Best Boutique Hotels in Paris

Best Boutique Hotels in Paris

Introduction

It’s no secret that a hotel can make or break your vacation. And if you’re an interior design buff, specific amenities are simply non-negotiable. Beyond exceptional service, a hotel’s rich history, impeccable design details, and location can all determine whether or not it’s worth booking a reservation. If you’re planning a visit to the City of Light, lucky for you, we’ve eliminated one item off your to-do list: finding the perfect hotel. Keep scrolling for a look at our selection of boutique hotels in Paris that are a dream for design lovers.

 

Luxury Charming Boutique Hotels in Paris

An evolution of Philippe Starck’s hospitality-design career, and with Brach Paris, we find him in yet another mood — this hotel, in Paris’s 16th, makes an unlikely sort of glamour from the materials of the 1970s to suit the building’s vintage. This means glossy wood paneling, leather, metal, vibrant patterns in earthy colors, and mirrors more or less everywhere. As you’d expect from Starck, Rooms are full of unexpected visual details, but their thoroughgoing luxury — marble basins, soaking tubs, automated blackout shades — make them feel eclectic rather than prankish. The suites are particularly lavish, featuring terraces with 180° views of Paris, some facing the Eiffel Tower. In Starck’s hands, whimsy and high luxury go hand in hand, making for a memorable stay, to say the least.

 

Hôtel de Nell

This is how hotel minimalism is supposed to be done — instead of feeling stripped to the studs, Hôtel de Nell is imbued with a tranquil, understated warmth and a depth of texture that’s so often lost at other pared-down hotels. As ever, it’s all in the details: the heated parquet floors topped with easy-on-the-toes organic wool carpets, black stone-walled showers you’ll never want to get out of, and, in the better rooms, massive Japanese bathtubs carved from single blocks of raw marble and fitted with Oregon myrtle wood accessories. Most rooms have views of one or the other framed by picture windows; whatever the view, there’s plenty of natural light. If it’s the tiniest bit out of the way (and only the slightest bit), the hotel more than makes up for it with a destination-worthy restaurant and bar. The former is the third La Régalade outpost by the acclaimed Parisian chef Bruno Doucet, a name that draws a food-savvy local crowd. It’s a happy inversion of the usual Parisian boutique hotel norm of forcing guests outside the doors to find something to eat; here, the city comes to you.

Hôtel Providence Paris

Hôtel Providence Paris is where the 10th meets the 3rd, is one of Paris’s emerging hotspots, closer to Canal Saint Martin and the upper Marais than to any of the typical tourist destinations — it’s largely uncharted territory for hotels, and there’s no better feeling for a boutique hotelier than breaking new ground. The result is severe and stylish, and so, for that matter, is Providence’s dedication to food and drink, those twin pillars of the Parisian good life. The hotel’s café-brasserie is the real deal, opening onto a charming terrace, and the cocktail bar makes the Providence a proper destination. And you’ll have your little marble bar top in-room, complete with your icemaker and the tools of the barman’s trade — usually, a hotel of the Providence’s size is meant to be nothing more than a place to lay your head, but this, for once, is a boutique hotel where spending a night in is very much a live option.

 

The Saint James Paris

Suffice it to say that the Saint James is anything but typical. In Paris, a hôtel particulier, a freestanding house, is unusual enough — something like Saint James, almost a country-style château, surrounded by a wall and garden, is vanishingly rare. And now that it’s open for business as a hotel, it’s almost too much to take. Our English teachers taught us that something is or is not unique — there are no such things as degrees of uniqueness. But then they’ve never stayed at the Saint James, which is, grammar be damned, one of the most unique hotels we’ve ever seen. It’s partly owing to the house’s situation, to be sure. Still, most of the place’s personality is thanks to Bambi Sloan, an iconoclastic, self-taught Parisian designer whose work shows no regard for the uptight geometries and constrained palettes of the stereotypical “minimalist” boutique hotel. The common thread is a sensibility that’s eclectic and whimsical but never kitschy or unserious; the spaces are full of unexpected detail but sophisticated.

Hotel Bowmann

Though a newcomer to the Parisian luxury hotel scene, the Hotel Bowmann has no trouble fitting in: it’s a lively blend of classic Haussmannian architecture, modern furniture design, and contemporary decoration. The location — on Boulevard Haussmann, fittingly — is close to the Parc Monceau and surrounded by a wealth of art galleries in the north end of the 8th. And the atmosphere, for lack of a better label, is “discreet luxury” — smaller and more intimate than Paris’s officially designated palace hotels, it’s nevertheless a thoroughly high-end experience, with no compromises made in either comfort or service. In classic Parisian style, the entry-level rooms are relatively compact, though spacious enough and more than a little bit plush. The Executives and Deluxes quickly add enough space to make a noticeable difference and look out over either the hotel’s garden or the Boulevard Haussmann. The suites are spacious, all with separate bathtubs and showers, some with Eiffel Tower views, and the top-end suite spans 100 square meters plus an additional 100 square meters of terrace, complete with a jacuzzi and a panoramic view.

