It’s always nice to have good neighbours, and Paris hotel Le Cinq Codet — located in the prestigious 7th arrondissement — is in pretty illustrious company; the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée d’Rodin, Napoleon’s resting place and the tourist attraction to end them all, the Eiffel Tower, are all situated within this district formed by a curve of the Seine. But far from being put in the shade by it’s surroundings, Le Cinq Codet (a former France Telecom building from the 1930s) is one of the most attractive sights around. That’s largely down to the lovely Art Deco architecture, now back to its best after a splendid restoration job by architect Jean-Philippe Nuel. Regular readers will remember Nuel knocked our socks off not too long ago with the Molitor swimming pool — another Deco gem.
Being on a sharp corner, the front of Le Cinq Codet has something of New York’s Flatiron Building about it, although the wedge is a little wider and the railings on the roof terrace recall the prow of a ship. Judicious lighting makes sure the exterior is always shown off to its full potential, too. There’s no shortage of pretty things to look at inside either, with artwork liberally distributed from floor to ceiling, and pieces of statement furniture adding to the effect. The 67 bedrooms are designed in a loft style, with duplex suites the last word in French sophistication.
