Among Paris’ huge selection of accommodation options are a number of boutique hotels offering an alluring mix of intimacy, style and seclusion.
(Photo: Hôtel Crayon Rouge)
Given the amount of choice available across the city, picking a hotel in Paris can often be a little overwhelming. If you like the idea of staying in a smaller hotel with limited guest rooms, but don’t want to sacrifice any of the luxurious trappings of larger upscale establishments, then a boutique property is certainly the answer. We’ve picked out 10 of the best boutique hotels that the City of Lights has to offer, ordered by nearest to furthest distance to the centre.
Hôtel Crayon Rouge
This funky boutique hotel in Paris’ prestigious 1st district was designed almost as a guest-house, a vision most evident in the ground floor open-plan kitchen where a self-service honesty bar allows guests to help themselves to wine, beer and soft drinks at their leisure. Indeed, the owners are keen oenophiles and host regular wine tastings events in the space. The 15 guest rooms and 2 junior suites are decorated and furnished in flashy, vivid colours, flowery patterns and delicate textures, while most of the furniture pieces in the rooms and public areas were sourced from Parisian flea markets. Upgraded rooms include Nespresso machines and minibars, while suites offer dressing rooms and/or luxe whirlpool tubs. Buffet breakfasts are served each morning. The hotel is also just minutes from several metro lines. From €140.
L’ Hotel
Nestled in Paris’ left bank and boasting Oscar Wilde among its former guests, this opulent hotel wears its arty heritage on its sleeve. Original Jean Cocteau drawings hang in the lobby, and artworks grace the walls throughout. In recent years the historic hotel has been given a contemporary spruce while retaining all of its original attributes. Each guest room has its own unique character, and behind each number hides a name, a memory, and a tribute to the period. Rich red velvets and dusky pink fabrics are accompanied in some rooms by large terraces. Other amenities include a bar, a restaurant with a water fountain, and a hammam and swimming pool found within the old vaults of the hotel. You’re a 5-minute walk from the banks of the River Seine and the nearest metro station is the same distance. From €258.
JK Place
Perched across from the River Seine in the old Norwegian consulate, this boutique hotel has the feel of a private residence. Dotted with delicately restored furniture and other items, the hotel is a masterclass in curation. A mid-century ironwork café chair, copied in Florence, provided the blueprint for the seating in the orangery-esque restaurant while artwork ranges from sculptures to paintings. Other notable amenities include a subterranean spa, pool and gym, plus a lounge, gourmet restaurant and bar serving what many laud as the best negronis in Paris. The guest rooms boast high ceilings, plush fabrics and elegant antiques. Some also have contemporary canopied four-posters beds. The heart of Saint Germain, plus the Left Bank’s best restaurants, shops and galleries, are a brisk 10-minute stroll away. From €859.
The Hoxton
Part of an international chain of hip boutique hotels, The Hoxten in Paris’ vibrant 2nd arrondissement is inspired by the streets and scenes around it. Housed in an 18th-century rowhouse, the beating heart of the hotel is the lobby, which is open round the clock, with comfy seats, cosy corners, and food and drink on tap. Indeed, all of the guest rooms and public are designed to feel cosy and welcoming – like a home away from home. The stylish rooms exude a retro vibe, with colourful accent walls, chevron wood floors and rustic-chic headboards. Upgraded rooms also come with terraces and/or city or garden views. Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a haute cocktail lounge, and an airy restaurant with a sophisticated bar and courtyards. The nearest metro is two minutes’ walk away. From €227.
(Photo: The Hoxton)
Hôtel Adèle & Jules
Spread across twin low-rise buildings along a quiet passageway in the Grands Boulevards district, this hotel offers the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city. Exuding peace and relaxation, it’s both discreet and well-positioned for dipping back into Parisian life at your discretion, with the Louvre Museum, Pompidou Centre and myriad other attractions an easy walk away. As for the hotel itself, every guest room is decorated in warm tones with geometrical patterns and is equipped with a flat-screen TV, seating area, and either a terrace or balcony. Guests can make use of a fitness room, on-site honesty bar, laundry service and bike rentals. The nearest metro station is 350 yards away. From €149.
