Once a seedy neighbourhood most notable for being one of Paris’ main junctions, Place de Clichy and its adjoining arrondissements have been smartening up their act with a smattering of trendy restaurants and bars. On a surprisingly quiet street, slotted between the crossroads and Pigalle’s cocktail bar stretch, is the 37-room Le Ballu Hôtel.
Tucked inside two buildings, one was the former residence of painter Charles Wislin in 1891, before being turned into the offices of the SACEM (society of authors, composers and publishers of music), followed by an artists’ residency.
In its latest transformation the owners, Julia and Thomas Vidalenc (also the architect behind the hotel), have created a bold, high-polished aesthetic that’s a mix between 1950s Danish and Art Deco influences with a Slavic touch, while nodding to the building's artistic heritage. And so, works by Polish constructivist artist Tauba Sarnaka sprinkle the interiors alongside furniture sourced from Eastern Europe and banquettes upholstered in cheery fabrics, designed by Vidalenc himself.
Up in the rooms, painted in block colours of petrol blue, garnet red or mustard yellow, distressed rugs and flea-market finds channel a vintage lived-in feel while free-standing bath tubs, faux terrazzo walls, rainfall showers, fluffy bathrobes and private terraces in the bigger rooms, bring a luxurious edge.
The reason locals flock here though, is for the outdoor restaurant, set inside Wislin’s former garden. Here, chef Michaël Riss serves updated twists on traditional dishes like the baked leek doused in his grandmother’s secret dressing.
The small downstairs pool and sauna area, which guests must book in advance, rounds off Le Ballu Hôtel's refreshingly laid-back atmosphere.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
30 rue Ballu
-
Fendi celebrates 100 years with all-out runway show at its new Milan HQIn the wake of Kim Jones’ departure, Silvia Venturini Fendi took the reins for a special co-ed A/W 2025 collection marking the house’s centenary, unveiling it as the first act of celebrations within Fendi’s expansive new headquarters in Milan
-
‘Leigh Bowery!’ at Tate Modern: 1980s alt-glamour, club culture and rebellionThe new Leigh Bowery exhibition in London is a dazzling, sequin-drenched look back at the 1980s, through the life of one of its brightest stars
-
Inside the unexpected collaboration between Marni’s Francesco Risso and artists Slawn and SoldierNew exhibition ‘The Pink Sun’ will take place at Francesco Risso’s palazzo in Milan in collaboration with Saatchi Yates, opening after the Marni show today, 26 February
-
All aboard the world’s most luxurious train journeysStay on track with our pick of the most luxurious train journeys around the world, whether in 1920s-style opulence or contemporary chic
-
Night at the museum: the best art hotels to book nowSleep amid surrealists at London’s Broadwick Soho, or wake up to contemporary favourites at New Hotel in Athens – indulge in an immersive art hotel experience
-
Shop hyperlocal gifts, from Harlem to Hawaii, at R Finds’ global online storeWallpaper* goes shopping with R Finds, Renaissance Hotels’ digital marketplace, which connects travellers – and armchair travellers – with local makers and stores, one gift at a time
-
This Italian Bistrot in Paris offers all-year-round ‘felicità’A diminutive of the Italian word for family, Miglia is a cosy trattoria radiating warmth, friendliness, and traditional flavours
-
Ski in, ski out at Courchevel’s hot new piste-side dinerLoulou, the new Courchevel restaurant inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s muse, is playfully elevated by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s pop art branding
-
The cosiest alpine retreats to book in EuropeBrowse the Wallpaper* edit of European alpine retreats where to fully embrace the ski season
-
First look at Maison 3, an eclectic new Parisian bar for sleepless nightsMaison 3 is an enigmatic space with a sensual atmosphere brought to life by the French studio Les Beaux Jours Architectures
-
The world’s most enticing new hotel openingsExplore the best new hotels in the world, from a bijou addition to the London hotel scene to a lush safari adventure in South Africa
