Paris Opens Its First Floating River Hotel on the Seine

This summer Paris opened its first floating hotel, Off Paris Seine. Moored near the Gare d’Austerlitz in the ever-hipper 13^th arrondissement, the hotel offers unprecedented views of the Seine for those who have always dreamed about living on a Paris houseboat.

Designed by Gérard Ronzatti of Seine Design, which specializes in floating architecture, the 58-room hotel was built in modules offsite and assembled in place. Currently the largest barge parked on the river, Off Paris Seine has upper and lower decks with compact modern rooms (as well as four roomier suites designed by Maurizio Galante and Tal Lancman) with views of the Seine and both the Left and Right Banks of the city.

Slatted wood throughout is a nod to the nautical, and materials such as zinc and glass and façades clad with a silvery wood finish were designed to blend into the river landscape. A central common area shielded by a glass ceiling to let light in includes a plunge pool and a tapas and cocktail bar open to all for late summer nights by the river.