During Art Basel Paris, Stay In The Hotel Where Eiffel Left His Mark

A glass dome designed by famed engineer Gustave Eiffel crowns one of the city’s most artful hideaways

Hotel Vernet, Vaulted Glass Dome at Le V

B Signature Hotels and Resorts

As the international art world pours into France for Art Basel Paris 2025, few hotels offer the combination of craftsmanship, culture, and sustainability found at Hôtel Vernet. Located just off the Champs-Élysées near the Arc de Triomphe, this 50 room five-star hotel occupies a 1913 Haussmann style building designed by Albert Joseph Sélonier, a Parisian architect known for refining residential grandeur in the early twentieth century. Sélonier’s work bridged the late Haussmann period and the city’s Art Nouveau transition. He designed limestone façades with wrought iron balconies and understated detailing that conveyed grounded sophistication.

Originally built as a luxury estate, the property was later converted into a boutique hotel, retaining the architectural symmetry and intimacy typical of its origins. The Haussmann influence remains visible in the high ceilings, balanced proportions, and carved stone moldings that give the property a lasting sense of poise and permanence.

A Ceiling with Provenance

Beneath the restaurant’s stained glass dome, diners at Le V are treated to a rare architectural gem in Parisian hospitality. The glass structure rests on a steel framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel and remains one of the few surviving interiors in Paris to feature his work. Several design historians attribute the stained glass to Charles Champigneulle, whose decorative compositions often accompanied Eiffel’s commissions. Together, their craftsmanship forms a space that fuses industrial engineering with artistic rigor.

The Staircase and Lift

Clean façades, aligned cornices, and open stairwells welcome natural light, defining the property’s early twentieth century character. The caged elevator, finished in brushed gold metalwork, sits at the core of the curved staircase. Guests can watch its ascent from every floor in the hotel. The large windows in the stairwell, framed by geometric patterns and soft amber details, draw daylight into the corridor. The elevator has been updated but still maintains its original frame, serving as a vertical centerpiece that connects the building’s history with its modern function—much as Eiffel’s dome does in the restaurant below.

The Latest Renovation

The hotel’s most recent transformation came in 2014 under interior architect François Champsaur, whose renovation reinterpreted Sélonier’s architecture with a lighter and more contemporary hand. Oak wood, handwoven fabrics by Pierre Frey, and sculptural lighting create interiors that are elevated yet approachable. In the bar and lounge, a ceiling fresco and matching carpet by Jean-Michel Alberola introduce a modern counterpoint. Alberola’s conceptual use of color and coded text bridges art and design, reinforcing the hotel’s connection to Paris’s artist community.

Sustainability with Sincerity

Hôtel Vernet holds the Green Key (Clef Verte) certification, one of France’s most respected environmental recognitions for hospitality. Since 2021, the property has documented several tangible initiatives: eliminating single use plastics, recycling soaps through SapoCycle, sourcing local and organic ingredients for breakfast, and using bamboo fiber linens cleaned with sustainable detergents. Partnerships with Un Toit pour les Abeilles (urban beehives) and Les Hôtels Solidaires (surplus redistribution) extend its commitment beyond the guest experience.

Dining at Le V

At Le V, Chef Baldassare Mazzara draws on his Sicilian heritage, creating a Mediterranean menu that’s guided by a strong culinary point of view. Dishes like citrus marinated crudo, handmade pasta, and seasonal vegetable courses highlight the freshness of the ingredients and thoughtful execution. Lunch is light and casual; dinner shifts into a more intimate pace, with flavors that tantalize the palate.

The Most Popular Suite

Hôtel Vernet’s premier offering is the Prestige Suite, approximately 55 square meters, with a separate living room, bedroom, and marble bathroom that includes a walk-in shower and soaking tub. The décor continues Champsaur’s theme of material contrast: oak paneling, soft textiles, and muted tones accented by curated art pieces. Large windows open onto rue Vernet or the interior courtyard, preserving the building’s original sense of residential calm.

In-room amenities include a Nespresso machine, bathrobes, slippers, and eco-conscious toiletries by As A Non Believer, a French brand aligned with the hotel’s sustainability program. The suite offers the privacy and proportion preferred by collectors, executives, and travelers seeking a restorative base-especially during Art Basel.

Must-Sees During Art Basel

Guests interested in the artistry and technique behind Hôtel Vernet can explore several experiences connecting its creative influences to the city’s landmarks.

1. Eiffel’s Paris
Begin at the Eiffel Tower, then visit the Musée d’Orsay, whose glass and iron design mirrors the logic behind the dome at Le V. The Musée des Arts et Métiers exhibits models and tools from Eiffel’s workshop for additional context.

2. Champsaur’s Design Philosophy
Stop by Galerie Kreo or Carpenters Workshop Gallery, where contemporary collectible design reflects the same focus on material and proportion that defines Champsaur’s interiors.

3. Alberola’s Influence
Visit Palais de Tokyo or the Centre Pompidou, both of which have featured Alberola’s conceptual work and installations.

4. Art Basel Circuit
Attend the main fair at the Grand Palais, then explore Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection and Fondation Louis Vuitton, where architecture and art intersect with equal impact.

5. Architectural Walk
End the day at Pont Alexandre III, one of Paris’s defining works of Beaux Arts design, framing sweeping views of the Seine.

Hôtel Vernet shows that early twentieth century architecture can move forward without leaving its soul behind. The Eiffel framework, Sélonier’s Haussmann design, and Champsaur’s modern interiors combine to create a property grounded in authenticity and sheer sophistication. For travelers in Paris during Art Basel, it offers a stay that feels cozy, credible, and unmistakably Parisian.