Planning a trip to Paris can be both the most exciting and frustrating of tasks. While your itinerary is probably bursting at the seams with amazing things to see and do, choosing where to stay while you enjoy everything The City of Light has to offer can be a minefield. Like pavement cafes, there’s a hotel on every corner of every street here, ranging from cute shabby chic pensions to huge luxurious palaces. Choose carefully though, because if you get it wrong, instead of charming French quirkiness you could find yourself squeezing into a room with the square-footage of your average under-the-stairs cupboard or you’ll go to open those famous Parisian shutters only to discover your view is less Eiffel Tower and more brick wall.

A shabby, overpriced hotel or one that looks good on paper but is in a less than desirable location can make or break a stay in the French capital. So, to make sure you fall in love with this incredible city, we’ve rounded up our favourite boltholes all expertly scouted out after years of living and visiting Paris. Whether you’re in the market for a hotel that’s cheap and chic, boutique or ultra-luxurious read on to discover the very best the French capital has to offer. 

 

BUDGET: UNDER €150 PER NIGHT 

 

25hours Hotel Terminus Nord

 

Location: Gare du Nord. You’ll have Paris at your fingertips with the metro and RER on your doorstep as well as Canal Saint-Martin and Marché Saint-Quentin within walking distance. 

What to expect: If you like to hit the ground running as soon as you get to your holiday destination then this is the hotel for you. Hop on a Eurostar and when you arrive at Paris Gare du Nord it’ll take mere minutes before you’re checked in and settled at this cool and quirky 240-room hotel directly opposite the station. The hotel reflects the cosmopolitan area it’s in with bright bold clashing colours everywhere, African prints and fun street art on the walls. There’s also a swish urban cocktail bar and Israeli-Mediterranean fusion restaurant that you’ll want to eat in more than once during your stay.  

Price: From £101 per night, 25hours-hotels.com/hotels/paris/terminus-nord

 

C.O.Q hotel 

 

Location: Right in the middle of the 13th Arrondissement on the Left Bank, the hotel is near a metro with major sights like Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Panthéon less than two miles away.   

What to expect: C.O.Q stands for Community of Quality and quality on a budget is what you’ll get from this small, but perfectly formed hotel. This hotel gives you a home-from-home vibe with loads of communal space downstairs full of squashy sofas that encourages you to relax and mix with fellow tourists. The bedrooms are bijou, but romantic with more of that slightly shabby-chic but undeniably Parisian vibe. Breakfast is a wonderfully French affair, and while there’s no restaurant, the 13th has plenty of delightful places to dine. 

Price: From £97, coqhotelparis.com

 

Hotel Jeanne d’Arc 

 

Location: Hotel Jeanne d’Arc is in Le Marais, one of the most popular neighbourhoods for Parisian tourists, and for good reason - we’re talking cobbled streets, historic houses, chic bars, independent boutiques, art galleries and pretty gardens next to hidden squares. 

What to expect: The hotel occupies a pretty 17th-century townhouse on a quiet street and is where in-the-know tourists stay when they want to be in the middle of the action without paying through the nose. The interiors will appeal to everyone - a bright and fresh mix of traditional and modern furniture, elegant flower-box filled Juliette balconies and a gorgeous light breakfast room. You really can’t go wrong. 

Price: From £91 per night, hoteljeannedarc.com

  

Hôtel Panache 

 

Location: In the 9th arrondissement, this hotel is a stone’s throw from some of the best shopping in Paris - the Grand Boulevards as well as the Palais Garnier so is the perfect spot for a girls trip full of fashion and culture. 

What to expect: Hotel Panache has a retro vibe with spacious rooms full of mid-century interiors, art deco influences and bold use of monochrome throughout. It feels classically Parisian so is an excellent choice if you really want to immerse yourself in the French way of life. The restaurant is the star here with an ever-changing menu and a well-known Sunday Brunch that you’ll have to fight locals for a table. 

Price: From £100 per night, hotelpanache.com

 

Hôtel Amour 

 

Location: You’ll be in the heart of happening 9th and boho SoPi (that’s South Pigalle) at Hotel Amour, with famous sights like the Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre just a walk away and plenty of stylish bars and fashionable boutiques all around.

What to expect: Owned by André Saraiva who made himself a name as a graffiti artist with numerous exhibitions and collaborations with fashion houses like Chanel and Louis Vuitton. This is a hotel for a sexy weekend away - the name means Love Hotel, it’s located in Paris’ former red light district and it’s full of erotic and romantic touches. The glass-covered patio garden is the perfect place to feel the love over some chic cocktails before a sophisticated dinner in the atmospheric restaurant and is frequented by local Parisians'.

Price: From £128, hotelamourparis.fr

 

MID RANGE: €150 - €350 PER NIGHT 

 

Hôtel Providence 

 

Location: Another trendy Haut Marais haunt in the 10th arrondissement, this townhouse is close to the Canal St Martin for leisurely strolls stopping at delightfully French cafes as you go. 

What to expect: “More is more” must have been the idea behind the decadent interiors here as a lot of the rooms are lavish and loud in a fabulously chic way. It’s exactly what you want from a hotel stay. There are luxurious and individually sourced items in every room, and whether you stay in a mini room or suite all will make a lasting impression and will encourage you spend plenty of time in them (they even have custom built cocktail bars in each one). 

Price: From £173 per night, hotelprovidenceparis.com

  

Amastan 

Location: The Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe are within walking distance of this 8ème arrondissement Parisian pied-a-terre so for classic touristy endeavours you’re onto a winner. 

