Located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Hotel Fougère is an unassuming boutique hotel; bursting with Parisian charm and floral flair. 

After striking up a conversation with an eccentric fashion buyer from New York on the busy metro, my mum and I dragged our suitcases up the stairs and along the cobbles of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés square. It was late on a Thursday evening, the sky was dark and the air was tainted with a fresh chill. The outdoor heaters radiated a warm, yellow glow along the narrow pavements which led us to something which I thought was a flower-stall, but it was the entrance to Hotel Fougère.  

“Bonsoir Madame!” the receptionist said as he stood up from behind his antique desk and welcomed us with a big, beaming smile. As we struck up a conversation and checked-in, I couldn’t help but notice fairy lights twinkling in the distance and an electric fireplace flickering next to a man who was relaxing on the sofa with a drink in one hand and a book in the other. The calmness of the lounge felt a far cry from the busy streets of the city. I knew at that moment, I found somewhere very special.

Rooms:

As we made our way to our room, it was clear to see the corridors were decorated with maximalism in mind. Sage green skirting boards divided the ivory and black geometric wallpaper from the black on white leaf-print carpet - a hint for what lay beyond the bedrooms. 

Our queen-superior room was one of 24 bedrooms and suites. The twin-beds took pride of place in the centre of the room and were joined with a botanical-inspired, stripy fabric headboard. A beige-coloured vaulted ceiling lay above us which helped to maximise the space, giving it an airy feeling. A mid-century, walnut-stained wardrobe tucked away in a corner by the window, a tea and coffee station and plenty of storage for more than a weekend’s worth of clothes. The bathroom was small, but perfectly formed and decorated from floor-to-ceiling with grey and white marble tiles. The fluffy bathrobes hung on the door, just waiting to be worn as I tucked myself into bed with the complimentary strawberry and chocolate macarons - ready to rest ahead of a new day in Paris.

Food and Drink:

As tempting as it was to indulge in freshly-baked croissants while relaxing in the Jardin des Tuileries, we opted to try the hotel breakfast. As we made our way down the spiralled staircase to the reception, a lovely lady dressed in a colourful jumper threw up her hands enthusiastically, exclaiming "Bonjour Madame!” and ushered us through to the lounge. 

It was time for breakfast and despite waking up an hour ago, my eyes were not prepared for the explosion of colour and patterns which I somehow missed the night before.

Fresh flowers bloomed from antique vases, leopard print chairs were neatly placed underneath the white linen table cloths and a display of botanical tiles encased the ceiling in the lounge. I thought to myself the decor shouldn’t work, it really shouldn’t - but my goodness, it did. Everything was done with good-taste, nature and charm in mind.

We grabbed a seat and whet our appetite in the literal sense with freshly-squeezed orange juice and browsed the menu. We opted for the ‘Petit Parisian’ breakfast and before we knew it, our table was full with pots of tea and coffee, golden croissants, crispy baguettes and fluffy brioches from Maison Mulot, creamy yogurt and fresh fruit salads, plus a few mini jars of jam and parcels of butter - just for good measure. While we weren't particularly hungry, there was the option of an ‘ à la carte’ breakfast which offered a selection of eggs cooked to preference, cheese, cold cut meats and salmon - it’s something I’ll be eager to try during my next visit.

After a day spent walking along the Seine, shopping in boutiques and watching the day go by from one too many cafes, we made our way back to the hotel for a pre-dinner tipple. Thankfully, the hotel’s honesty bar which was located in the lounge was full to the brim with beer, wine, spirits and pre-made cocktails (from a Margarita or Spritz, to an Old Fashioned or Moscow Mule) or a boissons chaudes or fraîches of our choice. I wasn’t sure if it was the sheer variety of drinks, the dazzling, mirrored bar or the rather strong margarita but the choice felt somewhat overwhelming. I took that as a sign to sit back and relax with my drink in one hand and the daily newspaper in the other. 

Location:

Hotel Fougère is conveniently located on the left bank in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Within a short walk around the neighbourhood, we found an abundance of designer clothing stores, high-end art galleries and the famous hot spots of Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots which were a mere 30 seconds away. When we ventured a little further, we felt the fresh breeze drifting along from the river Seine which led us along the bridges over to the Louvre Museum.

On another day, we explored a little further towards the south-east of the hotel and found ourselves in the Latin Quarter. This district is a real melting-pot of student-filled cafes, eclectic bars, historical landmarks and family-friendly attractions. A casual 10 minute stroll south took us to the Luxembourg Gardens where we spent a few hours browsing bookshops and relaxing in the park with a freshly-made baguette stuffed with ham and cheese.

Whilst making our way back to the hotel to catch our flight home, we stumbled into Richart - an authentic chocolate and macaron shop; which to my delight supplies Hotel Fougère with their welcome gifts. As I shoved one too many boxes of macarons into my suitcase and wished the lady at the front desk a fond ‘à bientôt’, I knew Hotel Fougère was a little slice of Parisian heaven and it will only be a matter of time before I return.

Hotel website: www.hotel-fougere.com
Address: 36 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
Price range: From £282.00 per night (July 2023)