Studio KO Transformed Paris’ Bus Palladium Nightclub Into a Hotel

Tucked into the historic creative enclave of Saint-Georges on the fringes of Pigalle, the 35-room hotel Bus Palladium revives the legendary club of the same name. Salvador Dalí was an early adopter; The Beatles, Patti Smith, and Jane Birkin all made appearances. The nightclub remains—accessible through a charcoal glass door identical to the hotel entrance (though hotel guests are escorted through a back staircase).

French design firm Studio KO brought the property’s DNA to the forefront, combining a sensual swagger with more brutalist forms. The initial spark: a photo of Smith at the Chelsea Hotel. On the ground floor, a grid of bulbs reminiscent of marquee lights casts its glow on the check-in desk. The psychedelic-carpeted lobby spills directly into the bar, where guests sip rhubarb tonics among the local creative class. Should the candle on your table burn out, the staff will fetch a fresh taper to add to the artfully dripped wax structure.

Music acts as a throughline. While the scarlet banquettes of the ground-floor restaurant ring a foliage-filled glass cube, the true heart of the space is the DJ booth. Surrounded by the hotel’s dense vinyl library—including the original club founder James Arch’s personal collection—the booth sets the room’s tempo, soundtracking dinners of bottarga linguine and entrecôte de bœuf, highlights from Valentin Raffali’s carefully developed menu.

Upstairs, austere concrete hallways give way to a series of eclectic rooms. Bubblegum pink carpets, black lacquered closets, and amp-style light switches add to the retro feel. The cork walls nod to both Marcel Proust’s cork-lined bedroom and the recording booths of the 1960s—and are a boon to any guest desiring to continue the party in their room. Burl wood, brushed chrome, and heavy velvet are consistent textural elements.

French model and music producer Caroline de Maigret serves as an artistic director, compiling four playlists to soundtrack your stay. Choose from the sultry tunes of “In the Mood for Love” or the lilting jazz of “Midnight in Paris” on the in-room Ojas speaker. Fluted glass walls enclose bathrooms tiled in blush pinks or cobalt blue. On the counter, musky iris-scented Diptyque products chosen to complement the hotel’s woody-amber signature scent are also de Maigret’s selection.

The club’s original red neon sign casts its siren song down a quiet stretch of rue Pierre Fontaine, beckoning passersby into its depths. The club attracts those who sport rattails and ostrich-feather headpieces in equal measure. Guests who find themselves slipping past the velvet rope can charge libations directly to their room.

The paisley-carpeted hallways may blur into a psychedelic haze on the return to your room. Once safely ensconced, pour a cocktail from the well-stocked mini bar and turn the dial to “Boogie Nights.”