Approaching the hotel

As the taxi drove to the Hotel Pont Royal, Paris opened before me, with its cobbled streets and old, stone buildings.  Even on a rainy November day, the city shone with light and life.  The Pont Royal was the perfect compliment to Paris, an elegant and comfortable choice.

One of my daughters was living in Paris, teaching English in a French school. When she invited us to join her for Thanksgiving, I made plans to go for a week and rendezvous there with my two other grown children.

To economize, I requested a room that could sleep three adults.  My children are in their twenties, and I imagined the quarters would be tight, but that we would spend most of our time exploring the city.

Our deluxe room was a treat

We were delighted to find that our Deluxe room was spacious and charming, on the hotel’s second floor, with mahogany night tables and desk, large windows, and floor length brocade curtains.  Bright lighting gave the room a cheerful cast even on a gray Paris day.  There was plenty of space for three adults.  The room had twin beds and a comfortable wooden cot.  The bathroom had wonderful touches of luxury -- a green marble vanity and an oversize tub with a strong stream of hot water.  Large plush towels, terry cloth robes, and slippers made us feel pampered.  The room was absolutely quiet, except for the church bells which rang on the hour, reminding us we were in France. 

Photographs of writers line the hallways

A four star hotel – the highest rating in France – the Pont Royal was built in 1923 and renovated in 1999.  It sat on a quiet street on the Left Bank, two blocks from the Boulevard St. Germain.  The street was convenient, home to a tabac, a patisserie, the famous taxidermy shop, Deyrolley, and other stores.  We could walk from there to sightsee, 5 minutes to the Musee d’ Orsay, 10 minutes to the Rodin Museum, 10 minutes to the Louvre.  The metro was two blocks away. 

The hotel is known as un hotel litteraire, a literary hotel.  Many noted writers have stayed there or stopped at its Signature Bar, including Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Oscar Wilde, Françoise Sagan, Garcia Gabriel Marquez, William Styron, Aldous Huxley, Graham Green, James Baldwin, Arthur Miller and others. 

The lobby was ready for the holiday season

The lobby was large and light, with a round sofa and armchairs.  Black and white photographs of writers hung on the walls and in the hallways of the hotel’s seven floors.  

Our bathroom with the oversize tub

The 65 rooms and 10 suites had internet access, cable television, safety box, and mini-bar.  However, wireless was available only in the lobby.  Rooms were decorated in different color schemes, earth, coral and plum.  Three rooms were handicapped-accessible.

There were gracious public spaces, too.  The Signature Bar adjoined the lobby and felt like a cozy living room with dark wood paneling and clusters of armchairs.  A library was connected to it, like an intimate sitting room.  Persian miniatures hung on one wall and shelves held books in English or French.  A fitness room in the basement was adequate for a quick workout.  A computer for guests sat in a tiny alcove off the lobby.  But in order to use the computer, we had to purchase a costly access card from the front desk.

Part of the breakfast buffet

Breakfast was served in sunlit room that overlooked a Japanese garden.  It was a splurge, 27 Euros extra per person, but included omelets made to order, breads, pastries, fruit, yogurt, cereals, and cheeses. 

We enjoyed the garden view during breakfast

The staff was courteous and kind.  We bought tickets at the hotel for a Picasso exhibit at the Grand Palais, avoiding a line there.  Christophe, one of the concierges, was especially helpful, planning routes for us and finding restaurants in our price and geographic range. He was able to obtain a reservation at the last minute at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, the popular and ever-booked three-star Michelin restaurant attached to the hotel.

Before the others arrived, I treated my daughter to dinner there.  We savored the appetizers -- a salad with seared tuna and spaghetti à notre façon.  Our main dish was excellent, cod coated with herbs in a vegetable and basil broth. We shared the perfect desert – an assortment of basil, herb, and peach gelati.

We relaxed in the library

During our stay, all of us explored Paris, feasted on Thanksgiving dinner with American friends, and then returned to the cozy warmth of our hotel room -- to talk, read, and watch CNN before bed.  When we finally left Paris for home, we were sorry to leave the beauty of the city as well the beauty and comfort of the Pont Royal.

The Hotel Pont Royal is located at 7 Rue de Montalembert 75007 Paris.  Telephone from the United States:  011 33 1 42 84 70 00. E-mail: hpr@hotel-pont-royal.com. Web site: www.hotel-pont-royal. Rates vary depending on the time of year and must be checked.  Superior rooms, Deluxe rooms, Junior suites, and a Penthouse are available.

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