You’re looking for an original hotel, with a creative decor and for a personalized holiday? You’ve come to the right place! At first, the word “boutique hotel” used to qualify hotels comprising less than 50 rooms in which owners (designers and second-hand goods dealer) used to spread products they had found at antiquities. The objects were to be sold to customers, which explains the word “boutique.” Nowadays, the name applies to every singular, odd and vintage hotel; the name is a little bit misused, but not that much. Here is our list of our best boutique hotels for a unique holiday in Paris.
1) Hôtel Icône*** – on the Croisette
Area: Opéra/Bourse
4, rue Amboise, 75002
« A muted atmosphere »… This is how we can refer to the Hôtel Icône, located in the second district of Paris. This boutique hotel was entirely renovated recently. There, you’ll feel like you are in a relaxing and design-like cocoon. You can book one type of holiday among four, to travel on your own, in duet, or as group of three people.
The rooms are covered in portraits of movie stars, which explains the name of the hotel: “Icône” in French, simply means “icon” in English. They all comprise double or single beds, a study area, and a bathroom with a bathtub or a shower. The Junior suite will provide you with a wide space, with a small lounge and a large bathroom with a shower and a bathtub. You’ll be delighted by the modernity of the rooms: the decoration, the high-tech devices (like the flat-screen television, for example).
After you’ve enjoyed the cinema-like ambience of your room, you’ll have the opportunity to rest in the first floor’s lounge by the fireplace. You can recharge your batteries after an entire day of touristic visits and seminars in this black and luminous establishment. You’ll also enjoy the brand-new computers and their free Wi-Fi connection that will enable you to work on a new platform, different from your smartphone and your digital tablet.
You will appreciate this boutique hotel’s singular atmosphere even better if you have your breakfast there. The buffet breakfast is served during the week: warm drinks, sweets, and salted products. You will choose either a French or an English breakfast; it will depend on your tastes. If you’d rather eat in your room, the room service will bring you the first meal of the day at the desired hour.
After you’ve gained some strength for the day, go for a walk in the marvelous surroundings of the hotel. There, you can access the Grands Magasins, the Opéra Garnier, and several French restaurants in a five minutes’ walk. If you wish to go any further, let me tell you something: you’ll find the metro station Richelieu-Drouot (lines 8 and 9) in only a one-minute walk that will allow you to reach the Invalides esplanade, the Trocadéro, the Place de la Bastille, and Place de la République.
What we like: The ideal location, near several major sites.
What we love: The intimate decor that makes the whole place very quiet.
For further information about the Hôtel Icône, its services, prices, and availabilities, click here.
2) Hôtel Moderne Saint-Germain*** – Back to the future
Area: Panthéon – Saint-Michel
33, rue des Ecoles, 75005
This original and futuristic boutique hotel will welcome you in one of the most historical quarters of the capital, the Latin Quarter. The heart of the Latin Quarter is two blocks away from the Sorbonne University: you can reach the Panthéon and the Seine River banks in a five-minute walk and Notre-Dame cathedral by crossing the Seine.
Every single room among the forty-five of the hotel has its own unique decor. The style is so singular that it becomes indescribable, but also harmonious at the same time. They are all air-conditioned and fully-equipped so that you spend a wonderful holiday without lacking anything. You’ll be provided with a minibar, a television, a free Wi-Fi connection, a welcome tray, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower, a hair dryer, and welcome products.
Even though the rooms are very comfortable, you might want to leave them to enjoy the hotel’s living room, a bright lounge with a big fresco of Paris that will enchant you so much you won’t even want to leave the hotel to visit the actual capital. Computers have been displayed beside so that you can use the Internet connection during your short break. Apart from these rooms, the staff will gladly offer you many services: a luggage service, a tour desk that will schedule your visits, and the reception desk that is open twenty-four hours a day.
On top of all those services, you’ll also benefit from the breakfast service. It is served every morning from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in a very modern dining room, equipped with futuristic pink furniture (the light has the same colour). This is a full buffet breakfast that will help you get off to a positive start.
