This article was produced by National Geographic Traveler (UK).
Paris is a city of dreamers, looking over the gray roofs and walking through the towers. However, the hotel facilities were not dreamy – beyond the luxurious five-star hotels, the French capital is known for its spacious rooms and antique decorations. Where you might have the million euro question, but luckily the hotel’s location has been transformed in the past few years. Luxury boutique accommodations are now in abundance, funky rooftop bars have sprung up and winter work has melted away. Although pools and luxury beds are still rare, recent openings have been full of color and style, from the Marais to the Left Bank.
All prices quoted are for double occupancy, room only, unless otherwise specified.
The old post office is the unexpected location of this five-star hotel, which has already been recognized by the city’s fashion scene even though it has been open for less than two years. The corridors are rich with the scent of cedar and rosewood from Olivia Giacobetti, the lights are low and the colors are rich. Each of the 82 rooms blends walnut wood with leather touches and intricately carved artwork. At the heart of Laurent Taïeb’s original vision for the hotel is the ground floor cafe, reminiscent of a chateau’s grand hall with 26ft ceilings; the excellent restaurant La Plume; and – best of all – a rooftop terrace with a cozy bar and views from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré-Coeur. Solar panels on the sides of the sunbeds provide 50% of the hotel’s hot water. The small space isn’t loud, but the quiet rooms and location near the Bourse de Commerce and the Louvre have a real wow-factor.
Rooms: From €530 (£470).
Good for players: Chouchou
With a name inspired by the French word for love equivalent to ‘sweetie’, it’s no surprise that this hotel puts entertainment first. Located next to the Grands Magasins in the 9th arrondissement, the tone is set at the Chouchou lobby, a small shop that sells ‘anti-asshole’ candles and sends out nude socks. Beyond, there’s a glass-roofed bar/restaurant, where business lunches lead to live music and DJ sets (table dancing encouraged). The rooms have a modern palette of deep blue, white and cream, which provides a calm companion to the high jinks downstairs. Instead of a spa, there are private baths (baths) – each with a large whirlpool bath and daybed, decorated in the 1970s – that can be reserved for romantic occasions or parties.
Rooms: From €250 (£220).
The CitizenM luxury chain has continued its Parisian expansion this year with a new high-end location. Located between the Bourse and the Grands Boulevards, it’s an easy walk a few minutes east to the bars around the Sentier or south to the Palais Royal and the banks of the Seine. The rooms are small but very well designed, following CitizenM’s signature style, with bathtubs like pods, king-size beds and elegant lighting to choose from. This is not a place to enjoy a romantic getaway but, rather, to throw yourself into Parisian life. However, there is a cool, design-led space with plush, brightly colored sofas to curl up with a book, and a bar where you can grab a bite to eat when you want to refresh.
Rooms: From €170 (£150).
Best for bragging rights: Cheval Blanc
A night at the Cheval Blanc may redefine what it means to push the boat out, but the Seine-front building from luxury group LVMH has been one of the most talked-about hotels in Paris since its doors opened in late 2021. The building – part of the well-designed Samaritaine store, built in 1869 – it is a real Parisian place. Behind a special wall, which combines art and craft materials, there are 72 luxury rooms and suites – some with balconies of the Seine or views of the Eiffel Tower – plus four restaurants, including the three-star Michelin Plénitude, with a guide. and chef Arnaud Donckele. There’s also the Dior Spa to unwind after a night out on the town, and, a rarity in Paris, the hotel has a 100ft indoor, mosaic pool.
Romans: From €1,900 (£1,680).
The hotel is part of a new initiative aimed at re-establishing the Left Bank as the city’s literary and artistic hub. It’s sleek, with brass accents and curved seats that play off the straight lines of the art deco exterior. The heritage of the Rive Gauche is honored in books, paintings and art. Even the gym, with design-led equipment like NOHrD’s water pirates, is the epitome of elegance. The in-house restaurant features Mexican-inspired cuisine from chef Othoniel Alvarez Castaneda (don’t miss the mezcal menu), while the rooftop terrace has the best 360-degree views of Paris. Some of the 109 rooms are small, but 31 have beautiful balconies – many with views of the Eiffel Tower.
Romans: From €380 (£335).
Above the Passage du Caire, the city’s oldest amusement park, this elegant hotel is a postcard of Paris. Double-glazed windows open onto a beautiful courtyard and, behind them, the 30 rooms are bright and sunny, with white linens, stone bathtubs and a selection of cocktails and spritzes. The Sentier is a true family-run hotel – and the best kept secret. The best rooms have a private staircase, but all guests benefit from standard services such as heating. Highlights include an all-day breakfast available in the adjacent restaurant and natural wine tastings in the hotel’s wine cellar across the street.
Romans: From €265 (£235).
Slopes are hard to come by in Paris – especially in the city center – which makes La Fantaisie’s shaded garden very special. Set to open this June, it is the most anticipated new hotel in Paris this year. Near the bohemian area of Pigalle, it was designed by the Swedish architect Martin Brudnizki, who combines floral motifs with colors that evoke the warmth of summer. The restaurant will be led by Dominique Crenn, the only French chef to be awarded three Michelin stars in the US, and is committed to zero plastic and zero waste. Guests also have access to a kitsch rooftop and fitness center designed in collaboration with Holidermie vegan cosmetics brand.
Romans: From €550 (£485).
The outskirts of the 15th arrondissement might not be the obvious place to choose as your Paris base, but Mother comes with enough ideas to make the trip worth it. For over £100 a night, if you book early, you can expect impeccable service, design (we’re talking Darth Vader shades) and plush beds, as well as a rooftop pizzeria and bar. Close to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the only major attraction is the Vanves market, but you are on the edge of a residential area where you can really immerse yourself in the daily life of Paris. The metro, a five-minute walk, will take you to the scenic spot in about half an hour.
Romans: From €120 (£105).
After years of anticipation, the first Maisons Pariente location in Paris will be opened on June 15, inside it will be a reinterpretation of the French classics. Expect touches like wall hangings and leopard print upholstery mixed with Grand Siècle style furniture. With only 50 rooms and 11 suites, the hotel promises to offer an intimate experience in the heart of the Marais. It will have an indoor pool and a restaurant from Israeli chef Assaf Granit. If you want to see the theater of modern Parisian design, this is the place to come.
Rooms: From €650 (£575).
Good for viewers: Play it
The area around the Champs-Elysées is not the coolest place to stay in Paris, but it’s easy to get to the main attractions from here – and this hotel is a real find. When renovating the building from top to toe, the Pley team was inspired by the famous quarterbacks, who live near their headquarters. Radios blare as you walk into each room, which is decorated with pink and midnight blue banners. Almost all of the ground floor is dedicated to the bar, restaurant and lounge, and there is also an entertainment area on the roof.
Romans: From €220 (£195).
