Paris' Most Romantic Hotel | Le Pavillion de la Reine

Le Pavillon de la Reine isn’t just another lovely Parisian hotel to me – it’s the place I now quietly recommend when someone whispers, “We want the most romantic hotel in Paris, but it has to feel discreet.”

Tucked just behind the arcades of Place des Vosges in the heart of the Marais, Le Pavillon de la Reine feels like a private residence you just happen to have the keys to. You slip through an archway, cross a cobbled courtyard draped in ivy, and suddenly Paris’ noise melts away. It’s one of those rare hotels that feels like a secret, even though it sits on one of the city’s most beautiful and historic squares, dating back to the early 17th century.

The building itself dates to the early 1600s and forms part of the original architecture of Place des Vosges, one of Paris’ oldest planned squares and a jewel of Louis XIII–style design. Today, it’s privately owned and run as a five-star boutique hotel, but you still feel those aristocratic bones: high, gabled roofs, stone and brick facades, and that storybook courtyard that makes everyone reach for their camera.

Inside, the hotel has 56 rooms and suites, each individually designed. As a travel advisor, I see a lot of “boutique” properties that all look the same; Pavillon de la Reine is not one of them. Some rooms lean more classical – think toile de Jouy, carved wood, and antique pieces – while others feel more contemporary, with bold fabrics, clean lines, and rich textures. My suite had exposed beams overhead and windows framing the courtyard greenery; at night, with the lights twinkling below, it was impossibly romantic.

From the moment I checked in, what struck me most was the discretion. This is not a “scene” hotel. There’s no lobby full of people trying to be seen, no thumping music, no queue at the bar for selfies. Instead, there’s a calm, cocooned feeling – more private townhouse than traditional hotel.

The lounge and lobby are a masterclass in warm Parisian elegance: velvet sofas, marble fireplaces, gilded mirrors, oil portraits, and a subtle mix of old and new from designer Didier Benderli. It’s the kind of space where you can sink into a corner with a book, a glass of wine, and feel as if you live there.

As a solo guest at times and a couple at others, I always felt perfectly at ease. The hotel attracts a mix of stylish Parisians on staycations, design-savvy Americans, and European couples—many of them LGBTQ+—drawn by both the hotel’s intimacy and the neighborhood’s inclusive, creative energy.

For me, location is everything, and this is where Pavillon de la Reine shines. The hotel sits right on Place des Vosges in the Marais, one of Paris’ most historically preserved areas and long considered the city’s most LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhood.

Within a short walk, I had:

• Fantastic shopping on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and around the Haut-Marais concept stores

• A huge choice of cafés, wine bars, and brasseries, from classic bistros to natural-wine spots

• The galleries and museums of the Marais, plus the Seine and Île Saint-Louis not far beyond

  
  

Several LGBTQ+ bars, boutiques, and spaces are within easy strolling distance, and the overall vibe of the area is open, creative, and welcoming. At night, I could slip back through the arches into the hotel’s courtyard and feel like I was entering a private world again – the perfect balance between being in the heart of things and having complete privacy.

My room felt like a Parisian apartment fantasy done right: rich fabrics, a comfortable bed with crisp linens, thoughtful lighting, and a layout that made even a compact Paris footprint feel luxurious. Across the hotel, rooms are known for their variety—some with exposed beams, some with fireplaces, and some with little balconies overlooking the courtyard.

Soundproofing is excellent; even with the buzz of the Marais outside, my room was whisper-quiet. The bathroom was clad in marble, with quality amenities and great water pressure—an underrated luxury after a day of pounding Parisian pavements.

As someone who works in luxury travel, I’m picky about service. Pavillon de la Reine’s team won me over quickly. The staff are polished but never stiff, and there’s an easy warmth to the way they interact with guests.

They handled every request—restaurant bookings, drivers, last-minute changes—with calm efficiency. What I appreciated most was the sense of discretion: they remember your preferences, greet you by name, and then quietly melt into the background. For high-profile or privacy-minded guests, this is priceless.

If there’s one feature that completely sealed my affection for this hotel, it’s the honesty bar in the lounge. In the evenings, guests help themselves to a curated selection of spirits, wines, and digestifs, jotting down what they’ve taken for the staff to add to the bill later.

There’s something deeply civilized about this system. It creates a home-like intimacy: you wander down after dinner, pour yourself a nightcap—perhaps a good cognac or a perfectly chilled Champagne—and settle by the fire or in a quiet corner, or go up to your room.

On my last night, I sat there planning the next day’s meetings and strolls, glass in hand, feeling less like a hotel guest and more like a regular in a very elegant private club.

So why do I call Le Pavillon de la Reine Paris’ most romantic hotel?

• The setting: an ivy-clad 17th-century mansion on Place des Vosges, reached through a private courtyard.

• The interiors: candle-lit lounges, fireplaces, and unique rooms that feel like personal hideaways rather than generic hotel boxes.

• The location: in the heart of LGBTQ+-friendly, atmosphere-rich Marais, with world-class shopping and dining at your doorstep.

• The mood: a sense of privacy and ease that lets you truly relax, whether you’re wandering out hand-in-hand or staying in with room-service breakfast and late check-outs.

  
  

During my stay, everything—from the quiet professionalism of the staff to the way the light hit the courtyard in the early morning—conspired to make it feel special. It was fantastic, discreet, and flawlessly located: exactly what I look for when I’m choosing a Paris base for my most discerning clients—and for myself.

If you’re planning a romantic trip to Paris, especially if you want to be central, stylish, and right in the heart of the LGBTQ+-friendly Marais, Le Pavillon de la Reine is the address I’d send you to first.