Special privileges offered by a noble and stately home...

The street running along the back of the Best Western Premier L'Horset Opéra leads to the small square place Gaillon in between two of Paris' most typical and authentic restaurants: Chez Drouant and La Fontaine Gaillon. The latter establishment was opened by the famous actor Gérard Depardieu with his friend and renowned chef Laurent Audiot.

Drouant is where on the first Tuesday of every month, the 10 members of the country's most prestigious literary society, Goncourt, have eaten lunch ever since 1914 and where the jury's annual award, worth a symbolic 10 euros, is announced at the beginning of November to throngs of journalists.

Word has it that both of these restaurants serve fine food, but what patrons savor most is the unique atmosphere at each that goes with the city's history, or legend, through its most noteworthy personalities.

The Best Western Premier L'Horset Opéra emanates the same historical charm, the same sensitivity to deep-seated roots. This should come as no surprise considering that the hotel was built in the 17th century as the manor house for the Duke of Antin, son of Marquise de Montespan, one of Louis XIV's mistresses.

Besides the foundations and stonework, little still stands of the Duke's home. Yet, its noble past remains ever so present, today maintained to perfection by the quality of decoration and materials as well as by the exquisite taste shown by its current owners.

The balconies in particular, typical of 19th century bourgeois architecture, showcase finely-crafted wrought-iron balustrades ornamented by boxwood and geraniums. Don't miss the frieze on the facade and woodwork on the ground floor windows, obviously inspired by the Art Nouveau movement towards the end of the 19th century.

The light streaming through is attractively filtered by Venetian blinds. The bar and sitting room in back of these blinds make for a cozy ambiance, with a master's touch to every minute detail, where luxury abounds yet without a hint of ostentation. The bar's well-aged selection of whiskeys and ports exemplifies this pursuit of the most discreet and refined quality.

The rooms, spacious by Paris standards, effuse the same sense of well-being. The gorgeous fabrics on the walls are captivatingly original and classical at the same time.

The uppermost floors offer magnificent views of the Paris skyline, a favorite scene of local poets. Just around the corner is the Place Vendôme, whose square, sharp-angled layout would have inspired the most Parisian of perfume bottle designs: Chanel No. 5. This location also lies smack in the heart of Paris' fashion district - just cross the avenue de l'Opéra (the city's only treeless boulevard, so as to preserve the wonderful perspective on the Opera building facade) in the direction of the rue Saint Honoré or the Madeleine Church to admire the irresistible window displays.

The Best Western Premier L'Horset Opéra might not encapsulate everything Paris, but it definitely offers the guest the best of what Parisian life is all about.

Best Western Premier L'Horset Opera

18 Rue D'Antin, Paris, France - FR-75002

Phone: +33 (0) 1 44 71 87 00 Fax: +33 (0) 1 42 66 55 54