One of the historical topics that interests me is the issue of prostitution in Paris in the 18th and 19th centuries, and I even wrote an article about it called Between Sanctity and Sanctity . The mythical brothels such as Le Chabanais and the Sphinx have long since ceased to function and the buildings in which they were located have become boring office buildings, and the truth is, that's quite a shame. No, not because of what you think, but because those brothels may have looked quite boring from the outside, but inside they were a feast for the eyes. Since the clients at that time came from the nobility of Europe, who were accustomed to living in luxurious palaces, it is clear that their pleasure houses could not be left behind and they hired the services of the best artists to decorate the rooms (a good example of this are 15 paintings painted by Toulouse-Lautrec for Le Chabanais).
So are all we have left are black and white photos and lewd stories from days gone by? Until a few weeks ago, I would have said that unfortunately the answer is “yes.” However, recently Miriam Adri , who knows endless secret places in Paris, told me that there is a luxurious and luxurious boutique hotel that was once a brothel and has retained all the original furniture from the days when its luxurious rooms were rented by the hour. It is Maison Souquet , which is located in the 9th arrondissement not far from the Moulin Rouge, and today we will tell its story.
Back to the Belle Epoque
This hotel is not easy to discover. It does not have a particularly interesting facade or impressive entrance, and the only thing that stands out at the entrance are two red lanterns, a hint of what happened there in the past. However, when you step inside, you discover a completely different story. A mysterious Belle Époque style splendor will greet you as soon as you enter, making you realize that this is not only one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris, but also one of the most beautiful.
The lobby is entirely built in the style of “The Arabian Nights,” which was very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (which is why quite a few brothels contained such rooms). To all this, the famous interior designer Jacques Garcia added Napoleon III-style furniture, which was very popular in the second half of the 19th century and was intended to give the lobby a luxurious but authentic touch.
From there, you move on to the hotel's luxurious bar called Le Salon de Petites Bonheures (loosely translated: The Salon of Little Pleasures). The bar itself is designed like a library room in a 19th-century mansion and you'll find books, a piano, and a huge fireplace (all taken from a 19th-century Belgian palace and "transplanted" into the hotel). Alcohol lovers can enjoy unique cocktails concocted by the bartender, while people like me can enjoy a variety of fine brews. All of these are accompanied by high-quality cheeses from the Saint Hubert dairy and even excellent foie gras. If you want to smoke, you're welcome to go out to the small garden adjacent to the bar where you can smoke in style.
And now let’s move on to the rooms themselves. Each of them is decorated in a different style and named after a famous courtesan. You will find rooms in Indian, Art Nouveau, Chinese and other styles, all decorated in luxury, not particularly restrained. For example, in room 203 you will find about a thousand peacock feathers, while another room is dedicated to Baudelaire’s saying that “beauty is always bizarre”. If these rooms are a little too small for you and your wallet is big enough, you are welcome to stay in the spacious suite named after La Piva , the famous Jewish courtesan.
And finally, if all this pampering wasn't enough for you, you are welcome to go downstairs to the luxurious spa, which can be closed for an hour so you can spend time there completely alone. You will find a pool, a Turkish bath and a treatment room where you can get a pampering massage or facial. The design of the spa is simply amazing and I especially loved the blue ceiling with the gold stars.
Want to live at Maison Souquet?
You can find more details about the hotel, including prices, at this link . And by the way, if you liked the design of this hotel, you are also welcome to try Maison Athénée from the same designer's studio (please do not confuse it with Hôtel Plaza Athénée ). In this hotel, which is located not far from the Opéra Garnier , you will find quite a bit of luxury but in a completely different style because here the design inspiration comes not from the brothels of Paris but rather from the theaters and boulevards.
And one last thing, if these two hotels are not available on the dates you will be staying in Paris and you want to live in the 9th arrondissement, you can find quite a few other recommended places to stay in this district at a variety of prices:
The hotel sits on the line of the tourist route in the north of the 9th arrondissement , and is one of its stops.
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