Auberge du Jeu de Paume

The five-star hotel Auberge du Jeu de Paume brought a new level of contemporary luxury to Chantilly—making it a stylish weekend getaway destination.

Located across from the majestic 18th century stables originally built for Louis-Henri de Bourbon, the Auberge du Jeu de Paume plays up its historic setting by offering guests a modern-day “royal treatment.” Just twenty-minutes from Paris’s Gare du Nord, Chantilly feels a world away. The hotel’s interior design pays tribute to the Chateau’s treasures with reproductions of paintings and furniture adorning the guestrooms and common areas. (The concierge desk, for example, is modeled after the Duke d’Aumale’s private library.) The guestrooms balance old-style luxury with contemporary comfort. Plush Louis XV-style armchairs and sofas are given modern flair with striped wool upholstering and contrasting throw pillows. Accents like French toile and tasseled sateen drapes offer a taste 18th-century French finery, but not at the cost of feeling like you are staying in a museum. All of the rooms are bright, airy, and comfy—equipped with flat-screen TVs, movies-on-demand, Wifi, and coffee makers. The large bathrooms feature beautiful glass mirrors custom-made in Murano, Carrera marble floors, separate tub and shower, and delectable Hermès products. Highlights of the Auberge Jeu de Paume experience include the hotel’s spa and Michelin-starred restaurant. The spa has five treatment rooms (including one for couples), a small pool with attached Jacuzzi, a steam room and sauna, and a small fitness center. Talented chef Arnaud Faye presides over the open kitchen at Le Table du Connétable, and his gift for unexpected flavor combinations and artistic presentation have made this a destination restaurant. Like the rest of the hotel, the dining room has dramatic flair. The waiters may be dressed in tailcoats and use white gloves to set down gilded silverware, but it’s the culinary creations that steal the show. Indagare Tip: The hotel is just a five-minute walk from the Chateau de Chantilly with its famed art collection and Le Notre-designed gardens.

Families will find plenty of kid-friendly activities in Chantilly such as the Horse Museum, located directly across from the Auberge du Jeu de Paume. Couples looking for a romantic getaway will be equally happy here.