I can not tell you how much I love this funny little hotel.

Nestled on the corner of Rue de Poutou in the bosom of the Marais district, this 17th century building, the site of an ancient bakery, has been completely renovated. For me.  Well perhaps it was renovated for some other people too, but I don’t want to think about them. The hotel facade dates back to the 19th century, as does the shop sign, and apparently they’re both registered as historic monuments.  (Like I will be in another ten years).

Christian La Croix is the man behind the interiors and I’m not going to lie to you, they are very ‘sweetie darling’. Every room is unique and  as mad as a redhead who’s just broken a nail.

I am sure the staff are actors; they are all so perfectly french – charming and  flirty  and helpful to a fault but with a faint whiff of  amusement at our gauche antipodean-ness.

The location too is a show stopper. Two minutes to  the exquisite Rose’s bakery and  a maximum of ten minutes walk to the coolest bars, bistros, creperies and boutiques in Paris (or twenty minutes in a Loubatain, bearing in mind the cobblestones).

It’s the second time I’ve stayed in two years; both times it had me at Bonjour.