunge pool after a full day of exploring Paris

Bonne nuit mes amis, late night reads before bed

Breakfast enjoyed in the lounge

Palm trees in Paris at my suite’s private terrace

I feel right at home

Hôtel Balzac The hotel’s gorgeous edifice, the former site of Honoré de Balzac’s residence and a 20th-century hôtel particulier built for the former Paris Opera Director

The hotel’s gorgeous edifice, the former site of Honoré de Balzac’s residence and a 20th-century hôtel particulier built for the former Paris Opera Director

Excursion to Poissy to visit Villa Savoye, Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier’s 1931 modernist masterpiece

They’ve even made the hotel gym look chic

Voilà, an evening nightcap with my en-suite bar

Chef’s kiss, good job Festen Architecture

Highs & Lows

Design details by Festen Architecture give this boutique hotel a nostalgic and romantic energy.
Small and intimate, with attentive staff and service.
Central location, yet away from the crowds.

No full-service restaurant at the hotel, but it's an incentive to explore the city’s food scene.

The Barometer

Design
Location
Future Forward
Night's Sleep
Service

Amenities
Takeable Treats
Refer a Friend
Overall Value
Life Changing

Total: 50/50

Important Bits

Type
5-Star Luxury Hotel
Vibe
Design-led property capturing the romance of Paris
Location
6 Rue Balzac, 75008 Paris, France
Rooms
58 rooms and suites
Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience
Guests can book via the hotel’s website or the Relais & Châteaux portal. Staff assist with pre-arrival planning, and on arrival, Maitre d’Hotel and General Manager Emilien Jaltier welcomed me with a lobby introduction and drink.
Future Forward
Hôtel Balzac is plastic-free, with Dyptique Paris refillable toiletries, fresh filtered water delivered daily in crystal decanters, boxed water in the fridge, and a custom spirits line in glass mini-bar bottles.
Music
Peaceful ambient
Year Opened
2024
Designed By
Hôtel Balzac reopened in 2024 after a full renovation under the family-owned Vivre, Les Maisons Bertrand group. Designed by Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay of Festen Architecture, the interiors draw on 1930s art deco with subtle Japanese influences, creating a cozy yet luxurious Parisian hideaway.
Health & Wellness
On level minus one, Spa Ikoï offers a Japanese-inspired retreat, its name meaning “a place where one feels good.” Guests can unwind in the sauna or plunge pool, then head to the gym, outfitted with wood-clad machines and leather-bound weights that make even a workout feel chic.
Food
Hôtel Balzac has no full-service restaurant but sits beside Pierre Gagnaire’s three-Michelin-starred dining room. Guests can dine in the lounge or bar until midnight or order 24-hour room service, with menus spanning Petrossian caviar, Ibérico bellota, French classics, and desserts from Angelina.
Bar, Events & Nightlife
The lobby flows into a serene lounge and curtained bar, a wood-paneled den ideal for pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap over the signature cocktail menu. Guests can even book private mixology lessons with head bartender Julien Quettier through the front desk.
Minibar & Retail
The custom mini bar doubles as a mise en scène, complete with a Japanese lamp, Sjöstrand coffee machine, Bodum kettle, and Schönwald dishes. Guests receive a cocktail recipe menu and mixing set, with ingredients stocked in the mini fridge, including a custom spirits line from Distillerie de Paris. Room service delivers ice on request, while snacks range from Maison Plisson treats to Goulibeur shortbread cookies.
Accessibility
At reception, guests can consult the public accessibility register. Hôtel Balzac offers adapted rooms for reduced mobility and provides amenities for visually impaired guests, including large-button devices, a vibrating alarm clock, digital headset, and fire alarm connector.
Pet Friendly
Yes
Children
Yes
Price
Reassuringly expensive
Tel.
+33 1 44 35 18 00
Website
Visit website

Hôtel Balzac

Hôtel Balzac Paris & Spa Ikoï, Rue Balzac, Paris, France

Bienaimé

30 rue Saint-Roch, 75001 Paris, France

Villa Savoye

82 Rue de Villiers, 78300 Poissy, France

Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection

2 Rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris, France

In the Area

Hotel Location Hôtel Balzac Paris & Spa Ikoï, Rue Balzac, Paris, France

One street off the Champs-Élysées in a quiet and discrete haven on Rue Balzac, Hôtel Balzac situates you in the 8th Arrondissement and the center of Paris, but a world away from the tourist bustle and crowds. On foot or by metro, the Arc de Triomphe is next door, with the M1 line taking you everywhere else.If lost, head to the flagship Louis Vuitton, just follow the massive trunk and turn right.

Hôtel Balzac