The SO brand was launched in 2011 and is Ennismore’s ‘fashion’ brand, so they have a focus on things like uniforms, relevant events and collaborations.
The Hotel
With 16 floors, 140 rooms, 22 suites, a spa, restaurant, bar, and club, it may only be a year old, but it’s already a very busy place. It’s located next to the Seine, between Notre-Dame, Bastille and Le Marais.
The Vibe
From morning to night, this hotel is hopping. The lobby is bright with terrazzo flooring, marble check-in counters, huge white statues (in the shape of Singapore’s Supertrees), and top tech everywhere. Lobby culture seems to be encouraged, with a Lobby Café and additional seating, and there’s direct courtyard access for the warmer months.
The Rooms
This is definitely a hotel that knows its audience. Full length mirrors have lights built in, making them perfect for selfies, the TVs are smart, and they have powerful speakers for music. Highlights include the soft lighting, slat-wood minibars/walls, Codage toiletries, and views. Their own-brand tea and scent was a nice touch, and having a steamer in the room was handy.
Restaurants/Bars
The 360° views at Bonnie, their 60s-style restaurant, bar and club on the 15th and 16th floors by the Paris Society Hospitality Group, are a real draw. The restaurant has outdoor seating for warmer months and inside, it’s wraparound windows and low lighting. The same continues upstairs at the bar: views, views, views with sunken cream seating, and the small club with chocolatey leather sofas would be a great place to dance. The slick, narrow smoking room is something we haven’t seen in years, but given it’s on the 16th floor (so a long ride to go outside), it seems smart and, we’re assuming, well ventilated – and was worth a visit for the vistas alone.
Highlights
The outside tables at Bonnie – classic white tablecloths, red cushioned seats with white piping, and Eiffel Tower views – look like the perfect place to spend an afternoon, and when the club reopens, we have high hopes.
Photo: Romain RicardAnything Else
Make a booking for dinner before you arrive if you want to dine at night, and note that breakfast ends at 10:30AM. If you want a table at the bar or to get into the club, we’d do some pre-planning there, too. They have a small spa with two treatment rooms, an indoor pool, their workout room is as upbeat as we’ve seen, and the staff uniforms (there are many) are by Guillaume Henry, previously at Nina Ricci.
