Best hotels in Paris

Hotel Panache, Grands Boulevards

• From £108, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com, expedia.co.uk or lastminute.com

Hotel Panache in a nutshell

A super-chic hotel with 40 bedrooms scattered across seven floors.

Why foodies stay here

Café Panache occupies the hotel’s ground floor. It serves bistro dishes with a modern twist, including beef tartare with potato sticks, pork belly noodle soup and, for dessert, cookies sandwiched together with ice cream. For lunch, feast on a club sandwich stuffed with fried chicken, cabbage and a Japanese omelette.

What are the bedrooms like?

Choose from seven sizes, the largest of which are top-floor suites. A consistent colour scheme of light grey, dusty pink and pale blue runs throughout, with filament light bulbs, wicker headboards and old-school telephones adding elegance. The classic single comes with an en-suite shower room, double bed and writing desk, while the family room can sleep up to four people, with a small living space and double sinks.

Breakfast

Eggs come any way you want, with chunks of cheese, wodges of sourdough and fresh figs on the side. If you want something lighter, order muesli topped with maple syrup.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Parisian institution, Le Bouillon Chartier, is a two-minute walk away. Join the queue early (it doesn’t take bookings) and prepare for exemplary snails, steak frites and rum babas.

From £108, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com, expedia.co.uk or lastminute.com

Le Grand Mazarin, Le Marais

• Doubles from £515, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Le Grand Mazarin in a nutshell

With twin inspirations of Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel (hence the purple-clad staff) and Alice in Wonderland, Le Grand Mazarin achieves an impressive feat of being full of eclectic colours and patterns, yet still remaining a chic and calm oasis in the heart of the bustling Le Marais district. The hotel has 61 rooms and suites, an indoor pool, restaurant, bar, courtyard dining and gym.

Why foodies stay here

Hotel bar and restaurant Boubalé (meaning ‘little darling’ in Yiddish) combines Eastern European and Mediterranean flavours. Make sure to look up at the colourful ceiling above you: it may look wooden, but every detail and flower was hand-painted. Share a giant chicken schnitzel and incredibly cheesy spinach risotto, then finish with the signature ‘benimousse’ – a large scoop of rich chocolate mousse topped with a generous drizzle of olive oil and scattering of sea salt.

What are the bedrooms like?

Originally three buildings (a chocolate shop, a bar and a hotel), the hotel renovation took five years with incredible levels of detail throughout – from the mural in the underground swimming pool to 1,300 hand-painted flowers in the courtyard patio (a hidden oasis just waiting for sunny lunches).

There is an extraordinary level of detail to discover in every corner of the hotel, including nearly 500 artworks scattered throughout. Bedrooms are decorated with carefully sourced vintage objects, custom rugs and Murano light fittings. Rooms are bold and colourful yet always elegant. Think raspberry pink walls, tapestry canopies over beds and yellow tiles in the bathrooms. Extra touches such as Diptyque toiletries in the waterfall showers and curtains that close from a touch of a button by your bed add a luxurious feel. If you can drag yourself away from the comfy bed or super warm pool, don’t miss the gym with stone vaulted ceilings and chandeliers, surely the prettiest place to work out in the city.

Breakfast

Served in the colourful surroundings of Boubalé, the central breakfast buffet is laden with croissants, cakes, madeleines and brioche, with butter served in chic mini tins. Hot options, cheese and ham are available too, including an excellent omelette. Don’t miss the warm chocolate chip hazelnut cookies.

Where to eat and drink nearby

There’s plenty to choose from in the Marais district. A 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, past the Pompidou Centre, is Tekés. Enjoy sharing plates of vegetarian food from fluffy laffa bread and dips to curried gnocchi and unique egg-filled borek pastry. As part of the same group as Boubalé, you’ll find the showstopping benimousse on the menu here, too.

Doubles from £515, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Hotel des Grands Boulevards, Grands Boulevards

• From £248, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk

Hotel des Grands Boulevards in a nutshell

A gorgeous 18^th century grand dame of a building given a glam but sympathetic modern makeover. This 50-bedroom hotel also has an elegant restaurant and a rooftop terrace.

Why foodies stay here

The third hotel in the Experimental Cocktail Club stable makes sure its food packs a punch. The hotel’s in-house restaurant marries French and Italian country cooking, serving it in a bright airy space, designed around a landscaped courtyard, with a central cocktail bar for pre-dinner tipples. Start with Italian charcuterie and grilled focaccia, or haddock croquettes with romesco sauce, before filling up on plates of pasta (linguine with zucchini, quail with cherries, or monkfish with miso and chards). Desserts are all about fruit: try pistachio biscuits with cherry coulis, or roasted apricot and orange blossom ice cream.

