Cities as Galleries: Discovering Art Shaped Stays in London and Paris

In two of Europe’s most storied capitals, creative energy pulses through the streets, galleries, and historic façades—inviting travellers not just to observe, but to inhabit worlds shaped by artists and dreamers. From the gritty murals of East London to the theatrical salons of Paris’s Marais, boutique hotels are morphing into immersive art environments. Below is a curated journey through the most compelling, art-infused boutique hotels recently opened (or recently reimagined) in London and Paris. Each destination offers more than just a stay—it’s an encounter with place, with design, and with the local cultural fabric.

LONDON: Urban Canvasses & Creative Districts

art’otel London Hoxton — Shoreditch / Hoxton

Emerging amidst the electrified streets of Shoreditch, the art’otel London Hoxton stands as a monument to the city’s street-art lineage. Towering over the historic Foundry site in East London, the building preserves two original works by the legendary artist Banksy—installed above the entrance and made accessible to the public—evoking the gritty origins of this neighborhood. Inside, the signature artist D*Face has stamped every public and private space with bold murals, neon sculptures, and artworks that combine subversion, collage, and pop-art brio. The hotel’s own gallery rotates exhibitions of contemporary street and urban artists; the lobby mural-clad escalators feel like entering a living canvas. Rooms offer floor-to-ceiling skyline views across London, and the onsite Brush East London Grand Café pulses with local energy. Time Out describes the arrival as entering “a 26-storey tower” filled with murals, a basement gallery, and sweeping vistas through every suite.

Essentials & Experience

• Neighborhood pulse: moments from Old Street and Shoreditch, in the heart of London’s street-art ecosystem; perfect for walking between graffiti walls, independent galleries, and creative nightlife.
• Art immersion: the preserved Banksy pieces at the entrance, sweeping D*Face murals throughout public spaces, a dedicated in-house gallery, and rooms designed as expressive art canvases.
• Practical touches: big sky views in every room, a heated indoor pool and spa, and the Brush restaurant and bar for both local and hotel-based creative energy.

art’otel London Battersea Power Station — Battersea

Where industrial grandeur meets refined artistic craft, the art’otel at the rebuilt Battersea Power Station rises as a bold statement. Designed in collaboration with the Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon, the hotel occupies a newly regenerated landmark art space beside the iconic chimneys; its interiors blend expressive sculpture, vivid color, and whimsical craftsmanship. Public areas and guest rooms alike are suffused with sculptural installations, striking furniture, and a program of rotating exhibitions. The property is rooted in renewal and reinvention, connected to the creative energy of the surrounding redevelopment zone. A rooftop terrace overlooks the river and provides dramatic views of London’s skyline. Built in 2022 as part of the larger redevelopment, the hotel is part of a contemporary effort to reforge the area with art and architecture.

Essentials & Experience

• Setting: in the revitalized Battersea Power Station district—less central than Shoreditch but rich in modern architecture and sweeping river views.
• Art ethos: sculptural interiors, design by Jaime Hayon, curated exhibitions, and a sense of place deeply tied to the historic power station’s rebirth.
• Highlights: panoramic vistas, carefully crafted public spaces, galleries within walking distance.

Broadwick Soho — Soho

Nestled amid the hustle and glamour of Soho, Broadwick Soho is a townhouse-style boutique hotel curated like an art collection. Designed by renowned decorator Martin Brudnizki, the hotel is a maximalist feast of cinematic pieces, plush theatrics, and over three hundred artworks including pieces from renowned artists such as the Scottish sculptor William Turnbull and pieces by figures like Andy Warhol. The hotel presents a curated art collection throughout its public spaces and guest rooms, and runs the “Broadwick Soho Art Series,” which offers guided tours exploring its artworks and the wider art scene in the area. Its rooftop bar glimmers with neon energy, and interiors evoke bold glamour and spirited cultural confidence.

Essentials & Experience

• Location: at the heart of Soho, in easy reach of West End theatres, independent galleries, and vibrant nightlife.
• Art signature: over 300 curated works, Brudnizki design, and programming aligned with the city’s cultural pulse.
• Ambience: glamorous, intimate, lively, with a sense of theatrical flair and central energy.

Sir Devonshire Square — City / Shoreditch border

Set in a revived 17th-century warehouse on the edge of the City and Shoreditch, Sir Devonshire Square is the new vision from the boutique brand Sir Hotels, opened in 2025. The property balances historical architecture—stone walls, old brick fabric—with a refined, modern interior language that echoes the legacy of East London artisans. Its design draws on geometric forms, mid-century references, and local creative influences; artworks by emerging local artists animate the communal spaces, and a strong commitment to cultural programming—with rotating exhibitions, panels, and a members-club sensibility—frames it as a creative hub. With 81 rooms and an understated palette of rust, sage, and burgundy, the hotel offers quiet elegance within reach of both the financial centres and the edgy gallery districts.

Essentials & Experience

• Setting: bordering the City and creative East London, in an area where commerce and art meet.
• Design & art ethos: historic fabric restored, modern design, local art displays, cultural programming including exhibitions and events.
• Stay feel: refined, understated, thoughtful, ideal for blending business, creative exploration, and calm.