What we like: The dining room’s avant-garde decor.
What we love: Being in the heart of the Latin Quarter.
3) Hôtel Résidence La Maison Saint-Germain – A Parisian-like house
Area : Saint-Germain – Luxembourg
158, boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006
The Maison Saint-Germain is a hotel built during the 16th century and renovated recently, to be turned into an apartment hotel. Thanks to the flats that the hotel comprises, you’ll be feeling like home, in the Parisian atmosphere of the 16th century. The Maison Saint-Germain has everything you need for a customised trip: studios, apartments, duplexes, and small houses.
The studio apartment is ideal if you come in duo: a bedroom, a living room, and an equipped kitchenette. The bathroom is quite wide for a studio; on top of everything, it comprises a shower and a hairdryer. In case you are more than two customers, you’d better choose an apartment instead. Apartments can host up to four persons thanks to the convertible sofa; what’s more, the living room, the kitchen, and the bathroom are roomier and better equipped.
It is still too small for you, isn’t it? Then, go for the duplex or the small house. The duplex can welcome six customers. It has a balcony on every floor, so that you can savour French dishes while contemplating Paris. Regarding the little house, it offers more independence than the apartment hotel because it is settled in a patio, in a former private hotel. Thus, you’ll have access to all necessary utilities: two bedrooms, a living room, a balcony, a kitchen, and a bathroom.
Although you’ll be spending your holidays in a flat, the Maison Saint-Germain will offer its services: a daily cleaning service, a reception desk open twenty-four hours a day to fulfill your requests, and room service (but you can be the one sweating over the stoves if you wish!).
The Maison Saint-Germain suits its neighbourhood perfectly. The Saint-Germain district is both historical and cultural: you’ll dive into olden times Paris, since everything is genuinely period stuff: the building, the restaurants, the monuments, etc. The tube station Saint-Germain des Prés, on line 4, is two blocks away from the hotel. In this area, you’ll discover a beautiful church and many restaurants. This metro station will take you straight to the neighourhoods of Châtelet, Montparnasse, and Denfert-Rochereau.
What we like: The charm of the 16th century has been well preserved.
What we love: Being in a hotel and being independent at the same time.
4) Hôtel Pont Royal***** – The Golden Twenties
Area: Invalides – Eiffel Tower
7, rue de Montalembert, 75007
Have you ever heard of Saint-Germain des Prés? Its simple evocation makes you dreamy? You’re in the right place! The Hôtel Pont Royal gives you the opportunity to spend time in this neighbourhood and to put yourself in the shoes of a real Parisian for a few days. You can go for a walk towards the National Assembly’s building, the Musée d’Orsay, or along the Seine banks. The hotel is three minutes’ walk away from the subway station Rue du Bac (line 12) and you will easily reach the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, Saint-Lazare railway station and the area of Montmartre.
If you are into stories and anecdotes, this is the right hotel for you! During the roaring Twenties, the Americans of Paris used to meet in this establishment to enjoy Parisian extravagance. Then, the hotel’s bar became the first cocktail bar in the capital; once again, Americans would rush there and they even were the ones to show it to Parisians. As time went by, it became a place of culture and literature, full of numerous artists and writers who chose it as their headquarters. Among them were Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Miro, and many others.
Nowadays, everyone will be equally and happily welcomed there, and they can enjoy the different rooms that the hotel offers. You will either choose a classic room or a superior room, with a free Wi-Fi connection, a minibar, and an extraordinary bathroom. If you want a balcony or a terrace overlooking the whole city, you’d better book a deluxe room, for there is no nicer way to have your breakfast!
A junior and a panoramic suite are also on the menu! They can host up to three customers. Moreover, they both comprise a lounge, and the panoramic suite comprises a terrace on the top floor, so that you can relax in the sun at the end of the day.
