Something very special, fantastical, joyful has arrived in Paris… La Fantaisie, by family-owned, boutique Leitmotiv Hotel Group opened its doors in the bustling Faubourg-Montmartre neighbourhood on 1 July 2023, in the heart of the city’s 9th arrondissement. Tapping into the local rhythm of the area, opening out onto Rue Cadet, the hotel is not just a destination for international travellers, but a meeting place for in-the-know locals and connoisseurs of the real Paris of Parisians. Historically, the market street draws its name from 16th century gardeners, brothers Jacques and Jean, who owned the Clos Cadet and supplied the court with fruit and vegetables. Today, with its charming secret garden, La Fantaisie builds on this heritage to open a new tranquil haven where nature takes full reign.
Famed for his sense of exuberance, revelry, and playfulness, renowned Swedish designer, Martin Brudnizki designed the interiors of La Fantaisie. The hotel’s 63 rooms and 10 suites were envisioned to provide a total disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the urban environment outside. Drawing on nature as the chief inspiration, the colour palette – consisting of soft greens, warm yellows, and coral touches – evokes the natural world, creating a soothing and warming environment for all that enter.
Thanks to the use of richly upholstered seats, lavish headboards, ornate walls and ceilings covered with floral wallpaper, guests are transported to a dreamlike world. Canopies, parasols, and outdoor furniture further project the warmth of the natural, verdant surrounds, beckoning visitors for a relaxing break under the Parisian skies.
La Fantaisie is under the culinary direction of the remarkable Dominique Crenn – a creative French visionnaire, and for whom this is her homecoming, having spent her career in the U.S. since the 1980s. Crenn is renowned for having transformed Californian gastronomy to the point of becoming the first – and only – female chef to be awarded three Michelin stars in the States.
Her vision leaves no room for compromise, centred wholly around local and sustainable products, and her cuisine at La Fantaisie adopts a zero plastic and zero waste philosophy. Reviving the link between food and nature, the menu at the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Golden Poppy, offers enticing dishes designed to be shared such as line caught sea bass ceviche with pea milk and leche de tigre. Inspired by an antique garden greenhouse, Golden Poppy’s glass roof connects the restaurant to the natural world outside, creating a relaxed atmosphere synonymous with Crenn’s restaurant in San Francisco.
Dedicated to total relaxation and wellbeing, and a switch-off from urban life, La Fantaisie’s spa, opening soon, adopts a holistic approach inspired by ancient healing rituals and the curative power of underground springs. In the heart of this quiet secret sanctuary, multiple design features invite nature to flourish, including armchairs upholstered in soft green fabric and mosaics depicting sprouting plants. Selected as the hotel’s exclusive spa partner, French brand, Holidermie advocates a unique, naturally vegan approach and a pledge to effective, simple, and radiant beauty. Holidermie is committed to beautifying skin from the inside out, while contributing to both the physical and mental wellbeing of all guests.
Centred between two of the city’s most dynamic areas, Pigalle and Grands Boulevards, Faubourg-Montmartre is slowly becoming the epicentre of the Parisian creative community. Guests at La Fantaisie need only step out onto Rue Cadet and they will be greeted with the scents and sounds of the 9th arrondissement’s restaurants, theatres, and boulangeries, to find something worth exploring. Visitors will be transported back in time thanks to unexpected passageways, ancient avenues, and magnificent architecture. In the 19th century, the district was a haven for emerging artists with the famous Folies Bergère theatre having played host to icons such as Charlie Chaplin and Josephine Baker.
Today, culture enthusiasts can catch a film at Studio 28, the former meeting place for artists, poets and filmmakers, or get lost in a book at renowned shop, Les Arpenteurs. Whether for a quick morning coffee and croissant or a laid-back afternoon glass of wine, the bars, boulangeries, and restaurants of Faubourg-Montmartre will both deliver and delight. From household names including À la Mère de Famille, the oldest chocolatier in Paris open since 1761, to new favourites such as tapas restaurant, Déviant, foodies needn’t wander far for a memorable bite. For a unique experience, one can even venture into hidden underground taverns that exude a distinct charm of their own.
BOOK IT
Nightly rates start from €550 per night.
For more information, visit www.lafantaisie.com
