Fodor's Expert Review Hôtel Chez Swann

Think Baz Luhrmann’s vampire bordello. This aggressively eccentric boutique hotel is a hit with the under-40 crowd who like the visual drama, the free North American phone calls, the spin room, and the quirky art.

There’s a popcorn and movie night! Come in your PJs! Plus, there’s a spin room with digital screens for encouragement.

room

All the rooms are different—and wonderfully kooky! Custom furniture made of wood, steel, and snakeskin make great conversation pieces. Tree stump night tables sit on faux-grass (like, green grass) area rugs. Fabric accents tend to be velvet and blood red, thus the vampire comment. The headboards are big and plushly upholstered. Some suites have built-in window seating. Rooms have safes that are roomy enough to accommodate laptops.

bathroom

With black swirls painted out from the vanity mirror, there’s lots to look at in the bathroom. The body products are local, from Bella Pella.

YOU SHOULD KNOW There are no tubs in any of the rooms. The peek-a-boo glass showers may not please more modest guests.

lobby

Welcoming and puzzling, like a dream, the lobby announced the hotel’s entire aesthetic: quirky designer with taste and budget goes on a rampage. Arriving guests tend to be quiet as they take in the one-off visual elements.

dining

Head next door to the hotel’s two food affiliates: Liquid Nutrition and Le Pois Penché, an authentic French brasserie. The latter is where free breakfast is served every day.