Background
The lifestyle Canopy brand was launched in 2014, and has 31 properties around the world, with another 29 under development. It debuted in France with this hotel in May, hosting an official opening party in September.
Where is it?
On Avenue d’Eylau, just off the bustling Place du Trocadéro and the Jardins du Trocadéro which boast arguably the best views of the Eiffel Tower across the Seine. The Place du México at the other end is a quaint quiet alternative if you don’t like crowds.
It is a five-minute walk from Trocadéro metro station, and ten minutes to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysées. There’s also parking on site for £38 per night.
What's it like?
First impressions are strong at this new hotel thanks to its brilliant location in the affluent 16th arrondissement, a bourgeois district in the southwest corner of Paris known for its wide boulevards, leafy parks and 19th century Haussman buildings. As you look down the street, the Eiffel Tower lies straight ahead.
Formerly an electric factory, the 1930s façade now houses a seven-floor hotel designed by architect and interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. He has paid homage to its industrial roots while keeping it bright with Le Corbusier-style block shapes and a warm colour scheme of oranges and reds.
The open-plan lobby is well-designed with a range of seating areas for relaxing, working or dining – plus a small reception desk manned by two friendly staff. The main restaurant, bar and lounge lie straight ahead, with a glass roof overhead, and are cleverly partitioned with bookshelf-style screens. It’s a great use of space and ideal for coworking or informal dining.
Check-in was quick and easy, and our room was ready ahead of the 3pm check-in time. Guests are required to show a “pass sanitaire” (vaccine passport) – the French authorities require both citizens and international travellers to hold a vaccination passport to access tourist attractions and hospitality services. You can also show your NHS Covid pass or a negative PCR test in digital or paper format.
Other Covid-19 protocols include face masks, hand sanitising stations and Clean Stay seals on the hotel room doors – this shows that the room has not been disturbed since housekeeping. For more information on this, see our feature Stay Safe.
Lifts to the guestrooms require a keycard. The corridors have turquoise walls, block-coloured shapes and matching carpets, and huge windows offer views of Paris and a living wall on one of the hotel’s façades.
Rooms
The hotel’s 123 rooms and suites feature sleek, minimalist décor, floor-to-ceiling windows, and splashes of colour in the rugs and artwork. They differ, however, in the views and configurations. All rooms measure 27 sqm, while suites range from
35 to 60 sqm and some include terraces overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
Premium rooms located on higher floors have views of either the beautiful neighbourhood or the Eiffel Tower. Our twin Premium room on the fifth floor had the best of both worlds, and we appreciated the movie set-like vistas from the armchair. The rooms are filled with natural light thanks to the full-length window doors, which also allow you to air the room very easily during the summer months.
The rooms feel very spacious for a Paris hotel, and the highlight is the extremely comfortable single beds with gel memory foam and Serta Cool Balance technology. We fell asleep instantly and had an undisturbed sleep thanks to the quiet corridors and effective blackout curtains. The bedside table features a radio alarm clock, and USB and plug sockets. For those working in the room, there’s a desk with plugs and an adjustable lamp.
All rooms include a large 55-inch TV, a Nespresso machine, a mini fridge, Apivita toiletries, bathrobes, an iron and ironing board, and refillable glass water bottles. In our room, the toilet was separate to the shower room, which had both a handheld and overhead shower.
Having formerly lived in Paris, I was delighted to spot nods to the locality throughout the hotel, which is a hallmark of the Canopy brand. We were welcomed with two craft beers by La Brasserie Parisienne, a map of the area, and coffee capsules from roastery Lomi.
Food and drink
The hotel has two dining venues: L’Esprit Nouveau (meaning new spirit) on the ground floor which serves French cuisine, and the rooftop terrace and bar l’Eylau Paris (named after the road), which offers a French tapas-style menu, craft beer and cocktails.
The latter is a real highlight, with unobstructed views of the Paris rooftops and Eiffel Tower, a wooden deck with deckchairs, high top tables in the sun and sofa seating shaded by orange parasols, and lush foliage planters. We witnessed it come alive in the evening at the lively opening party.
L’Esprit Nouveau on the ground floor serves a continental breakfast (£24) of delicious pastries, eggs, cereals, fruit and yoghurt. In the evening, it switches to classic French dishes using sustainable and eco-friendly products, although it was only serving the rooftop menu during our visit which was a shame.
While the “planche” (sharing platter) of cured meats, cheeses and dips was lovely, it was a very light meal and we needed more fuel after exploring the city on foot all day. There are plenty of classic French brasseries in the area, however, but beware that prices reflect the expensive milieu.
Meetings
The hotel has four meeting rooms – the largest is 56 sqm. The rooftop bar is also ideal for cocktail receptions
Leisure
There’s a well-sized, 24-hour gym on the ground floor, or you can reach your step count target by exploring the city on foot.
Verdict
This new hotel makes the most of its brilliant location with fantastic views, a lively rooftop bar and locally sourced products. The rooms and public spaces are also well-designed for work trips.
Fact box
Best for
Its prime sightseeing location in the leafy 16th arrondissement
Don’t miss
Rooftop views of the glistening Eiffel Tower at nightfall
Price
Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in December started from £215 for a Queen Room
Contact
16 Avenue d’Eylau, Paris 75116; (+33) 1 45 50 50 70; hilton.com
