The Hotel Bel Ami takes its name from Guy de Maupassant’s eponymous novel in an attempt to draw on the literary heritage of the Saint-Germain area, but there is little else about this Zen-style establishment that reflects it. The elegant minimalism of the interior is designed to exude calm and tranquility, with the whole possessing a delicate smell of green tea. When it first opened in 2000 it caused a bit of a stir, but has since been overshadowed by other designer hotels in Paris. In response to the competition, Bel Ami has opened a new spa, which includes three exclusive treatment rooms and a gym complete with fish tank and large flat-screen TV. The opening of a café seems less wise, especially with Café Flore and Les Deux Magots around the corner. Rooms come in three shades – green, blue and orange (‘one to suit each mood’) – perhaps trying too hard to please all and therefore lacking in impact.