Brach Paris – Hotel Review

Rural France by way of its glamorous capital: that’s the feel of Brach Paris, a relaxed and oh-so-chic boutique hotel in the city’s right bank. Read on for the full review.

When Parisians can’t make it out of town, they stay at Brach instead, where expansive suites are garnished with Norwegian hot tubs and stunningly sharp Eiffel Tower views. Locals are often found at the on-site dining and drinking establishments, which are equally exquisite in their setting: cosy decks of sun loungers and country-style gardens at the rooftop venue, with rosemary bushes and Le Coq Sportif-sporting staff, are something from a Francophile’s dream. A better glimpse of (upmarket) Parisian life is hard to find.

Where is Brach Paris?

Sandwiched between the River Seine and the vast Bois de Boulogne, Brach Paris is in the heart of the 16th arrondissement on the city’s right bank. When the traffic’s light, it takes about 30 minutes by car to reach Charles de Gaulle airport. Rue de la Pompe metro station is helpfully close at 400 metres away and services the M9 (Pont de Sèvres - Mairie de Montreuil) metro line, delivering you to Trocadéro station with zero changes.

What’s near Brach Paris?

Trocadéro, the sprawling park that showcases unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower, is a mere 15 minutes away on foot. Away from the crowds, the edge of peaceful Bois de Boulogne – an enormous public garden more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park – begins one kilometre away. It’s particularly tranquil territory for everyone from runners to picnickers (supplies from La Grande Épicerie de Paris on Rue de Passy are worth the six-minute detour in the other direction).

Room types

Dressed in the style of a tres chic apartment, rooms at Brach shun minimalism and uniformity, instead embracing a purposeful curation of upmarket bric-à-brac under thanks to discerning designer Philippe Starck. It’s excessively cosy (and very Instagrammable). The luxury among the clutches of art, quirky sculpture and vintage novels comes in fluffy beds, bathrobes and rain showers.

The hotel’s pièce de résistance is certainly the slew of suites, most notably the Henri and the Suzanne. If you’re setting the dial to “splurge”, these are the spoils: private access via the rooftop garden, a homey and spacious 80-sqm roof terrace adorned with a barrel-like Norwegian hot tub, as well as a panoramic view of the Parisian skyline, anchored by the Iron Lady herself.

Restaurants and bars

If the budget won’t stretch to the terrace suites, you’ll still be able to experience the beauty of the hotel’s elevated outdoor spaces. At the hotel’s Terrasse, a glorious space of lazy deckchairs scattered among fragrant lavender bushes and rosemary shrubs, guests can order everything from soups to sushi, alongside a cocktail or local wine. It’s sheer heaven on a warm Parisian afternoon but no matter if you’ve come in winter – the area is heated in the cooler months.

The Restaurant reclaims another cosy space, with Mediterranean-inspired menu replete with vibrant flavours from zesty sumac through to Iranian zaatar.

Travel for work

Whether it’s a flamboyant slab of marble or an art-book adorned desk, each room has a compact space to work. May we suggest a table at the hotel bar, however?

Spa, gym and pool

If you think you’ve seen everything Brach has to offer, descend to the subterranean wellness space and be dazzled anew. The moody Moroccan-esque Sports Club has an army of staff – from naturopaths to massage therapists – to bolster the extensive services of this extensive facility. The 22-metre lap pool, salt cave, steam room and spa are among the many highlights.

What you need to know

Don’t skip a visit to the on-site patisserie (on an empty stomach, of course). The creations here are excessively pretty in their precision and, most importantly, as delicious as they look.