Rise to the rooftop for stellar cocktails at The Shed, a small makeshift-style bar hidden among the greenery. Try the Pink Paloma made with tequila, Aperol, grapefruit juice and lime, or order the non-alcoholic East Indian, a sweet concoction of masala chai, lemon juice, maple syrup and ginger beer.

What are the bedrooms like?

Under the nuanced touch of designer Dorothée Meilichzon there are nods to the hotel’s 18th-century heritage here, including canopy beds (handmade in Brittany) and marble surfaces. But crisp linen, plain-painted walls and a muted three-tone colour scheme add modernity to the mix. Choose between five bedroom sizes, including Petit Boulevard (which sleeps one or two and looks out over the courtyard) and Parisian Eaves, complete with exposed beams and a private terrace. All bedrooms have in-room climate control and a minibar stocked with pre-made cocktails.

Breakfast

The Parisian come with pastries, fresh juice and a hot drink. Order à la carte for homemade cakes, avocado toast or fresh fruit salads. Teas come from Pascal Hamour.

Where to eat and drink nearby

For old-school classics - including scallops with cauliflower purée, roast sucking pig with pear, and Grand Marnier soufflé – make your way to Le Pantruche, a 15-minute walk away.

From £248, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk

The Hoxton, Sentier

• From £238, check availability at booking.com

The Hoxton in a nutshell

An elegant 18-century building turned hip hideaway with more than 150 bedrooms and a cosy cocktail bar.

Why foodies stay here

Rivié offers all-day dining, serving French-inspired dishes with Asian influences. Try cold carrot soup with corn and coconut milk, or share small plates of nori tempura with red cabbage slaw and yuzu tartare. The bavette steak marinated in lemon ginger comes with a peanut sauce and fries or, for something lighter, try a bulgar and broccoli buddha bowl. Sip on natural wines and tuck into cheese plates at casual wine bar Planche, or try Moroccan-inspired drinks and nibbles at the colourful Jacques’ Bar.

What are the bedrooms like?

Choose from four sizes, starting with Shoebox (the clue’s in the name) then Cosy, Roomy and, the largest of the four, Biggy. Compact Shoebox rooms have parquet flooring, rainfall showers and a selection of books curated by locals, while Roomy promises super-king size beds and roll-top baths. All bedrooms come with a handy neighbourhood guide and light breakfast bag.

Breakfast

For the full works head to the restaurant and start your day with a banana split served with coconut yogurt, red fruits, peanut butter and bee pollen, or quinoa granola topped with Greek yogurt, orange and blueberries. Avocado fans will love the upgraded toast, which comes topped with smashed avocado, peas, edamame beans, poached eggs and coriander.

Where to eat and drink nearby

La Guinguette d’Angèle is the perfect spot for a casual lunch. Veggie and gluten-free standouts include lentils on pesto rice with smoked tofu, hummus toast with roast vegetables, and vegan hazelnut cake (you can eat-in or take-away).

From £238, check availability at booking.com

Hotel Henriette, Croulebarbe

• From £137, check availability at booking.com

Hotel Henriette in a nutshell

A family-friendly boutique hotel on the Rive Gauche with 32 individually designed bedrooms and a private courtyard.

Why foodies stay here

Although there’s no restaurant at the hotel, the central courtyard is a great place to bring back a deli feast while affordable room prices mean more centimes to spend in the city’s restaurants.

What are the bedrooms like?

All of the bedrooms are decked out with vintage fabrics and flea market finds. Designed by a fashion editor turned hotelier, some boast statement yellow walls and rose gold side tables, while others have tropical wallpaper and pastel linens.

Breakfast

Breakfast runs to a full continental spread, from cakes and croissants to charcuterie.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Dip into a nearby Moroccan or contemporary French restaurant, or visit L’Auberge du Roi Gradlon, which specialises in Breton cuisine. The menu at the latter features haddock tart with Roscoff onions, galettes and, for dessert, a Breton speciality called Kouign-amann (swirls of caramelised, buttery parcels) served with salted caramel.

From £137, check availability at booking.com

L’Hotel, Saint-Germain-des-Pres

• From £365, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

L'Hotel in a nutshell

An opulent and historic five-star hotel, with a charming cocktail bar.

Why foodies stay here

Le Restaurant held a Michelin star from 2007 to 2019 but, after a brief pause (and an extensive renovation), it will re-open in early 2020. Details are sketchy as yet but it plans to introduce a “new culinary concept” to Paris, alongside a fully refurbished bar, lounge and restaurant space.

What are the bedrooms like?

