“Pop!” I uncorked the bottle of Champagne and took in my surroundings: hammam, sauna, and whirlpool. I had the spa at Grand Powers Hotel booked for a private hour. And after wandering away the afternoon in Paris, I was ready for an evening of relaxation.
A month earlier, I’d decided to treat myself to a long weekend in Paris and wanted a home base with a wellness focus. In my research, I came across Grand Powers, located in the stunning Parisian Golden Triangle (think 8th arrondissement, just off the Champs-Élysées). I was intrigued when I saw that the property mentioned that “un healthy living Parisien se diffuse partout dans l’hôtel.” Translation? A healthy Parisian lifestyle is spread throughout the hotel.
What Not to Miss:
- Reserve the spa for an hour of private relaxation.
- Vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free dishes at Café 52.
- In-room Dipytique products and pillow menu.
- Perfect location for walking to see sights like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.
Read on to learn more about why I think the Grand Powers should be your pick when looking for your own moment of Parisian peace.
Accommodations
A sexy-but-cozy Art Deco vibe with hints of wellness sprinkled throughout—that’s how I’d describe my room at Grand Powers. The boutique hotel is home to 50 stunning rooms decorated in silks and velvets of powder pinks and celadon green. Some feature decorative fireplaces. And in the white marble bathrooms, you’ll find either a shower or a bathtub.
My home away from home offered many of the features that you’d expect from a luxury property: bathrobes, a cloud of a bed draped in luxury bedding by Matelas Français, a smart TV with Chromecast technology, turndown service each night, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Then, there were the special touches that stood out to me.
The complimentary slippers cleverly had “Bon” stitched on one and “Jour” on the other. There were cans of water infused with oxygen. The minibar featured wellness goodies like Dash, a sparkling water infused with cucumber and mint, and a vegan collagen chocolate bar. There was a yoga mat for in-room practice. Postcards and stationery were tucked in the desk drawer, making it easy to send a handwritten note to someone special.
There was also a pillow menu where you could choose from feather, synthetic, or ergonomic options. In-room products were by Diptyque. And anytime I needed anything, I could reach out to the front desk via WhatsApp text, and they would promptly respond.
But the best part? Well, that was my personal terrace that overlooked the bustling Rue François-I below. Having that little window on the world where I could sit, sipping a glass of wine while watching the world go by was a little slice of heaven.
Cuisine
Wild shrimp and spinach dumplings. Chicken from the southwest of France with a trio of pumpkins. Chocolate mousse with 70 percent dark chocolate and cocoa. Welcome to the healthful French dinner of my dreams, courtesy of Café 52 Paris, the property’s delightful restaurant and bar.
While Paris is known for its indulgent and rich cuisine, Café 52’s dishes are wellness-focused, meaning that ingredients are seasonal, and there are options to suit vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets.
Plus, there’s a “Beauty Drinks” section to the menu where you’ll find a seasonal detox juice, kombucha, and ginger and lemon booster shots, with the option to add goodies like sea collagen and CBD oil by Holidermie. If you’re looking for something alcoholic, there’s a beautiful selection of French wines and clever cocktail and mocktail options, like the French Cinnamon (bourbon, maple syrup, orange, and bitters) and the P3 (apple juice, peach syrup, passion fruit, lemon, and tonic).
The restaurant also offers a brilliant breakfast spread each morning (I highly recommend you choose a room rate that includes it). Imagine fresh baguettes, croissants, mozzarella and tomato salad and other veggies, smoked salmon with capers, yogurt and beautiful fruits, chia pudding, and eggs made as you like them. It was the perfect way to begin each day. (If you’d rather not pay for the full breakfast, you can also order bites like French toast and eggs Benedict from an a la carte menu.)
Prefer to partake in a meal in your PJs? You can always indulge in the 24-hour room service menu, which includes many of the lunch and dinner dishes I’ve mentioned.
Spa, Fitness Facilities, and Activities
Jet lag and two days of wandering the streets of Paris left me eager to enjoy my self-care Sunday at Grand Powers. After enjoying the beautiful breakfast described above with a cappuccino or two, I returned to my room to wrap myself in my bathrobe and took the elevator down to the spa.
As I exited, Araya, my massage therapist, greeted me and escorted me into our therapy room. She then proceeded to provide a much-needed massage that blended the right amount of pressure with stretches that left my muscles feeling like butter. In addition to massage, the spa also offers a variety of services including facials, foot reflexology, lymphatic draining, hairstyling, and manicures and pedicures.
For my workout, I could have visited the hotel gym, which is expertly equipped with all the cardio and weight equipment you could need, as well as yoga accessories. But the weather was the perfect level of romantic dreary (and not too cold), so I opted to get out for another long walk.
Before I knew it, it was time for my private hour in the spa (available from 6-11 p.m.). Again, I loved the convenience of coming down to the wellness area in my bathrobe. I was met by someone from the front desk who let me into the space with the whirlpool, hammam, and sauna, and a bottle of Champagne was sitting on the table awaiting me. An electric kettle, teas, and waters were also available for my enjoyment.
Knowing that I wouldn’t want to do anything to disturb my peace when my spa time was up, I’d stopped at the local grocer during my afternoon walk and picked up some items for an in-room picnic dinner. That’s how I ended my Sunday, cozied up in my bathrobe with my terrace door open, listening to the sounds of evening in Paris while enjoying a beautiful bottle of 6-Euro Bordeaux, brie, a baguette, and some grapes. My bit of Parisian peace.