(Photo: Hôtel Adèle & Jules)
Maison Souquet
Dripping with sultry, red velvet furnishings, stepping inside Maison Souquet is a little like walking onto the set of Twin Peaks. Set in the bustling Le Pigalle district, famous for its neon-lit red light district and eclectic nightlife, the Belle Époque-style hotel was once a ‘house of pleasure’ – and it is to this theme that it pays homage. Among the amenities are a decadent, darkly-lit cocktail lounge that positively oozes sex appeal and a pool and spa that can be booked for one hour’s private use each day – say no more. Each guest room boasts unique décor and comes with a flat-screen TV, private bathroom and minibar. A metro station just 150 yards away offers easy access to the rest of the city. From €296.
(Photo: Maison Souquet)
Pley Hotel
Situated on the famous rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the heart of Paris, just minutes from the Champs-Élysées, the PLEY Hotel boasts an interior décor inspired by the rich radio heritage of the city’s 8th district. Archival photographs of the radio Europe 1, advertising posters of the era, and old radio sets found on the roads of France pepper the hotel, lending it a uniquely quirky look and feel. The guest rooms are elegantly decorated, modern and spacious and the communal areas include a warm and inviting living space called “The Pleyground” where guests can relax and socialise, or enjoy breakfast, lunch and evening drinks. There’s also a seasonal rooftop terrace. The closest metro station is 600 yards away. From €153.
Hôtel Henriette Paris
Located in a quiet cobblestone street close to Paris’ Mouffetard district and Latin Quarter, this bohemian hotel features 32 individually-designed bedrooms decked out in modern, stylish décor. A lounge littered with tempting books is ideal for kicking back and relaxing after a hard day’s sightseeing, while a cosy flowered vintage backyard adds to the hotel’s tranquil atmosphere and is dotted with tables and chairs so that breakfast can be enjoyed out there when the weather allows. There’s a metro station within seconds of the hotel and the buzzing bars and restaurants of Rue Mouffetard are 10 minutes away on foot. From €119.
de JoBo
Taking its design inspiration from the lavish tastes of Empress Joséphine Bonaparte, this bijou hotel is positioned in the Marais district, dotted with quaint, narrow streets and historic mansions. Little remains of this 17th-century convent’s original features, with its beams now painted with entwined roses and almost every inch of wall papered with elaborate floral motifs. Guest rooms all boast swanky grey mosaic-tiled bathrooms and are individually decorated following one of the hotel’s defining design themes: leopard print, florals or black and white scenes. The ground floor parlour serves as a tea room, cocktail bar and plush breakfast room, and there are also tables outside in the faux grass courtyard. There’s a metro station on the hotel’s doorstep and the historic Place des Vosges is a 5-minute walk away. From €185.
(Photo: Hôtel de JoBo)
B Montmartre Hôtel
It doesn’t take long after walking through the doors of this stylish hotel in Paris’ Montmarte district to catch sight of its pièce de resistance. Venture through the lobby and you’re greeted by the abundance of verdant foliage that makes up the tropical tree-filled garden wrapped around a delightful courtyard. It’s effect is instant. You’ll feel a lifetime away from the hubbub of the city and this other worldly feel persists as you ensconce yourself in one of the 32 guest rooms, each offering views of the lush internal gardens. Some rooms have espresso machines and pop culture artwork, while suites include balconies or patios. Back in the main building, sheltered from prying eyes and opening onto the garden, a charming lounge-bar is the place to enjoy breakfast, sample hand-picked wines, or sit down to home-made evening dishes. A two-minute walk brings you to the closest metro stop. From €129.
(Photo: B Montmartre)