The Hôtel Pont Royal has a lot of hotel services, worthy of a 5-star hotel. The “Clefs d’Or” (“Golden Keys”) janitorial service will make your holiday an exceptional one. You’ll also benefit from the valet parking service and room service. To top it all off as the icing on the cake, do not miss the hotel’s cuisine! Start with breakfast, which gives you the opportunity to choose between French and English dishes. You’ll go on with Joël Robuchon’s L’Atelier du Chef (“The Chef’s Workshop”) at noon and in the evening, where you’ll be suggested to eat restyled traditional meals. Then, you can go to the cocktail bar to continue on your culinary path.
After you’ve tasted so much good stuff, you’ll have the possibility to exert yourself in the fitness room, which has state-of-the-art equipment, so that you can keep in shape, even far from home.
What we like: The hotel’s history.
What we love: The panoramic suite where one can relax while contemplating Paris roofs.
5) Hôtel Le Lavoisier**** – A relaxing break
Area : Champs-Elysées – Madeleine
21, rue Lavoisier, 75008
A cosy atmosphere, a typically Parisian attractiveness, the Haussmanian structure of the building… Everything is in place for you to spend pleasant holidays in a marvelous setting. You’ll stay in a historical and quiet borough, surrounded by several Parisian touristic sites. The Grands Magasins, the Opéra Garnier, Saint-Lazare railway station, and the Elysée Palace are only two blocks away from the hotel, and they all are must-see places!
Rooms are luxurious; they have enough surface area to welcome between one and four customers. The style of decoration is either old-looking or more contemporary-like; nevertheless, it never loses its Parisian spirit, which will make you feel like you’re at home. You’ll have a desk, a television, and a privative marbled bathroom rich in cosmetic products at your disposal. What’s more, the suites also comprise a living room, where you shall rest after a day of visits and shopping activities. The Veranda and Executive suites, respectively, have a fitted-out conservatory and a whirlpool; after that, you’ll never want to go back home again!
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll devour a continental breakfast composed of fresh products, either in the dining room, or inside your comfortable room. You’ll also benefit from the car rental service, the laundry service, the childcare service, and the room service, in order to spend your stay without worrying about anything.
What we like: The neighbourhood is close to the avenue des Champs-Elysées.
What we love: The lounge/bar where one can relax and have a drink in the evening.
For further information about Le Lavoisier, its services, prices, and availabilities, click here.
6) Le Grey Hôtel**** – A holiday sculpted for you!
Area: Opéra – Haussmann
12, rue de Parme, 75009
This boutique hotel of the 9th district was entirely decorated by the architect Vincent Bastie, who participated in the embellishment of several other Parisian hotels. It is both simple and refined. Over your head, you’ll discover artist Julie Gauthron’s sculptures. You’ll have plenty of choices of day and night activities in between two authentic and lively boroughs. Choose the 8th district during the day (Grands Magasins, Madeleine’s area…), and the district of Pigalle in the evening. In Pigalle, there are many bars and restaurants, and, if you’re feeling dynamic, you can climb up the stairs of the Sacré-Coeur to contemplate Paris lights by night.
After all those strolls, you’ve earned some rest! And this is fortunate, because the hotel has 33 rooms. Their surface area differs from 13 to 22 square metres. However, they all include the exact same hotel services. The equipment comprises a private bathroom, a television, a minibar, and a free Wi-Fi connection. Some of the rooms also have balconies and terraces; do not hesitate to ask for one of these rooms. In case you’re looking for an even better luxury, let me tell you that the top floor of the building houses a 30 square metre suite for four customers: along with the bedrooms, the suite comprises a lounge area, a Nespresso coffee machine, a bathroom with a walk-in-shower, and a bathtub.
If you like hanging around with your relatives, you can meet for a drink at the bar: it is opened all day long and people from the outside can meet you there. And before you quench your thirst, don’t forget to take a full breakfast in the dining room with fresh products for every taste.
The very watchful staff will offer you several services: laundry service, luggage service, and room service in the evening to have à la carte small dishes delivered at your door!
What we like: Tea and coffee are free, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
What we love: The location, near numerous areas of interest.
For further information about the Grey Hotel, its services, prices, and availabilities, click here.
