Hotel Review | Caron de Beaumarchais | Paris

When we decided to take a trip to Paris this past spring the first thing I did was research for the perfect boutique hotel. I knew I wanted to stay in the Marais (parts of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements) for its livelihood and architectural charm.

It didn’t take long for me to set my sights on the Caron de Beaumarchais. This place is quintessential Paris with a twist of vintage elegance. And I am happy to report that my research did not let me down.

The History

The hotel itself is named for Caron de Beaumarchais, an 18th century playwright who lived close by (just up the street). Some of his famous works include the 1784 “The Marriage of Figaro” adapted for the opera as “Le Nozze di Figaro” by Mozart in 1786. Beaumarchais also founded the trading house from which he supplied George Washington and the American Revolution with ships and gunpowder until 1782.

The Hotel

The Caron de Beaumarchais is steeped in history with antique pieces (including some of Beaumarchais actual hand-written works) scattered throughout the lobby and 19 rooms. Although small, I was highly impressed with the design and décor, to which every detail seemed to be cared for and preserved.

The Room

Like many boutique hotels in Paris, the rooms are tiny, at a little over 180 square feet. But honestly, even with the small space, I didn’t feel cramped as I was too enamored with the details which made the space beautiful: wooden beams running along the ceiling, floral drapes, marble counter tops in the bathroom – oh and can we talk about the balcony? By far the greatest part of our room was the balcony that looked out over the Marais, with the cutest little table and chair set for morning breakfast. It was still a bit chilly in Paris while we were there, so we didn’t get to enjoy sitting outside, but just knowing that we could if we wanted was fine by me.

The Food

We only ate one meal while here and it was one of the most delicious breakfasts’ I ate in my entire 10 days of Paris. If nothing else, spend one slow morning, and order the continental breakfast, which consists of the following:

·        fresh orange juice

·        coffee, tea (Mariage Frères) or hot chocolate

·        croissant, baguette and chocolate croissant

·        butter, honey and jams (raspberry, mirabelle)

·        1 boiled egg

·        1 yogurt, cheese

·        1 paté

·        1 kiwi

Breakfast was served in our room, but you can also enjoy it in the breakfast room located on the bottom floor of the hotel.

The Service

And lastly, the service. The service at the Caron de Beaumarchais was wonderful. All of our necessities were met, and the staff was always friendly to us. But what made it exceptional was on the last day of our stay. On this day, the city public transport had gone on strike, so finding a cab was difficult. The man at the front desk waited outside in the rain to get us a taxi, and even walked to other nearby streets to try and flag one down. As I mentioned, the hotel is small, so he was the only person working the front desk that morning. I just thought he went the extra mile, when he definitely didn’t have to.

Learn more about this quaint little gem in the Marias