What to expect: Amastan is a 24-room boutique beauty that’ll allow you to relax and wind down after a day in the busy city. It’s all clean lines, monochrome interiors with metallic details and book-filled shelves. There’s a pretty plant-filled patio inviting you to take things slowly as well as a chic cocktail bar serving seasonal, light snacks.  

Price: From £165 per night, amastanparis.com

 

Hôtel de Grands Boulevards 

 

Location: Near Opera and the shops of Grands Boulevards this Experimental Group 50-bedroom hotel is moments from the hustle and bustle of the 2e arrondissement but is tucked down an alley so you can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. 

What to expect: If amazing cocktails on a rooftop bar with views over the city sounds like your idea of paradis after a day’s sightseeing then this is the hotel for you. The interiors are all 18th century inspired (think Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette) with colourful drapes over the beds, plenty of velvet and gilded touches. The hidden central courtyard is super chic and houses the must-visit restaurant serving French-Italian cuisine. 

Price: £200 per night, grandsboulevardshotel.com

 

Les Bains 

 

Location: In the trendy Marais, this hotel is walking distance from the Musée Picasso, Centre Pompidou and the Louvre so is an art lovers dream. 

What to expect: As the name suggests (Les Bains literally translates as the baths) this is the place to stay if you like your hotel to come with a spa and lots of pampering potential. The beautiful Hausmannian building has been reincarnated from a 19th century bathhouse and Eighties club into an elegant hotel with retro touches. The standout feature is the basement nightclub with a swimming pool and weekly live bands and cabaret performances. 

Price: From £270, lesbains-paris.com

 

Hotel Bachaumont 

 

Location: The Haut Marais location of this grand hotel is second to none. You exit onto the pedestrianised streets around Rue Montorgueil to find classic French shops as well as more fun and interesting modern boutiques and many of Paris’s main sights are within walking distance. 

What to expect: If you like your hotel to have traditional and elegant proportions and that touch of class only Art Deco interiors can bring then you’ll love this old school beauty that has been recently revamped and reopened. The chichi ground floor restaurant and cocktail bar are very cool and in high demand and there’s even a bijou gym (although who needs the gym when you’re pounding the pavements by day). 

Price: From £153 per night, hotelbachaumont.com

 

 

LUXURY BLOW THE BUDGET HOTELS: OVER €350 PER NIGHT 

 

Hôtel Costes 

 

Location: This hotel is in the super smart 1er arrondissement on fashionable Rue Saint-Honoré, which is known for its designer boutiques.   

What to expect: Hotel Costes is a bit of an enigma. It’s a secretive in-the-know place, with the feel of an exclusive members club. The mystery and intrigue is what makes it THE place to stay and that attracts the coolest and chicest tourists and celebrities. Expect a carefully curated playlist to take you from sunrise to sunset, dark, nightclub-esque interiors and a basement swimming pool that is a glorious oasis from the buzz overhead. 

Price: From £440 per night, hotelcostes.com 

 

Le Bristol 

 

Location: This iconic hotel is located on one of Paris’ most luxurious roads - Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, home to embassies, designer shops and supercars. 

What to expect: This Parisian grand dame is one of the most luxurious hotels in not only Paris, but the world. It’s all polished marble floors, breathtaking chandeliers and antiques that wouldn’t look out of place in Versailles. In fact, it’s so high end that it has been granted palace status as five-star just doesn’t sum up the opulence and level of service here. There’s Epicure - a three Michelin-star restaurant, a swimming pool with city views and a sumptuous spa too.  

Price: Entry level Superior Rooms start from €1,100 per night, oetkercollection.com 

 

Hôtel Plaza Athénée 

 

Location: A prestigious address for a prestigious hotel. Plaza Athénée is in the 8ème arrondissement on Avenue Montaigne, home to high-end designer stores. 

What to expect: If you want the sort of Parisian experience you see in the movies, this hotel won’t disappoint. Talking of the big screen, the eye-catching row upon row of red geranium-strewn balconies will be immediately recognisable from Sex & The City. Inside is even more glamorous and opulent if possible with a glittering Michelin-starred restaurant and decadent suites with beautiful views over the Eiffel Tower. 

Price: From €800 for a classic room, dorchestercollection.com

 

J.K. Place Paris

 

Location: This boutique beauty is in Paris’ 7eme arrondissement in the quiet residential Rue de Lille on the Rive Gauche, close to Musée d’Orsay and many of the city’s main tourist attractions. 

What to expect: You can enjoy a heavenly mix of Italian and French hospitality at this new hotel (sister to J.K. Place Capri and Rome). There’s a homely vibe here, thanks to the townhouse proportions, beautiful individually-designed rooms and a lovely surprise in the basement - a pool and spa.   

Price: From £725 per night, jkplace.paris

 

 

Hotel Lutetia 

 

Location: Vibrant and artistic Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the Rive Gauche where you’ll be surrounded by brilliant bistros and independent boutiques as well as directly opposite the landmark department store Le Bon Marché.

What to expect: An Art Nouveau beauty with a fascinating history, if you stay here you’ll be following in the well-heeled footsteps of Picasso, Charles de Gaulle and Peggy Guggenheim. It’s a fabulous mix of period features and contemporary additions now with lots of marble, luxe minimalist rooms and a wow-factor subterranean spa. 

Price: From €850 per night, hotellutetia.com

December 02, 2021 — Lucy Robinson

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