Sinner Paris

 

One of the most storied Parisian neighborhoods, Le Marais, is known for its aristocratic distant past, its rather debaucherous recent history, and its current status as one of the city’s most artistic and creative districts. Hoteliers EVOK, the group responsible for Tablet favorites Brach and Nolinski, have taken inspiration from the most colorful aspects of the Marais, and the proof is in the name: Sinner evokes both the ecclesiastical orders who first established this district and the contemporary pleasure-seekers who visit it today. Designer and architect Tristan Auer was given free rein to create a truly immersive experience marked by dramatic public spaces, opulent guest quarters, and a dash of the carefree optimism of the Seventies. The result is colorful, eclectic, and, though tightly composed, far from minimal — less “urban zen” than invigorating sensory overload. It’s vibrant and incredibly dramatic but elegant and as plush as possible, in keeping with its hedonistic mission.

Les Bains Paris

Studio 54, New York’s most notorious nightclub, is an ancestor of sorts (via Ian Schrager) to the whole boutique-hotel trend. But imagine its Parisian equivalent shutting its doors for a renovation and becoming a luxury boutique hotel, and you’ve got the basic idea of what Les Bains is all about. In the late 1800s, it was a public spa, and by 1980, Les Bains Douches was a bona fide den of celebrity-studded iniquity. As of 2015, it’s one of the most talked-about openings in the hospitality world. In its edgiest incarnation, it played host to the likes of Bowie, Jagger, and Warhol. (Your editor knows it as the site of a famous Joy Division bootleg.) A young Philippe Starck was responsible for its far-out décor, and while it was shut down for structural work, it became a venue for pop-up shows by underground street artists. It’s quite a legacy, and its new owner, Jean-Pierre Marois, is the filmmaking son of the man who owned it during its glory years — so he’s genuinely interested in ensuring it’s true to its conception.

Hôtel Keppler

In Paris, we’re always looking for something that shows a little restraint, whether that means understated style, unimposing atmosphere, or reasonably affordable rates. It’s rare to find all three at once, but that’s more or less what the Hôtel Keppler offers: a sensible amount of luxury, a surprising degree of quiet (for a hotel just off the Champs-Élysées), and interiors that manage to avoid excess in either direction, whether antique or avant-garde. Though at thirty-nine rooms, it’s intimate enough, the Keppler quietly features a few bigger luxuries — there’s no restaurant. Still, there is a sauna, a steam room, and a small gym, all of which might come in handy after a long day pounding the Parisian cobblestones. Better suited to a romantic getaway or a shopping expedition than a business trip, but executives lucky enough to have business in central Paris will likely have few complaints.

Le Narcisse Blanc

Le Narcisse Blanc on the Left Bank is a gem. You will love to stay here, and I can’t wait to visit again soon. The whole hotel is in the cream, gold, and pink palate.

Relais Christine

If you’re looking for a quiet retreat on the Left Bank, look no further than Relais Christine. Situated in a 13th-century abbey, this quaint hotel—with just 48 guest rooms and suites—features peaceful lounges and a lush garden, which are perfect for rest and relaxation. Plus, there’s a Guerlain Spa with everything from a sauna to a jacuzzi. Complimentary bicycles are also available if you’re up for some adventure during your stay.

Hotel Recamier

 

ELLE Decor A-List designer Jean-Louis Deniot is responsible for Hotel Recamier’s stunning contemporary interiors. The hotel has 24 cozy rooms and is located in the heart of the Left Bank in the St.-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. Eye-catching decor accents (think reclaimed wood tables, Art Deco-inspired fabrics, and statement mirrors) fill the hotel, making it ideal for an interior design lover.

Ever wonder how the French writer Alexandre Dumas lived? Step inside Hotel Monte Cristo in the 5th arrondissement to be transported to Dumas’ world. The hotel has bespoke furnishings and rich textiles, including velvet, vibrant wallpaper, and Oriental patterns. Bonus: the hotel is pet-friendly and includes a sauna and indoor pool.

La Maison Favart

This boutique hotel is named after Charles-Simon Favart, director of the Comic Opera (within walking distance). Striped curtains, rich hues, and elegant vintage touches fill La Maison Favart, which exudes classic 18th-century style. It has 39 rooms, a small fitness gym area, and a breakfast space that doubles as an honesty bar.

Nolinski Paris

Acclaimed ELLE Decor A-Lister Jean-Louis Deniot designed the Nolinski, the perfect blend of retro and modern design. The thoughtful interiors boast everything from Carrara marble to neoclassical wood paneling and antique artwork. The hotel is near the Louvre and the Palais-Royal Gardens. Remember that it’s a popular spot for Fashion Week attendees, who are known to congregate in its stylish Grand Salon.

Hôtel Thérèse

A welcome departure from the bustle of Palais-Royal, Hôtel Thérèse, an 18th-century townhouse, is situated on a quiet street on the Right Bank. It offers everything you’d ever want in a boutique hotel, including cozy rooms outfitted with contemporary furnishings, unique Parisian paintings, and marble bathrooms.