Spread over six floors, the luxurious bedrooms boast lavish furnishings, carefully selected artwork and one-hour private sessions at the hotel’s hammam pool. Mignon bedrooms look out over the Rue de Beaux Arts and come with leopard print wall coverings, chandeliers and ornate wooden headboards. Chic rooms are themed around famous historic characters (including Marco Polo and Mata Hari) and include separate sitting areas plus spacious tiled bathrooms. Oscar Wilde spent his final night at this hotel, and his namesake suite boasts a private leafy terrace.

Breakfast

Start the day with a continental buffet of pastries, juice and coffee, or made-to-order egg dishes. Detox juices and boozy breakfast mimosas are also available.

Where to eat and drink nearby

This arty neighbourhood (the famous literary pilgrimage site that is the Café de Flore is just a stone’s throw fro the hotel) is also one of the city’s most well-trodden areas, with the dining scene to match. For the ultimate indulgence head to the blue velvet-lined café run by luxury patisserie Ladurée just around the corner, for lunchtime classics (egg white, spinach and goats cheese omelettes or dainty chicken and mushroom vol au vents) plus exquisite pastries and macarons.

From £365, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Molitor, Boulogne-Billancourt

• From £325, check availability at booking.com

Molitor in a nutshell

A modern, minimalist hotel with a historic open-air swimming pool.

Why foodies stay here

The urban brasserie encircles an Art Deco central swimming pool, allowing guests the luxurious pleasure of dipping and dining at the same time. Seasonal, uncomplicated cooking is at its heart, so expect the likes of truffled macaroni with ham and comte, pork belly with apricots and hazelnuts, and raspberry elderflower cheesecake. An elegant bar serves cocktails featuring classic French alcohols, so settle down with a Moli-Taï (grapefruit juice with ginger ale and Rinquinquin) or signature Molitor History X, made from pear vodka, tonic water and Absenteroux vermouth.

In the summer months, a rooftop kitchen serves falafels with hummus and tabbouleh, crab salads and cheerful, crowd-pleasing desserts – hot cookies with pecan and vanilla ice cream, for example, or chocolate mousse.

What are the bedrooms like?

Choose between classic, luxury, executive or suite. Calm classic rooms are decorated in shades of white, grey and beige, with Bose dock stations and views over the pool, while executive rooms come with king-size beds and separate baths. If you want extra luxury, the Grand Suite has a separate lounge area and views over the city.

Breakfast

A lavish affair that covers all tastes. Go savoury with a “big bun egg” (brioche sandwiches stuffed with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, plus your choice of bacon, salmon or mushrooms), or choose homemade crêpes decorated with chocolate, honey, caramel or maple syrup.

Where to eat and drink nearby

For colourful, precision-cooked neighbourhood dining walk book a table at nearby Plantxa, Colombian chef Juan Arbelaez’ Paris bistro. The menu changes each week but typical dishes might include pork with peas and artichoke, cod with girolles and wasabi or a prettily presented red fruit pavlova.

From £325, check availability at booking.com

La Pigalle, Pigalle

• From £257, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

La Pigalle in a nutshell

Contemporary design meets homely touches in the cool Pigalle neighbourhood.

Why foodies stay here

At the hotel’s restaurant, ingredients are sourced from local stores and suppliers to create a simple, seasonal menu. All-day dishes include burrata with sweet basil, smoked salmon toast with burnt lemon, or cheese served with nectarine chutney. Come dinner time, however, sharing plates are the focus: try sweet potato croquettes with spicy yogurt and haricot bean hummus, and green asparagus with citrus dressing. Head to the bar before 9pm for a Roches Rouges aperitif (cassis, Saint Raphaël, white wine and soda), or go for a house-bottled old fashioned cocktail, pepped up with walnut and maple.

What are the bedrooms like?

All 40 bedrooms mimic the style of Pigalle itself, with themes ranging from historic and decadent to modern, multicultural and musical. Comfortable rather than cluttered, rooms sport second-hand furniture and decorative music and books. Pigalle 17 comes with a separate bathroom, queen-size bed and in-room iPad (complete with personalised music selection), while the Pigalle 35 suite has a turntable, king-size bed and views over Sacré Coeur. Plus there are bunk beds available for families, or guests looking for a dormitory-style experience (neighbouring rooms can be accessed through a shared door).

Breakfast

Keep things classic with a croissant, or go for a zingy mango, avocado and ginger salad. Avocado toast comes with citrus and cream cheese, or you can order smoked salmon and comte cheese with buttered baguettes.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Opened by a Frenchman with a soft spot for Sydney, KB Café Shop (the KB stands for ‘kookaburra’) is a cheery, laptop-friendly space where the carrot cake is homemade and the beans are roasted on site.

From £257, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Hotel Providence, Strasbourg – Saint-Denis

• From £219, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com and expedia.co.uk

Hotel Providence in a nutshell

A 19th-century townhouse converted into a smart 18-bedroom hotel.

