SO/ Paris hotel review – The Points Guy

What is SO/ Paris?

Part of Accor’s Ennismore lifestyle hotel arm, SO/ is a smaller brand of luxury hotels “rooted in the world of fashion.” These design-forward hotels feature colorful properties with destination bars and restaurants that are just as much of a draw as the luxe guest rooms and suites.

While it might be in a quieter stretch of the Marais, SO/ Paris fits right into its brand’s fashionable trend. The hotel has 162 chicly appointed guest rooms and suites, as well as the rooftop Bonnie restaurant and nightclub. It is the result of an extensive renovation of a 17-story office building from the 1950s.

We always think replacing filing cabinets with fashionistas and turndown service is a smart call.

How to book SO/ Paris

The location

SO/ Paris is a 30-minute drive from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), or you can get there in just under an hour by using the RER regional rail and connecting to the Paris Metro system.

SO/ Paris is in a quieter stretch of the Marais on the bank of the Seine in the 4th Arrondissement. I was at a luxury hotel conference prior to my stay, and a few of my hotel snob brethren jeered, “It’s not in the most exciting of areas.”

But after three nights at SO/ Paris, I imagine the hotel might quip back at these cynics, “I am the excitement.”

Plenty of Parisians appeared to be flocking to SO/ Paris and its highly popular rooftop restaurant and nightclub, Bonnie (more on this later), during my stay. While the immediate surrounding area is a little quiet, it doesn’t take long to get to all the major attractions in Paris. We could easily walk to Notre Dame Cathedral or hop on the Metro and be at the Louvre or — more important for this weekend friend getaway — designer shopping/gawking on Rue Saint-Honore in about 10 minutes.

This convenience translates to guests being treated to incredible views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and beyond from the hotel.

Checking in

The rooms

Accommodations at SO/ Paris are divided into “bedrooms” and suites. My 14th-floor Paris Skyline bedroom lived up to its name with a panoramic view of the Seine and major attractions like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Notre Dame reopened to the public the weekend of my stay, so it was particularly exciting to step out onto the Juliet balcony of my room and soak in the excitement of the city welcoming the return of one of its best-known icons.

The bedroom was a stylish retreat that had a color palette I could never pull off if I was attempting a similar design scheme back home. A mix of red, orange, yellow and blue accents played off wood and ceramic accents to create an inviting, chic and comfortable space in one of my favorite cities in the world. The king-size bed included master control switches for lights above both nightstands along with electrical outlets (be sure to bring your adapter) for charging devices.

A mix of warm recessed lighting throughout the room made the gossip swapped back and forth over Barolo with my friend really pop during our stay, but I can see where this would also have been seen as romantic lighting had we been on our own with our respective spouses.

Speaking of, there was plenty of space for the two of us (including a not-exactly-light-packer, yours truly) traveling together to not feel like we were intruding on each other’s personal space. A small seating area was perfect for the previously mentioned gossip-and-wine session, and there was even a little bulldog sculpture nearby that doubled as a speaker to provide a much-needed Taylor Swift- and Cheryl Cole-heavy playlist for storytelling hour.

A minibar featured drinks and snacks for purchase, as well as complimentary tea, Nespresso pods and nonalcoholic beverages. The dog, working double time as art and speaker, kept a watchful eye over the minibar cabinet holding wine, snacks and glassware, while the tea and Nespresso machine and kettle were in a separate area with water bottles that were replenished daily and a refrigerator underneath that housed all the chilled drinks for purchase.

Along with ample wood-slatted storage space for luggage and clothes that needed to be hung, the bedroom featured extras like a clothes steamer and a leather folio with a variety of fashion magazines to peruse while the sounds of Paris outside softly wafted in from the door we perpetually left ajar to the balcony.

The bathroom was spacious by Parisian standards and included a walk-in rainfall shower, well-lit vanity and Codage Paris bath products. Codage lived up to the hype of a French pharmacy worker who had recommended the brand (after lightly judging me — with love, of course … or so I told myself) earlier in my trip when I went looking for products by a less-expensive competitor. One thing to be mindful of is how heavy the bathroom door is (as though it’s a security door to a stairway), so be sure to close it quietly in order not to spook your traveling partner (or yourself) with the noise.

