Theatre, brasseries, markets, department stores and artisan craft: this is the Paris of the Parisians, who know their city like the back of their hands and guard their secrets fiercely - the Paris that belongs to those who live, work, go out and enjoy life there.
A glimpse into the artistic life and the expertise of the 19th century, the former private mansion owned by the Count of Chalvrin, which then became the Hôtel Prélude Opéra, offers a bright selection of majestic spaces. Social life and privacy merge into one, bursting into life.
From the moment you step up to the entrance, with its awning, which is listed as a historic monument, a unique atmosphere unfolds. The height of the ceiling, the chandeliers and the original mosaic floors, the stunning panoramic views and the velvet benches with cosy corners for private conversation resonate the promise of a unique and unforgettable stay.
In the 19th century, each building on the street offered up some of its space as a "free leasehold" to support the theatre companies and culture. In 1921, the Théâtre des Nouveautés, the stage door of which was right next to the entrance to the hotel, was inaugurated.
This is the Paris of post-theatre suppers, of vaudeville and ""cafés concerts"" (live entertainment bars), of strolls along the Grands Boulevards, where all of Parisian society wander alongside one another, from the duchesse to the labourer.
On the most lively of the capital's thoroughfares, one can stroll between theatres, cafés, restaurants and amusement arcades… The covered arcades are home to theatres, Art Nouveau style abounds, with its arabesques, its rural painted landscapes and its ceramic wall tiles
You're right there - or almost!
The hotel sits right alongside the stage door of the Théâtre des Nouveautés, and the entire district is built around art and literature.
The Folies Bergère, the Opéra Garnier, the Opéra-Comique, the Mogador theatre, but also… the Musée Grévin, just a few yards away.
Within walking distance are the Opéra district, the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the Grands Boulevards, Montmartre, the Gare Saint-Lazare station, with the Gare du Nord accessible by car or public transport.
All of the lines pass right by us.
Stroll along the covered arcades of the 9th arrondissement: the oldest of these, the Passage des Panoramas, is the most charming; the Passage Verdeau, and the busiest; the Passage Jouffroy.
Or pay a visit to the Drouot auction house and the antiques district, just a stone's throw away.
A dream district for gourmets, with the Musée du Chocolat just 10 minutes' walk away,
"A la mère de famille" - the oldest chocolate confectioner in Paris - less than 5 minutes away, and the Bouillon Chartier, a brasserie that is emblematic of the Parisian lifestyle and has remained unchanged since 1896, likewise 5 minutes away.
The Cadet market and its stalls of fresh produce is also very quaint.
If you are looking for the spiritual home of shopping, then look no further than the 'Grands Magasins', or department stores: Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps. However, the district is also bursting with artisan stores, antique dealerships, hip shops, and small, charming boutiques in which to uncover the truly Parisian of souvenirs!
We have come up with several running routes for you so you can combine sport and discovering the neighbourhood.
