Dame des Arts, the New Wave hotel

This newly inaugurated Left Bank refuge is already thrilling Parisians and foreign visitors alike. The success is due, of course, to the geography of the location, the very chic and quiet rue Danton, a stone's throw from the Odéon and the quays of the Seine. But above all, it's due to the talent of Israeli designer Raphael Navot (voted designer of the year last January at Maison & Objet), who has created a singular setting, a veritable ode to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés of the 1960s. Its culture, its aesthetics, its personalities.

Upon arrival, the tone is set with two entrance doors whose lines echo the perfect geometry of the listed windows of the building, a former theater school built in the 1950s. Walls covered in fluted oak half-cylinders, flame-charred black wood floors, clichés and works of art borrowed from the Nouvelle Vague... The charm begins in the lobby, where the dining room opens onto a delightful shady garden, welcoming up to 45 guests from breakfast to dinner. We're in the fiefdom of Mexican chef Othoniel Alvarez Castaneda, who concocts a demanding cuisine d'auteur, relying on a fusion of inspirations (local, Mexican and Asian), like these oysters from Brittany sublimated by Japanese condiments or pork ribs refreshed with a delicate sucrine from Île-de-France.

After these delights, guests are faced with a real dilemma. Some choose to go straight to their room, a cosy refuge whose aesthetic magnifies all the codes of the place (warm omnipresence of wood, palette of beige and cream, luxurious bathrooms and private balcony for some). Others prefer to play the night owl and head up to the 9th floor to discover the nugget of the Dame des Arts. A terrace - unquestionably one of the most magnificent rooftops in Paris - offering a breathtaking view of the capital's rooftops, with the towers of Notre-Dame in the towers of Notre-Dame, the bell tower of Saint-Germain, the dome of the Invalides and, in the background, the Sacré-Coeur and the Eiffel Tower glittering in the night. A 360° refuge where you can enjoy a cocktail in the midst of local residents who have already made it one of their hotspots, feasting on natural wine and tapas to the sound of a playlist by DJ Jef.

And to bring everyone together, head to the sumptuous fitness studio with its curved architecture, black wooden sauna and treatment rooms, which completes the offer of this rare place, which has become one of the must-visit addresses on the Left Bank.

3 questions to... Raphael Navot, designer

EdouardJacquinet

You were inspired by the spirit of the Nouvelle Vague to design this place. Why, and how did you transpose it in terms of decoration?

The spirit of the Nouvelle Vague has always appealed to me, for its timeless elegance and artistic coloration. Of course, I didn't exploit this reference literally, but I was inspired by its values - by a culture that celebrated freedom, spontaneity and openness to the world. In architectural terms, this inspired me to create a natural flow between the different spaces - the lobby and bar, the patio and restaurant. The whole is enhanced by custom-designed furnishings that are warm and comfortable, so that you feel at ease from the outset. Rooms are decorated with noble materials and works of art that reflect the spirit of the neighborhood. La Nouvelle Vague featured real-life characters, exploring their emotions and their relationship to the world with absolute sincerity. I hope guests will feel this authenticity.

You have retained elements of the 1950s building, notably the classified geometric patterns on the windows. How did you deal with this constraint?

Working with what already exists is always the great challenge of a renovation. I kept the geometry of the windows and even played with its shape by duplicating it. The molded glass and ironwork of the windows on the façade are directly inspired by it, as are the repetition of the wooden half-cylinders and the marquee at the hotel entrance.

You designed all the furniture, with the exception of two chairs you had already designed for Roche Bobois. Is this an essential exercise for you?

In my opinion, the creation of specific, made-to-measure furniture is an invaluable asset for the aesthetics, functionality and uniqueness of a place. I do, however, sometimes resort to already-published pieces, when they correspond to the spirit I'm developing. Such is the case with these chairs from the Roche Bobois "Nativ" collection, very versatile with their wide range of textiles.

The best of the Nouvelle Vague on the big screen...

LudovicBalay

Inspired by the Nouvelle Vague, the Dame des Arts hotel is home to another nugget... A cinema area with a high-tech screen and ultra-comfortable banquettes, also designed by Raphaël Navot. The ideal setting for private screenings of works by François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard - from Baisers volés to L'Amour en fuite to À bout de souffle and the legendary scene in which Patricia - a young American played by the sublime Jean Seberg - strolls the Champs-Élysées hawking the Herald Tribune.

• Double room from €330.
• 4, rue Danton, 75006 Paris.
• Tel: 01 81 69 00 60.
• www.damedesarts.com