Paris: the city of lights, the city of love, and the city of a MILLION hotels. Picking out a hotel in Paris is one of the hardest parts of traveling here due to the sheer amount of options to choose from. Navigating through booking sites can be incredibly time-consuming and finding the right hotel in the right location with exceptional service AND a room with a view can be a daunting task. Thankfully for you, I have selected some of my favorite places to stay in Paris to make your decision a bit easier!
I’ve chosen my top three hotels for you, each of which is unique in its own way – whether it be for the location, the views or the ambiance!
HOTEL MONGE
Hotel Monge is a charming 4-star hotel located on the Left bank of Paris in the 5th arrondisement of Paris. This area is home to the Latin Quarter, which remains today as the historic artistic and intellectual center of the city where many universities, bookshops and lively cafes line the streets. Hotel Monge is located directly next to the Arènes de Lutèce, a historical Roman monument which was built between the 1st and 2nd century during Roman occupation of the city. This is one of the oldest areas of Paris and many rooms of the hotel have a prime view over the beautiful Roman arena.
Surrounded by so much history, Hotel Monge does a fantastic job of representing its local neighborhood throughout the interior of the hotel. The décor of both the common areas and the hotel rooms tastefully reflects the literary tradition of the Latin Quarter, while tying in creative inspiration from the nearby Jardin des Plantes which is home to the National Museum of Natural History, botanical gardens and a zoo.
The hotel features different types of rooms depending on your needs and preferences, each decorated with a unique touch. During my stay, I enjoyed a Superior Double Room located on the top floor with a small balcony overlooking the streets of Paris. The view from my room was fantastic and the butterfly wallpaper was so charming! I also really enjoyed perusing through the vintage books that lined the shelves in my room – this was such a treat! Some of the other room types offer views of the Arènes de Lutèce or a more spacious floorplan, but I chose this room type because I’m always a lover of having my coffee or glass of wine on the balcony!
WHAT TO DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
I lived on the Right Bank of Paris, so my stay at Hotel Monge provided me with the opportunity to explore the Left Bank and rediscover different areas of the city. The hotel is located in a prime position between Jardin des Plantes and the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is a great starting point to explore all that the Latin Quarter has to offer or to take a quick metro ride to visit the other main sites of Paris.
I’ve gathered some of my favorite things to do in this neighborhood for you to check out below:
- Take a quick 15-minute stroll down towards the Notre Dame Cathedral and explore the Ile de la Cité. Be sure to check out the view from the Petit Pont and visit the beautiful stained-glass masterpiece at Sainte Chapelle. If you visit during April, you will be able to witness the blooming season in Paris – the cherry blossoms in Square Jean XXII and the wisteria at Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole are a must!
- After exploring Ile de la Cité, hop across the Pont Saint-Louis to the smaller island, Ile St. Louis, and try the famous Berthillon ice cream, which some say is the best ice cream in Paris
- Have a picnic along the riverbank of the Seine with some cheese, wine and charcuterie from the local shops in the area. Find a spot along the river to take in the sunset views!
- Grab a drink or bite on Rue Mouffetard. This street is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars, making it a great spot to have drinks before dinner or to bar-hop for a night out on the town. Some of my favorite spots are: La Crete for delicious Greek food or Dose for a good brunch or coffee
- Explore the heart of the Latin Quarter and walk through the cobble-stoned streets surrounding the Panthéon and Sorbonne University which is historically known as the second oldest university in Europe, established in 1150. From here, you are just a quick stroll away from the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens
- For an exotic adventure, check out the Grande Mosquée de Paris. I felt transported back to Marrakech in this beautiful marble mosque! There is also a small cafe that serves mint tea and North African pastries. Tip: come here during April to witness the beautiful wisteria cascading over the archways
Book your room here: Hotel Monge
HOTEL SPLENDID ÉTOILE
Hotel Splendid Étoile is one of the most photogenic hotels in Paris. Why? You may ask. Because the hotel is located directly across from the Arc de Triomphe with the best view of this iconic monument right from your hotel room balcony.
From someone who has a lot experience trying to get the perfect shot of the Arc de Triomphe without a huge crowd around, I can tell you that this is the BEST photo spot – no tourists, no traffic, and your own private little space where you can admire the view and take as many photos as your heart desires!
