Normandy, Brittany & the Best of the North_ With Paris (Fodor's) - Fodor's [155]
Hôtel Saint-Louis Marais.
$$ | Once an annex to a local convent, this 18th-century hotel has retained its stone walls and beams while adding red-clay tile floors and antiques. A wooden-banister stair leads to the small but proper rooms, decorated with basic red carpet and green bedspreads. (Those with heavy luggage, beware: no elevator.) One room is equipped with a kitchenette. The hotel’s in Village St-Paul, a little tangle of medieval lanes just south of the well-traveled Marais that has an excellent English-language bookstore and is not yet overrun by tourists. Pros: quiet area of the Marais within walking distance of the islands and Bastille; historic Parisian character; Wi-Fi. Cons: no elevator; small rooms with outdated decor. | 1 rue Charles V, Le Marais | 75004 | 01–48–87–87–04 | www.saintlouismarais.com | 19 rooms | In-room: no a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: laundry service, Internet terminal, parking (paid), some pets allowed | DC, MC, V | Station: Sully Morland, Bastille
Fodor’s Choice | Hôtel Saint-Merry.
$$–$$$ | Due south of the Pompidou Center is this small and stunning Gothic hideaway, once the presbytery of the adjacent Saint Merry church. In its 17th-century stone interior you can gaze through stained glass, relax on a church pew, or lean back on a headboard recycled from an old Catholic confessional. With a massive hardwood table, fireplace, and high ceiling, the suite is fit for a royal council. Room 9 is bisected by stone buttresses still supporting the church. The Saint Merry’s lack of an elevator and 21st-century temptations like TV is also in keeping with its ascetic past. Pros: unique medieval character; central location on a pedestrian street full of cafés and shops. Cons: no amenities; street-facing rooms can be too noisy to open windows in summer. | 78 rue de la Verrerie, Beaubourg/Les Halles | 75004 | 01–42–78–14–15 | www.hotelmarais.com | 11 rooms, 1 suite | In-room: no a/c (some), safe, no TV (some), Wi-Fi. In-hotel: room service, laundry service, some pets allowed | AE, MC, V | Station: Châtelet, Hôtel de Ville
5E ARRONDISSEMENT (LATIN QUARTER)
Hôtel Collège de France.
$ | Exposed-stone walls, wooden beams, and medieval artwork echo the style of the Musée Cluny, two blocks from this small, family-run hotel. Rooms convey a less elaborate, more streamlined aesthetic than the lobby and are relatively quiet owing to the side-street location. Number 62, on the top floor, costs a bit more but has a small balcony with superb views. Pros: walking distance to major Rive Gauche sights and the islands; free Wi-Fi; good value. Cons: big difference between renovated and unrenovated rooms; no air-conditioning; thin walls between rooms. | 7 rueThénard, Quartier Latin | 75005 | 01–43–26–78–36 | www.hotel-collegedefrance.com | 29 rooms | In-room: no a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: room service | AE, DC, MC, V | Station: Maubert-Mutualité, St-Michel–Cluny–La Sorbonne
Hôtel des Jardins du Luxembourg.
$$ | Blessed with a personable staff and a smart, stylish look, this hotel, on an unbelievably calm cul-de-sac just a block from the Luxembourg Gardens, is an oasis for contemplation. A cheery hardwood-floor lobby with fireplace leads to smallish rooms furnished with wrought-iron beds, puffy duvets, and contemporary bathrooms. Ask for one with a balcony, or request one of the larger ground-floor rooms with private entrance directly onto the street. Pros: quiet street close to gardens; nice decor; hot buffet breakfast; close to RER station to airport or Eurostar. Cons: extra charge to use Wi-Fi; some very small rooms; weak air-conditioning. | 5 impasse Royer-Collard | 75005 | 01–40–46–08–88 | www.les-jardins-du-luxembourg.com | 26 rooms | In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-FiIn-hotel: laundry service | AE, DC, MC, V | Station: RER: Luxembourg