Why foodies stay here

The kitchen has three cooking styles: raw, marinated or cooked over wood-fire. Take a seat in the moody dining room (mahogany wood, leather armchairs and a roaring fire), or on the heated terrace, and start with dinky petits fours – everything from avocado and prawn toasts to tuna rillettes – before moving on to bigger plates. Linguine comes dressed simply with lemon, roasted pine nuts and fresh oregano, while bream ceviche zings with lime and pomegranate. For dessert, keep things classic with tarte tatin or crème brûlée.

What are the bedrooms like?

Split into five categories (mini, classic, superior, deluxe and suite), the 18 bedrooms are luxurious yet homely, with some sporting their own balconies. Each room comes with its own bespoke cocktail bar, too. Classic rooms are draped in azure-coloured velvet, while the deluxe boasts a separate lounge, upholstered walls and striking mustard-yellow curtains.

Breakfast

Go low-key with a hot drink, pastry and fresh fruit juice, or help yourself from a buffet of organic yogurts, fresh-from-the-oven madeleines, farmhouse cheeses and fruit salads.

Where to eat and drink nearby

The Little Red Door is set in the backstreets of Paris’ arty Enfants-Rouge district. Pull up a blue velvet barstool and be seduced by a charismatic, apron-clad team, or sink into a chair on the bar’s more private mezzanine level.

From £219, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com and expedia.co.uk

Mama Shelter Paris East, Porte de Bagnolet

• From £126, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Mama Shelter Paris East in a nutshell

An affordable hotel, styled by Philippe Starck, that’s one of two sister establishments in Paris.

Why foodies stay here

The downstairs space is home to a buzzing bar and restaurant serving brunch, lunch and dinner. Sit at long wooden sharing tables and tuck into pizzas topped with fresh cream, onions and bacon, or tomato, burrata and oregano. Bar snacks include plates of charcuterie, vegetable gyozas and focaccia with dips. Or head to the colourful rooftop terrace and share small plates of hummus with lemon confit, sardines in olive oil and stracciatella with cherry tomatoes.

What are the rooms like?

Take you pick between small, medium, large, XL or XXL. Simple decoration runs throughout -grey walls, white linen, large mirrors and an occasional pop of yellow – while a scattering of more outré touches (masks as bedside lights, the eyes beaming, and pop art murals) are pure Starck). Small bedrooms manage to fit in a double bed, iMac and desk, while large rooms have extra space for lounging. If outdoor space is what you’re after, book XL Mama Terrace, which comes with outdoor space and a living room.

Breakfast

A brunch buffet includes starters, mains and desserts, so arrive hungry. Start with fresh fruit and cereals before moving on to baked eggs, mini croque monsieurs and smoked salmon. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, tuck into crêpes, almond tarts and Nutella waffles.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Book ahead for a table at Bistrot Paul Bert. The menu is scribbled on a blackboard and includes indulgent dishes such as scallops with creamed potatoes, veal with mushrooms and a towering Grand Marnier soufflé that easily serves two.

From £126, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Hotel Amour, South Pigalle

• From £139, check availability at amour.hotelamourparis.fr

Hotel Amour in a nutshell

A characterful 24-bedroom hotel with a surprisingly exotic garden and a stellar brunch offering.

Why foodies stay here

The brunch is what draws gastro guests. It’s served in a classic bistro, complete with red leather benches and library, and includes croque monsieurs, macaroni gratin, scrambled eggs with bacon and, at weekends, fluffy pancakes. For dinner, try classics such as lentils with bacon and herb vinaigrette, potato dauphinoise, rump steak and chocolate mousse.

The covered garden brings a taste of the tropics to Paris, with leafy palm trees shading tables for two. Sit outside in summer and sip martinis, or try one of the house cocktails. Passions Unleashed combines rum, fresh lime juice, passion fruit purée and roast pineapple syrup, while Empire of the Senses is a heady concoction of whisky, toasted sesame syrup, Japanese green tea and bay leaf.

What are the rooms like?

There are singles, doubles, superiors and duplexes. Single rooms can still sleep two in a queen-size bed, with views over the patio. Doubles come with a bathtub, while the duplex has a mezzanine level (for sleeping) and a separate living area below.

Breakfast

Go for the full breakfast, where chunky nut-heavy homemade granola comes with yogurt, and baskets of baguettes are served with pots of butter and jam. The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is a must, and the tea selection includes darjeeling yanki, vanilla rooibos and Japanese hōjicha.

Where to eat and drink nearby

At Sébastien Gaudard, indulge in caramelised choux buns and rum babas. Or pick up a jar of crème de marrons (chestnut cream) or a packet of candied fruits to take home.

• From £139, check availability at amour.hotelamourparis.fr

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