There are three different room types that offer a view of the Arc de Triomphe: Superior, Privilege and Suite. Each is tastefully decorated with lots of light and comfy furnishings. I stayed in a Superior room and my favorite part was definitely the balcony! I spent the majority of my time out there during my stay. Did I mention that you can casually have breakfast on your balcony with a world famous monument behind you? Yes, your Instagram is going to love this.
The hotel also offers a bar and a French fine dining restaurant, both of which can also be ordered to your room if you’ve had a long day and want to dine in your pjs. The concierge here is more than helpful and you can book any additional restaurant reservations, drivers or laundry services if needed. Hotel Splendid Étoile is a sister hotel to Hotel Rochester, so you also have access to the wellness center here if you’re wanting to get that extra workout in or sweat out all of the rich French food in the hammam.
WHAT TO DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
- Visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe and witness some amazing views of the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower. Fun fact: From here you can clearly see why the hotel is named Splendid Étoile, which means “splendid star” in French. The 12 streets surrounding the Arc de Triomphe were perfectly designed to create the shape of a radiant star around the monument
- Grab a glass of champagne with an amazing view at the ultra-luxe rooftop bar, La Terrasse at Hotel Raphael
- Take in some culture at the Musée Jacquemart-André. This stunning 19th century townhouse has a great collection of European art to peruse with different exhibitions throughout the year. There is also a very harming tea room with a terrasse and the pastries are to die for!
- Get dressed up and dance the night away at L’Arc – a world famous luxury nightclub at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe
- Picnic like the locals in Park Monceau. Grab some cheese, baguettes and a bottle of wine then find a spot in the near the pond to relax and enjoy the elegant garden views
Book your room here: Hotel Splendid Étoile
HOTEL ROCHESTER CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
This hotel is in the PRIME location for all of the touristic hotspots. If you are coming to Paris for your first time or are looking to sightsee, then Hotel Rochester is a good fit for you.
Less than 5 minutes walking from the Champs-Élysées, Hotel Rochester is in the center of Paris in the 8th arrondisement. With easy access to metro lines 1 and 9, you are able to hit most of the major touristic spots: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Tuileries, Louvre, Notre Dame, Palais Garnier, Musée D’Orsay and Palais Royal…just to name a few!
Hotel Rochester offers a variety of room types depending on your needs and some of the rooms even have a small terrace or a little peak of the Eiffel Tower, if you’re lucky! Each room is carefully designed to provide a warm and comforting atmosphere for guests with pops of color and lots of natural light.
As far as amenities, the hotel is equipped with a wellness area, bar and restaurant. The wellness space is open daily from 7am – 10pm and guests have free access to the fitness center, hammam and showers. The restaurant serves complimentary breakfast buffet from 7:00 am – 1:30 pm, giving you a generous amount of time to grab a free bite if you want to sleep in (or have it sent to your room free of charge!) Room service is also available for lunch and dinner, with a wide selection of amazing dishes.
The staff here is extremely knowledgable about the area, so no need to worry about what sites to see, directions or restaurant recommendations because they will have you covered 24 hours a day! Laundry service and private transfer service are also available upon request.
Book your room here: Hotel Rochester Champs-Élysées
WHAT TO DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
This area really has it all. All of the major touristic sites are nearby and you are steps away from the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe.
If you are looking for some other quintessentially Parisian experiences in the area, take a look at some of my recommendations below:
- Enjoy teatime at the Ladurée Tea Room on the Champs-Élysées. Try the Ispahan, this is my all time favorite desert in Paris. Rose flavored macarons filled with rose petal and lychee cream + fresh rasberries = heaven
- Walk along the iconic Avenue Montaigne and do some serious designer shopping (or window shopping!) on the most fashionable street in Paris. Then be sure to treat yourself to a glamorous lunch outdoors at La Terrasse Montaigne at the Hotel Plaza Athenée
- Visit the Musée Yves Saint Laurent and learn about the creative genius behind the designer’s haute couture past. The collection of pieces here is stunning and if you’re an avid fashion lover like me, then you will really enjoy the exhibition!
- Watch the BEST cabaret in Paris at Le Crazy Horse. Trust me, its so much better than Moulin Rouge! Dita Von Teese has performed there before… how much better could it get?
- Have a girls night out at Maison Blanche. Start the night with dinner and drinks on the main floor, then head to the rooftop club after dark. Did I mention that there is a view of the Eiffel Tower?
WHAT TO WEAR IN PARIS
PIN ME:
