We tested Maison Rouge, Autograph Collection, in Strasbourg: our full review of the five-star hotel loved by Victor Hugo and its spa

Victor Hugo slept here in 1839, Mistinguett signed the guestbook in 1931: Maison Rouge is Strasbourg’s oldest hotel brand, a stone’s throw from Place Kléber. Raphaël Simon tested this five-star property in Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Here is our full review of its rooms, vinotherapy spa and dining.

Six centuries of Maison Rouge

The “Zu dem rothen Hüse”, the house with the red brick façade, first appears in texts in 1387. Victor Hugo stayed there in 1839, Rudyard Kipling in 1921, and Mistinguett signed the guestbook in 1931. Following the fire of 1898, the hotel was rebuilt as a Parisian-style palace; in 1927, an annex was added on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. The historic palace burned down again and closed in 1970; it is the 1927 annex that houses today’s hotel, acquired in 2017 by Strasbourg hoteliers, joining the Autograph Collection in 2020 and adding its spa, Salons Mistinguett and Le 1387 in 2021.

Traces of the past

The Art Déco spirit, with an Alsatian accent

The lobby sets the tone: Art Déco reception desk, brass, velvet, and a cabinet of curiosities recalling the location’s heritage. The service meets five-star standards, featuring Clefs d’Or concierges, 24-hour room service and a valet parking service.

Rooms and suites

The rooms at Maison Rouge

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The 131 rooms come in eight categories, ranging from the Single room (15 to 17 sq m) to the Deluxe (50 sq m) and Signature (80 sq m) suites overlooking the cathedral. In between, the Privilege rooms (21 to 29 sq m), some with balconies, offer the best compromise. Clarins amenities, Nespresso machine, Dammann teas, Chromecast television. Our advice: book a Privilege Balcony room, as the smaller rooms quickly feel cramped for two.

The suites

The vinotherapy spa

The Maison Rouge spa

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The 150 sq m spa, decorated in black and white marble, wood and brass, offers a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi and sensory shower, alongside Vinésime vinotherapy treatments. There is no swimming pool, but access costs €25 per hour for hotel guests, and is complimentary with any treatment. The spa is adults-only, by reservation, and a fitness room is open 24 hours a day. Compare with our best spa hotels in Strasbourg.

Breakfast, brunch and Le 1387

Dining at Maison Rouge

Breakfast is served at Salons Mistinguett on the first floor, featuring a retro pastel-toned setting: a sweet and savoury buffet complemented by eggs and a cooked-to-order dish, for €34 per person, from 6:30 am to 10:30 am on weekdays and until 11:00 am at weekends. On Sundays, a brunch is served from noon to 3:00 pm. On the ground floor, Le 1387 combines a wine bar, cocktails and seasonal cuisine by Chef Jean Roc, with an afternoon tearoom.

Why 9.2 out of 10

Maison Rouge owes much to its location, five minutes from Place Kléber, the cathedral and Petite France, and to a heritage it knows how to showcase. The spa is pleasant though without a pool, the smaller rooms are compact and breakfast remains expensive. For the Christmas market, this is our closest address to the Great Christmas Tree, heading up our selection of hotels for the Strasbourg Christmas market.