7) Hôtel Auberge Flora*** – The exotic paradise
Area: Bastille – République
44, boulevard Richard-Lenoir, 75011
A coloured, bohemian, and natural escape in the heart of the city … This is what the Auberge Flora offers you in the borough of Bastille. You’ll feel like you are in another country, just by looking around, at the fuchsia rooms, the bluish walls, and the exotic decor. Flora Mikula, a designer, head chef, and owner of the hotel, has divided the establishment into three parts: “Bohemian,” “Vegetable Garden,” and “Nature.”
On the first floor, Flora shares parts of her life, thanks to the “bohemian” ambience, a reminder of her origins and her numerous trips abroad. Hence, the rooms are cosy and full of coloured patterns that will make you dive into Flora’s Polish and Southern origins. On the second floor, Flora has displayed her fascination for the Earth and its wealth by revolving the whole decoration around the theme of cuisine in these “Vegetable Garden” rooms. The rooms look like actual greenery, and they are rich in elements that will remind you of a vegetable garden, which will bring you peace and serenity. Last but not least, the third floor is focused on nature and environment. You’ll enter an untreated world that will tempt you into relaxing, thanks to its natural elements (skin, wood, stones …).
Every room has one or two big beds, a safe and a private walk-in shower, or a bathtub instead (they have separate toilets). Apart from the bedrooms, the Junior suite comprises a lounge area.
Whatever topic you choose, you must know that the rooms are all authentic and will transport you into faraway exotic lands.
The decor is unique; the inn’s (“auberge”) restaurant is also unique! It is an all-blue sea-like restaurant. You’ll be served breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch on weekends. The food is traditional and influenced by Flora’s trips. Their hit food is … the tapas! This is what they cook the most there, any time of the day, and especially during happy hour, the happy time for drinking wine!
The surroundings are just as eclectic as Flora’s inn. Bastille is an historic neighbourhood, where old folkloric brasseries coexist with new shops and restaurants and international stores. You’ll find something for yourself there, for sure! And, in case you still haven’t had enough, you might want to know that the metro station Bréguet-Sabin, on line 5, will take you straight to the Place de la République, the Canal Sait-Martin, and the Parc de la Villette.
What we like: The various universes displayed, their history, Flora’s history.
What we love: The restaurant mixes French traditions and exotic influences.
8) Hôtel Original Paris**** – As original as its name!
Area: Bastille – République
8, boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011
The Original is ideally located in the 11th district, close to the house of renowned French writer Victor Hugo, the Place des Vosges, and the Place de la Bastille, a former prison. You will also have the opportunity to go to the restaurant and go shopping, thanks to the numerous restaurants and shops situated in the rue Saint-Antoine. If you want something to drink, go in the rue de la Roquette, where bars are always full of customers and sell for attractive prices; thus, you’ll spend a pleasant evening talking to your friends.
Now, enough with the area; let’s talk about the hotel, which was decorated by designer Stella Cadente, whose tastes are known to be particularly odd and whimsical. You cannot miss it! Her creations combine reality with fantasy and you’ll have the impression of living an actual dream. Rooms can host up to four customers and they all have a different decor. You’ll have a free Wi-Fi connection, an office area, a private bathroom with a shower, or a bathtub at your disposal. And let’s not forget the room service!
Every morning you’ll take your full breakfast in a dining room of another age, a room full of enchanted and fairy threads falling from the sky. The food is fresh and will wake you up. The breakfast can also be served inside your room on simple request.
The staff’s services are flawless and will make your holiday even easier. You’ll enjoy luggage service, room service, laundry service, and the staff will book your reservations at the restaurant and at the theatre or will call a taxi for you.
What we like: The lively neighbourhood.
What we love: The both surrealistic and cosy atmosphere.
9) Hôtel Aiglon**** – Bygone days’ Montparnasse
Area: Montparnasse – Porte d’Orléans
232, boulevard Raspail, 75014
During the Golden Twenties, Montparnasse used to be the borough of the artists, the writers, and the intellectuals. But after the end of this creative period, the area has turned into a business and administration centre. The place is always full of people, coming and going by the railway station Montparnasse. But the 1920’s loveliness is still there: the brasseries and cafés where artists used to meet, the numerous theatres, and the tribute plates on the buildings’ facades still exist.
