Hotel de Sers

One of the best of the recent crop of design hotels in <b>Paris</b>, the <b>Hotel de Sers</b> is the culmination of an 18-month, 20m euro renovation of the old Queen Elizabeth, in an earlier 18th-century mansion that was once home to the Marquis de Sers. The success of the project rests on a seamless integration of design and excellent lighting effects whilst retaining traditional features - the rather grand central staircases, the tall ceilings, the cornicing (in places), and with the introduction of 19th-century oil <b>portraits</b> of turn-of-the-century figures - all slightly raffish - in the public areas.

Upstairs, paint colours - duck egg blue, mulberry and so on - have been chosen carefully to best reflect the lighting arrangements - with other bright splashes of colour from the odd funky flower print chair to lift the neutral toning and cream/white walls. The 52 light-filled rooms are grouped around a central lightwell of changing colours. All rooms have B&O flatscreen TVs, classical music on the stereo to welcome guests, and separate showers, and many have open bathrooms and freestanding baths. It is the detailing that makes the difference here - lamps, light switches, bowls, fresh flowers. A suite on the top floor has a large terrace with views of the Eiffel Tower.

There is full restaurant service, taking full advantage of its 'golden triangle' location just off the <b>Champs Elysees</b>, a small spa, and a large light breakfast area opening out onto a terrace. Definitely a <b>Paris</b> favourite.