Housekeeping, including evening turndown service, is twice daily.

Dining at SO/ Paris

While you’re likely to head out of the hotel to explore the Parisian dining scene, there are options to tide you over with food and drink just an elevator ride away from your guest room or suite.

As mentioned, Bonnie is the star of the show (and, apparently, of Parisian nightlife, based on the lengthy line seen each night of my stay at its designated elevator). Named for Bonnie and Clyde, this 15th-floor restaurant might have the lengthiest shift of any SO/ Paris entity, as breakfast service begins not too long after the late-night revelry winds down.

Bonnie’s breakfast offerings include a robust buffet of pastries (with some gluten-free options), fruit, charcuterie, cheese, and teas and coffees. Guests can also order a la carte menu items like crepes, avocado toast and omelets. When not included in your nightly rate, breakfast at Bonnie is 38 euros ($39) per person.

While pricey, the breakfast was a filling start to the day and included picture-perfect views of the major sights of Paris. It was too chilly to dine alfresco on the balcony during our stay, but it’s easy to see where Bonnie could be the place for a power breakfast during Fashion Week. Fendi and a frittata, anyone?

Bonnie is also open for dinner, and the nightclub portion stays open until 5 a.m. Alas, I was coming off a conference and decided not to revisit my club kid days; instead, I opted to stick to Bonnie at sunrise breakfast hours.

SO/ Paris also features Lobby Cafe, a small lobby bar with all-day bites and fuel to get over jet lag, like croissants (2.50 euros, or $2.56) and espresso (5 euros, or $5.12).

Amenities and activities

While I didn’t have time for a spa treatment during my stay, guests at SO/ Paris can schedule a visit to the on-site Maison Codage Spa for pampering while in Paris. The facility features a variety of treatments, from personalized facials and massages to body scrubs and exfoliations, as well as a Turkish steam bath.

Additionally, guests of SO/ Paris have access to a fitness room with cardio and strength training equipment.

Reasons SO/ Paris might not be for you

While I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at SO/ Paris, not every hotel is perfect. Here are some factors that might make you want to look elsewhere for a stay:

• While the Metro makes just about any major attraction in the city easily accessible from the hotel, those looking to be within walking distance of attractions like the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe may want to find alternative hotels.
• SO/ Paris isn’t necessarily the best spot for families looking for ways to entertain the kids (though children are certainly welcome … just maybe not at Bonnie in the late hours of the night).

Accessibility

SO/ Paris features accessible routes to all public areas, including Bonnie and meeting spaces, as well as guest rooms. Accessible guest rooms feature code-compliant doorways for wheelchair access and maneuvering space on each side of the bed.

Bathrooms in accessible guest rooms include a roll-in shower and grab bars for the toilet and shower. The toilet in these rooms is at wheelchair height, and these guest rooms also feature lowered peepholes and closet rods.

Wheelchair bathtub and shower seats, deaf or hard-of-hearing guest kits, accessible TV remote controls and hearing loops are available upon request.

Checking out

My long weekend in Paris was especially enjoyable because SO/ Paris is my kind of way to travel: close enough to the action without being too close. Practically every head of state was in town for the nearby reopening of Notre Dame, but the traffic and roadblocks plaguing much of the city didn’t disturb the flow of my planned exploring.

I was still able to scoot over to my preferred spot for rooftop cocktails in a matter of minutes on the Metro and could stroll over to the Musee d’Orsay with ease after my delightful breakfast with a view from Bonnie. The SO/ Paris staff was charming and hospitable while still showing off in chic, well-tailored outfits (this is a fashionable brand, after all).

Nightly rates aren’t necessarily the stuff of a bargain basement, but it’s still very much a reasonable price point for a high-end hotel in my favorite city. I’m already planning my return (maybe after an upgrade to my wardrobe).

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