Bankside Hotel — South Bank

A short stroll from the river and the landmark galleries of the South Bank, Bankside Hotel is a sanctuary for art-lovers who appreciate slow, deliberate engagement with creation. The hotel is built around an evolving art programme, anchored by its “Makers in Residence” studio, in collaboration with gallery partners where artists work openly, host workshops, and rotate exhibitions. The hotel itself feels like a contemporary atelier—designed with an eye toward process, craft, and the relation between guest and artist. Its proximity to the Tate Modern and other galleries makes it an ideal base for deep immersion in modern and contemporary art. Although not brand-new, its ongoing curated art programme keeps it at the forefront.

Essentials & Experience

• Location: South Bank, minutes from major museums and creative walks.
• Art commitment: artist residency space, rotating exhibitions, curated creativity in the public areas.
• Atmosphere: gallery-style, relaxed, contemplative environment ideal for cultural itineraries.

PARIS: The Salon Reborn — Intimate, Dramatic & Artistic

Le Grand Mazarin — Le Marais

In the Marais, Le Grand Mazarin channels the spirit of old Parisian salons through a modern, exuberant lens. Martin Brudnizki layers murals, frescoes, tapestries and boldly patterned fabrics into a richly textured whole. The palette of pistachio greens and coral reds animates spaces that feel whimsical yet rooted in cultural heritage. Every room carries a unique personality and the hotel’s restaurant, Boubalé, deepens the narrative with flavours tied to the neighbourhood’s Jewish history. The result is a lively, imaginative retreat a few steps from the district’s galleries and historic lanes.

Essentials & Experience

• Location: tucked on rue de la Verrerie, steps from BHV and the buzzing Marais streets, galleries, and historic architecture.
• Art and narrative: design by Martin Brudnizki, hand-crafted tapestries, murals by local artists, theatrical interiors.
• Vibe: theatrical, immersive, with a blend of bourgeois elegance and narrative play; a destination in itself.

Hôtel Dame des Arts — Latin Quarter / Left Bank

Hôtel Dame des Arts sits quietly in the Latin Quarter, defined by sculptural lines and meditative calm. Interiors rely on natural light, geometry and a restrained palette, creating a sense of sanctuary in one of Paris’s most storied neighbourhoods. Rooms feel like contemplative ateliers and the rooftop terrace opens to an expansive sweep of the city. This hotel appeals to travellers drawn to subtlety rather than spectacle, set near bookshops, cafés and the intellectual heart of the Left Bank.

Essentials & Experience

• Neighborhood: in the historic Left Bank, near Sorbonne, winding Rue Mouffetard and literary landmarks.
• Design sensibility: sculptural geometry, a minimalist palette, serene spaces tuned to light and tranquility.
• Stay feel: introspective, less theatrical but deeply rooted in the Left Bank atmosphere.

La Fantaisie — Faubourg-Montmartre / 9ᵉ arrondissement

La Fantaisie is a bold spectacle of colour, pattern, and exuberance tucked just off Rue Cadet, in the Faubourg-Montmartre area. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, its renovation gives life to a “garden in the heart of Paris,” where lush greenery and flamboyant interiors intermingle. Walls are papered with vibrant patterns, ceilings curve with sculptural daring, and contemporary artworks sit side by side with opulent fabrics. The hotel’s courtyard garden and rooftop bar feel like secret oases; reviewers describe the atmosphere as a sensory explosion of joy and colour. It offers a slightly more relaxed and bohemian alternative to the hyper-polished glamour of the city centre.

Essentials & Experience

• Location: a quieter Paris neighborhood near central arrondissements and Montmartre fringes.
• Interior boldness: lush maximalism, pattern play, garden-inspired spaces, theatrical charm.
• Mood: joyful, expressive, relaxed elegance.

Practical Travel Notes & When to Visit

• Seasons and rhythm: Visit London in spring (April–June) for clear light, few crowds, and active gallery openings around Shoreditch and the South Bank. In Paris, late spring or early autumn offers softer weather and fewer crowds around the Marais and Left Bank.
• Booking smart: Because many of these hotels are new or in high demand during art-fair weeks (in London: gallery previews, East End events; in Paris: major museum openings, fashion/art seasons), book well in advance.
• Cultural proximity: In London, pairing a stay at art’otel Hoxton with street-art walks, nearby galleries, and a stop at Bankside gives a cross-section of old and new. In Paris, staying in the Marais or Left Bank gives you walking access not just to your hotel’s art, but to dozens of galleries, ateliers, and historic salons.

From the rising skyline of Shoreditch and the regeneration of industrial power stations in London, through Soho’s brash art-scene energy, to the storied streets of the Marais and the intimate corners of the Left Bank in Paris—these hotels are not passive backdrops. They are curated spaces, designed by artists and architects who see hotels as living exhibitions, as cultural nodes, as stages for discovery.

Each property offers its own resonance: the bold spray-paint murals and preserved Banksy works of the art’otel Hoxton; the restored grandeur and sculptural vision of the Battersea Power Station site; the maximalist theatricality of Broadwick Soho; the quiet rebirth of Sir Devonshire Square; and the residency ethos of Bankside Hotel. In Paris, you’ll enter salon-style architecture reimagined in Le Grand Mazarin; find thoughtful minimalism in Hôtel Dame des Arts; luxuriate in garden-themed exuberance at La Fantaisie.

As you choose where to stay, let the spirit of the neighborhood guide you. Walk the streets before you book. Feel the textures of walls — where murals still speak, where history and imagination intersect. In cities built on layers of memory and reinvention, a hotel becomes your first gallery. Explore deliberately, with patience, and your stay becomes part of the story.