11 best hotels in Paris for the perfect city break

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In a city with more than 1,600 hotels, choice can be overwhelming. Palaces, manoirs, a rooftop terrasse every which way you look. New openings saturate the market, each claiming to be bigger and better than the last (the number of hotels grew by more than 200 between 2022 and 2023), and some 40 million tourists flock to Paris each year.

A veritable encyclopedia of information awaits those that delve into Google reviews; in fact, booking a trip now requires the reading time of an encyclopaedia. As if the arrondissement wasn’t already hard enough to pick — should you stay in fashionable Saint-Germain-des-Pres, chic Le Marais or edgy, distinctly un-Parisian Belleville — there’s the new Michelin ‘key’ ranking system to contend with.

Whether brand-spanking new or as ingrained into Paris’s fabric as a classic tweed Chanel skirt suit, we’ve rounded up the best Parisian hotels, be your budget champagne or chocolat chaud.

If you were going to make a movie about an idyllic Parisian life, it would likely be at Hôtel Dame des Arts, where sipping a ‘Spritz des Dames’ at their rooftop bar, the spires of Notre-Dame (scaffolding-free, even if AI had to help you with that part), the towers of Saint-Sulpice and the zinc rooftops of the Haussmann buildings formed the backdrop. It’s a shame that on screen you’d miss the hotel’s heady signature scent, which perfumes the whole building.

Address: 4 Rue Danton, 75006 Paris

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If Gatsby did Paris… Opened in the 1930, there’s an old-world glamour to the Hotel Lancaster, with its decadent chandeliers and grand entrance hall, where horses and carriages would have once arrived. It entertained some of the biggest stars of the silver screen, including Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable and Elizabeth Taylor. Other than the legacy and sheer splendour of the building, the CopperBay bar alone is enough to warrant a visit, with cocktails so elaborate they’ll dominate your holiday conversation.

Address: 7 Rue de Berri, 75008 Paris

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Paris hotels aren’t usually synonymous with space; generally they make Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs look roomy. Hotel Rochechouart, with its high ceilings, is a welcome exception, especially for the price. The space in even the smallest rooms (16 square metres) has been so well utilised that they look airy, and the suites go up to 34 square metres. But why spend time in your room at all? The view from the rooftop over the Sacré-Cœur is too mesmerising.

Address: 55 Blvd Marguerite de Rochechouart, 75009 Paris

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Ironically for a city that attracts backpackers from far and wide, there’s a lack of decent backpacker hostels in Paris. The People hostel group fills the void, and no quartier satisfies the backpacker holy trinity of great food and drink, great street art and rock bottom prices quite like Belleville. The dormitories are well-designed, with opaque curtains, charging sockets and shelves. The views from the roof prove you don’t have to splash cash to see Paris at its most magical.

Address: 59 Bd de Belleville, 75011 Paris

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The designer of this hotel must have had a sense of humour, as the chickens housed in a large coop on the rooftop enjoy one of the most enviable views in the city. So do the guests, though, with an hour of complimentary use of the rooftop hot tub included in each stay (book your time slot upon arrival). Some of the sixth- and seventh-floor suites have their own private hot tubs, barbecues and views of the Eiffel Tower.

Address: 1-7 Rue Jean Richepin, 75116 Paris

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If you came to Paris to eat (surely the main reason that anyone goes to France), stay at Maison Bréguet. Not only are the dishes delightfully fresh and colourful, but there’s an open kitchen to see your meal being prepared. There’s a large cocktail menu, and an indoor pool, spa and hammam in which to vegetate after indulging. At 53 rooms, it’s neither too big nor too small. Upgrading to a room with a freestanding bath tub is thoroughly worth it.

Address: 8 R. Bréguet, 75011 Paris

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There’s luxury, and then there’s the Hotel de Crillon, a stone’s throw from the Tuileries Gardens. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it would be like to stay in an art gallery, or a royal palace, this one’s for you. The Beauty and the Beast ornate furniture could spring to life, and if it did, we bet it wouldn’t shut up about Les Ambassadeurs bar. There’s so much gold gilding that it gives Versailles a run for its money.

Address: 10 Pl. de la Concorde, 75008 Paris

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The attention is in the details. Suite rooms come equipped with vinyl record players, and rather than regular room service, you can choose from a library of over 100 records delivered to your room. The polished wood interiors make everything look a little more beautiful, as though seen through a sepia filter. The breakfast buffet is a sumptuous affair — even more so if you visit for Sunday brunch. You didn’t hear it from us, but there’s a secret bar on-site.

Address: 34 Rue de l’Abbé Grégoire, 75006 Paris

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Source: independent.co.uk