Paris has its fair share of stylish, well-located hotels, but Hotel Particulier is an arty boutique hideaway which has eccentric touches, just like its owner.
Set off a large cobbled passageway between two of Montmartre's classy streets, the mansion is out of traffic earshot and is set in its own beautiful grounds.
We're buzzed through two big black gates before we're granted entry to the imposing Paris townhouse. Hotel Particulier has just five suites, all with garden views and all designed by the owner, artist and filmmaker Morgane Rousseau.
The reception itself is a casual affair - one member of staff at a small desk - but the lounge is still impressive, boasting several opulent rooms and an honesty bar. The The bar area is velvety and opulent - definitely worth a revisit in the cooler months.
We're shown up to room three, a sizeable suite with a "poems and hats" theme: whimsical poetry from fashion curator Olivier Saillard hang from the walls in envelopes, adorned with chains and coat hangers. The bedside lamps have trilbies for lampshades; each item of furniture is unique. The black-tiled bathroom is open plan and sandwiched between the living area and the bedroom: definitely a suite for Parisian lovers.
It's a sweltering day, and our air con isn't working, so the staff offer us champagne while we wait for it to be fixed. We sit outside in the downstairs bar, where outdoor tables snake around the side and front of the leafy property.
Our direct view should have been the unremarkable houses opposite but instead we are gawping at a huge piece of modern art (featuring sheep and a tree) cunningly hung between the foliage.
This is a quirky, arty place, which is no more evident than when we meet owner Rousseau. The green-fingered artist is watering the plants with a hose when we first see her just after midnight, and then again in the morning.
She describes how she designed each room individually, inviting her artist friends to contribute specially commissioned pieces. "I'm a filmmaker so I like to imagine a different story or atmosphere, like a movie, for each room," she says. Rousseau hints that many celebrities love the hotel's privacy, but she won't be drawn on names.
We order breakfast (€20 extra), which sets us up for a day of exploring Paris. A friendly waitress brings us coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, croissants and soft boiled eggs, all in the same sunny outdoor setting.
We leave Hotel Particulier in the knowledge that we've stayed in one of Paris's most original hideouts.
It's not the epitome of 5-star efficiency - this is eccentric in every sense. But you won't find another place quite like it.
Hôtel Particulier Montmartre 23 Avenue Junot, 75018, Paris Tel: (01) 5341 8140. Website: www.oivip.com Prices start from €390 per night.