The decor is just like the bygone days of Montparnasse: the common areas, the living room, and the dining room are all contemporary and past-like at the same time. The 46 rooms were entirely renovated so that their style recalls the Roaring Twenties. They are all equipped with a free Wi-Fi connection, a television, and a minibar. One of the suites also has a lounge area, which is ideal if you want to relax at the end of the day.
Bigger rooms are available for families: there are between one and two bedrooms, one and two bathrooms, and a separate living room.
The attentive staff will offer you many services: room service, laundry service, private parking space, and Internet.
What we like: The area is both historic and contemporary.
What we love: The past-looking style that will take you back in time.
10) Hôtel Keppler**** – Black and white
Area: Trocadéro – Passy
12, rue Keppler, 75116
The black and white, modern, and designer boutique hotel Keppler welcomes you into the heart of the very fancy 16th district, with the avenue des Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe only a few steps away. You’ll be 10 minutes away from the Seine, the avenue Montaigne and the statue built in tribute to Lady Diana. The metro station George V on line 1 is only 3 minutes away from the hotel. From there, you can go straight to the Place de la Concorde, to the Louvre, to Bastille, and to the Château de Vincennes (Vincennes’ castle), a few examples of places you MUST see during your Parisian escape.
This high-quality boutique hotel will take you into a unique and glamourous world. The decor is composed of several objects and patterns, and the black and white shades lighten the whole setting. In your room, you’ll feel like you’re in a sewing workshop where everything is custom-made. The 39 rooms all have a large bed, a mini bar, and a private bathroom with a shower and a bathtub, cosmetic products included!
The 5 suites have a more audacious and coloured decor, they are roomy, and can welcome 3 grown-ups, or a couple and their two children, thanks to the additional bed. The bathroom is even bigger and comprises Hermès beauty products. If you’re looking for more privacy, the Penthouse suite has two separate bedrooms and a living room. It is ideal if you want to live together without forgetting your own privacy.
Moreover, you’re not going to miss any moment of relaxation thanks to the fitness centre where you can work out all day long (and all night long!). After sport comes comfort: the sauna and the Turkish bath will make you forget Paris turmoil. You’ll recharge your batteries under the soft lights of these relaxing places
You want a good start? You day will begin with the hotel’s full breakfast in the luminous dining room, with a bay window opening onto a wall covered in plants. Once again, the best way to relax!
What we like: The ideal location in the city.
What we love: The sauna and the hammam, open 24 hours a day.
For further information about the Keppler, its services, prices, and availabilities, click here.
11) Hôtel Courcelles Etoile*** – Decoration and balneotherapy
Area : Palais des Congrès – Batignolles
184, rue de Courcelles, 75017
The Hôtel Courcelles Etoile is a little house in the city, in the 17th district. It is a promise of independence and calm in the heart of Paris. The hotel’s facilities allow any kind of stay: family trips, couple’s escapes, or business travels. It is a few blocks away from the tube, the RER train, buses, and taxies: you can easily reach Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in 45 minutes.
In this neighbourhood, you will find a large bunch of restaurants and several tiny stores. If you’re too tired for a stroll, go back to the hotel and enjoy its comfort and quietness. All the rooms are equipped with a private bathroom (with a bathtub and a shower inside). The Wi-Fi connection is free, and there is a television, a minibar, and welcome products upon your arrival.
Some of the rooms are actually better for a family stay: they comprise two more beds and a balneo bathtub, where you will revitalize yourself at the end of the day. If you’re fond of spacious and comfortable spaces, you might want to know that the hotel also has a suite, in addition to the family room: there is a lounge area and a television inside.
Although it is a 3-star hotel, the services are exceptional and complete: laundry service, shoeshine service, room service, and a staff available 24 hours a day.
What we like: Reenergize in the whirlpool (only in some rooms, not all).
What we love: The “little house” style in the heart of Paris.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
