When visiting Paris, one must stay at the city’s newest hotel, Le Grand Hôtel Cayré. It’s the first art-filled hotel launch from Miiro, a lifestyle hotel brand in the iconic Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood.

Miiro individually designs hotels with character, that are located in the heart of Europe’s most vibrant cities. Derived from the Latin word “miro”, meaning “I wonder”, the double vowel symbolizes reflection. Miiro encourages guests to pause, look around and savor every moment. Each hotel has its own personality and connection to the local community. Their hotels tell a story about the importance of the neighborhood, and Le Grand Hôtel Cayré shares its Paris story to guests.

Situated in the 7th arrondissement at the former historic Hôtel Cayré, this is where Parisian artists, writers, and intellectuals gathered and stayed. Nestled between the bustling Boulevard Raspail and the commercial Rue du Bac, Miiro brought the hotel back to its glory with contemporary touches and three levels of service and pricing.

Keeping the integrity of the building, this hotel represents the revival of the neighborhood with curated art from local artists adorning the walls.

Meeting Mickael Meunier, the General Manager at Le Grand Hôtel Cayré the morning after my arrival, he gave me a tour of all the renovations made to the former hotel in partnership with the interior design studio, Michaelis Boyd. “We wanted to bring the spirit of the surroundings while honoring the hotel’s vibrant creative past,” said Meunier. “The design takes inspiration from the old-world charm of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and draws on the creative culture of the surrounding boulevards and avenues.”

I learned the hotel features 123 elegant rooms and suites that combine Parisian apartment-style interiors in two buildings. Within these buildings there are a range of three different room categories with three price tiers to appeal to different types of travelers.

There is the Classic, Superior, Deluxe and Deluxe Studio options. “It’s designed for all types of  guests to have greater flexibility and choice during their stay,” said Meunier.

For those looking for mindfulness when traveling, the Classic room is part of ‘The Essential’ service. Guests will receive a lower floor room that might not have much of a view. “It might be darker inside and look out onto a courtyard,” said Meunier. “Guests will still receive complimentary water upon arrival, use of an espresso machine with coffee capsules and tea, plus luxury Le Labo amenities in the bathroom.” These rooms however will have no complimentary minibar service and no daily cleaning. “Rooms will be cleaned every other day. This helps the hotel with their commitment to low-impact and low-waste production.” said Meunier. Guests receive the same level of service and use of the hotel’s amenities, but at a lower price point. 

The Premium rooms are ‘Classic with a view” that might include the Eiffel Tower. These rooms have a stocked minibar with snacks, soft drinks and spirits available for purchase and daily cleaning service. The Premium room is for guests seeking comfort during their stay. Cozy bathrobes and slippers are in the closet to use, and this room category has daily cleaning service included. “The airlines have been doing these different price tiers for years, and now hotels are starting to implement it too,” said Meunier.

The most luxurious stay at the hotel is ‘The Full Works’, and these rooms include daily cleaning, evening turn-down service, and a fully stocked complimentary mini-bar for a five-star level experience.

We were lucky to stay in one of these deluxe “The Full Works” guest rooms for two nights. I opened our French doors and stepped out onto the terrace every time I entered the room. One morning we enjoyed our included breakfast on the terrace with two chairs and a table.

What made this room even more special were the spectacular views of the iconic Eiffel Tower. In the evening, the tower would put on a show shimmering and sparkling on the hour for five minutes. 

Meunier showed me the pièce de résistance – two grand suites. The Le Grand Hôtel Cayré Suite and the exclusive, La Suite Du Collectionneur. Both are beautifully designed and decorated  in collaboration with renowned curator, Gilbert Kann.

They are exquisitely curated with a collection of custom-made furniture, antiques, bespoke pieces, and one-of-a-kind collector’s items – all of which are available to purchase. “The higher rooms offer more service to justify the price,” said Meunier. “The dedicated amenities, mini-bar and 5-star service are all included.”

We dined every morning and one evening at the hotel’s classic French restaurant, Annette. Named in honor of Annette Kolb, an inspirational French-German writer and pacifist who lived at the original Hotel Cayré for 17 years from 1944.

The menu at Annette is divine, thanks to the former head chef for Alain Ducasse and world œufs en meurette champion, Bruno Brangea and his team.

The traditional all-day brasserie menu offers some contemporary twists on classic dishes, like croque monsieur, tartare du boeuf, chocolate eclair and crème brûlée. “It’s not complicated and the price point is reasonable for the neighborhood. “Figure about $30 to $35 Euros for lunch, and $70 to $75 for dinner,” said Meunier. “Our suppliers are some of the best in Paris. The cheese is from a cheese store that serves the French Minister and President. We work with the best fishermen and patisserie in the city.”

Each dish is made with local ingredients and can be paired with wines from an extensive list of French-produced varietals. The breads and desserts are from a nearby local bakery and brought in early while they are fresh and ready to be enjoyed.

While touring the Officine Bac, I learned that this enticing hidden bar was once the site of a former office of a pharmaceutical dispensary. “French chemist F. V. Raspail made a camphor elixir that helped the poor get well. His recipe went all over the world,” said Meunier. “He was so famous that Boulevard Raspail was named after him.”

Decorated in glamorous jewel colors with romantic booths and cozy tables, the bar is managed by Oscar Blackstone, who has worked with Meunier. He has curated five cocktails, remedies and elixirs, as well as expertly crafted mock-cocktails. Guests can choose from a selection of rare spirits and infusions for a custom innovative beverage too. This special bar is open from 6 pm to 1 am on Tuesday through Saturday.

Additional hotel spaces include The Gallery, a comfortable lounge area where guests can relax with a drink during check-in, discover a good book to borrow to read, or find a quiet area to work a little before a day of sightseeing in Paris. It’s also another spot to order an aperitif before dinner at Annette.

A nice feature the hotel offers to guests upon arrival or checking out is the Refresh Room. “This is a Miiro brand signature.” said Meunier. “Guests have access for freshening up after their flight if their room isn’t ready. There is an area to safely store their luggage, a stylish changing rooms, showers, toiletries, charging points, and smart lockers. It’s also ideal for guests taking a late afternoon or evening flight home or to another destination.”

Those looking to maintain their fitness regime will appreciate the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center, complete with the latest gym equipment, cardiovascular machines, free weights, and a stretching area.

With the success of this hotel opening in Paris, Miiro has five future hotel launching soon. The just opened Borneta in Barcelona in August, 2024, and Templeton Garden in London will open in early 2025. 

Immerse yourself in Paris while staying, dining at relaxing at Le Grand Hôtel Cayré.