One of the historical subjects that fascinates me is prostitution in 18th- and 19th-century Paris, and I even wrote an article about it called Between Holiness and Harlotry. The legendary brothels, like Le Chabanais and Le Sphinx, closed their doors long ago, and the buildings that housed them became boring office blocks, which is a real shame. No, not for the reason you’re thinking, but because those houses of pleasure may have looked plain from the outside, but inside they were a feast for the eyes. Since the clients of that era came from the European aristocracy and were used to living in lavish palaces, their pleasure houses couldn’t fall behind, so they hired the best artists to decorate the rooms (a good example is the 15 paintings Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) painted for Le Chabanais).
So is all we have left a few black-and-white photos and racy stories from days gone by? Until a few weeks ago I would have said, sadly, “yes.” But recently a friend who knows countless secret spots in Paris told me about a luxurious boutique hotel that used to be a brothel and kept all the original furnishings from the days when its lavish rooms were rented by the hour. It’s called Maison Souquet, it’s in the 9th arrondissement not far from the Moulin Rouge, and today I’ll tell you its story.
Back to the Belle Époque
This hotel isn’t easy to find. It has no particularly interesting façade or impressive entrance, and the only thing that stands out at the door is a pair of red lanterns, a hint of what went on there in the past. But once you step inside, it’s a completely different story. A mysterious Belle Époque splendor greets you the moment you walk in and makes you realize this is not only one of the most pampering hotels in Paris but also one of the most beautiful.
The lobby is designed entirely in the “Thousand and One Nights” style that was very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (which is why quite a few brothels had rooms like this). To all that, the famous interior designer Jacques Garcia (born 1947) added Napoleon III furniture, a style that was very popular in the second half of the 19th century, to give the lobby a lavish but authentic touch.
From there you move on to the hotel’s gorgeous bar, called Le Salon des Petits Bonheurs (loosely, the Salon of Little Pleasures). The bar is designed like the library of a 19th-century mansion, and you’ll find books, a piano and a huge fireplace there (all taken from a 19th-century Belgian palace and “transplanted” into the hotel). Alcohol lovers can enjoy original cocktails mixed by the bartender, while people like me can enjoy a selection of fine herbal teas. On top of that there are quality cheeses from the Saint Hubert dairy and even excellent foie gras. If you’d like to smoke, you’re welcome to step out into the small garden next to the bar and smoke in style.
Now on to the rooms themselves. Each one is decorated in a different style and named after a famous courtesan. You’ll find Indian, Art Nouveau and Chinese rooms and more, all decorated lavishly and not exactly with restraint. Room 203, for example, has about a thousand peacock feathers, while another room is dedicated to the line by Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) that “beauty is always bizarre.” If these rooms are a little too small for you and your wallet is big enough, you’re welcome to stay in the spacious suite named after La Païva (1819-1884), the famous Jewish courtesan.
And finally, if all this pampering still isn’t enough, you’re welcome to head downstairs to the lavish spa, which can be booked privately for an hour so you can have it all to yourselves. You’ll find a pool, a Turkish hammam and a treatment room where you can get a relaxing massage or a facial. The spa’s design is simply stunning, and I especially loved the blue ceiling with its golden stars.
Want to Stay at Maison Souquet?
You can find more details about the hotel, including prices, at this link. And by the way, if you loved the design of this hotel, you might also want to try Maison Athénée, by the same designer (not to be confused with the Hôtel Plaza Athénée). In this hotel, just a short walk from the Opéra Garnier, you’ll find plenty of luxury, but in a completely different style, because here the design inspiration comes not from the brothels of Paris but from the theaters and the boulevards.
One last thing: if neither of these hotels is available on your dates and you’d like to stay in the 9th arrondissement, you can find plenty of other recommended places to stay there across a range of prices:
The hotel sits right on the route of the walking tour of the northern 9th arrondissement, and it’s one of the stops.
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