20 of the best… hip & happening hotels in Paris

Many of our hip hotels are also home to some great cocktail bars

From a rumoured refuge of Kanye West to a hotel that’s a Mecca for artists and another with a renowned rooftop terrace, here we bring you a few of the coolest places to stay in Paris 

1K Hotel
13 boulevard du Temple, 3rd
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 71 20 00
Métro: Filles du Calvaire
Located in the hip Marais district, this four-star hotel promises an “unrivalled ethnic experience” inspired by the colours and cultures of South America. In keeping with the theme, the 1K Restaurant serves tasty tapas of Peruvian origins while the ‘Day of the Dead’ themed bar is certainly one of the city’s more unusual settings to enjoy a creative cocktail (tequila, orange shrubs, sherry and absinthe, anyone?). Each of the 50 rooms are also generously sized for the prices. However, it would be hard to beat the ‘Pool Suite’; spread over two floors, it comes complete with a terrace and heated pool, plus a view over the Parisian rooftops.

Hôtel Le A
4 rue d’Artois, 8th
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 56 99 99
Métro: St-Philippe-du-Roule
Popular with creative types, this trend-setting four-star hotel is located in a 19th century Parisian mansion house but is bang up-to-date inside with cutting-edge design, contemporary mod-cons and a very cool bar reminiscent of a New York loft. The 26 sumptuous rooms, suites and apartment, with their muted contemporary design, each house a unique artwork by the artist Fabrice Hyber. There’s also a library with some 300 books on the subjects of art, fashion, design and architecture – perfect to unwind with after a day seeing the sights.

Love is in the air at Hotel Amour (Photo Chris Goldenberg)

Hotel Amour
8 rue de Navarin, 9th
Tel: +33 (0)1 48 78 31 80
Métro: Pigalle
With Kanye West rumoured to have stayed here recently, among a host of other high-profile guests, Hotel Amour definitely has that ‘where it’s at’ sort of a feeling. Located in the trendy South Pigalle (SoPi) area, just south of Montmartre, you’ll often see film and photo shoots unfolding outside and the odd model lounging in reception. More importantly for potential guests, the clue is in the name here, with rooms designed to get you in the mood for love, with bold décor, mildly erotic artworks and romantic books. The highlight for us, however, is the glass-topped courtyard garden restaurant, the very epitome of romance.

Les Bains
7 rue du Bourg-l’Abbé, 3rd
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 77 07 07
Métro: Étienne Marcel
Once the capital’s most renowned bathhouse, and later a top night spot frequented by the likes of Prince, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, the latest incarnation of Les Bains is as a hip hotel and club hybrid. Describing themselves as “inclusive, mixed, diverse, inventive, cross-cultural, Bohemian, historic, elegant and welcoming”, watch the DJs spinning their discs before heading up to one of the 39 creative rooms and suites complete with custom-designed furniture, marble bathrooms and vintage crystal. There’s also a super-chic ‘neo-brasserie’ with private dining in a former water tank.

Hotel Bel Ami
7/11 rue St-Benoît, 6th
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 61 53 53
Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
True to the literary tradition of the vibrant Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, stylish relaxation is the order of the day at this contemporary five-star hotel. The bedrooms are fun and functional, while the suites range from an artist’s atelier to little apartments in the rooftops to a ‘private garden’ space. There’s also a jolly restaurant, where the vibrant colours shimmer under the light from a large bay window, and an equally modern bar complete with original cocktails. We quite fancied the BA Royal, blending Saint-Germain pear vodka liqueur with champagne. Plus, you can always detox afterwards with a treatment by Carita in the Wellbeing Area.

Expect the unexpected at Hôtel Bourg Tibourg

Hôtel Bourg Tibourg 
19 rue du Bourg Tibourg, 4th
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 78 47 39
Métro: Hôtel de Ville
At this intimate four-star hotel, the rich jewel shades of the neo-gothic décor evoke, as they put it, “golden olden days, oriental fairy tales and the understated splendour of the turn-of-the-century.” Super-stylish throughout, the 30 guest rooms are decorated by pieces of furniture found at the finest Parisian antique stores and each one features a bathroom equipped with a decent-sized bath tub, pretty mosaics and black granite floor. Other highlights include an intimate private courtyard, complete with its own “little forest”, a stylish saloon and a carefully curated library.

Hôtel les Dames du Panthéon
19 place du Panthéon, 5th
Tel: +33 (0)1 43 54 32 95
Métro: Cardinal Lemoine
Located just across the square from the Panthéon, resting place for the great men and latterly women of France, this boutique hotel pays homage to the ladies who were for so long excluded. From Édith Piaf and George Sand to Juliette Gréco, each floor celebrates a different female from French history. But it’s not only the feministas who will be happy with this quirky hotel. The rooms are creative, colourful and comfortable, many of them offering unparalleled views of their colonnaded next-door neighbour. Breakfast is served in a beautiful arched stone room, very typical of the Latin Quarter, while the bar of the ‘Dames’ has the feel of an intimate boudoir.

Grand Pigalle Hotel
29 rue Victor Massé, 9th
Tel: +33 (0)1 85 73 12 00
Métro: Pigalle
Regular visitors to Paris may well be familiar with the uber-cool bar of the Experimental Cocktail Club or at least spotted the queue snaking through the 2nd. Well, what is less well-known is that they also have a rather hip hotel. Found in a classically Parisian building in the 9th, this four-star haven opens onto the villas of avenue Frochot, the private estate where Toulouse-Lautrec once lived. However, the 37 rooms are the height of contemporary style, all gunship greys, geometric patterns and crisp cotton bedding. Here, the spirit of “Bed & Beverage” reigns, they say, and the bar and accompanying Italian restaurant are well worth a visit, guest or not. Expect to spot the odd famous face here too.

Enjoy a cocktail in the creative setting of Jules & Jim (Photo (c) Jules & Jim)

Jules & Jim
11 rue des Gravilliers, 3rd
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 54 13 13
Métro: Arts et Métiers
Converted from an old processing plant in the Marais in 2011, boutique hotel Jules & Jim has been delighting guests ever since with its mix of contemporary design, pared-back style and friendly service (something by no means de rigueur in Paris). Also notable is their passion for art; the hotel’s main entrance plunges guests into a 15-metre gallery. This, in turn, leads on to a delightful paved courtyard, complete with a vertical garden, where you can enjoy a cocktail or two. Then there’s their 23 cosy and comfortable rooms, some of which come with a unique concept: the wardrobe, toilet, shower and lavatory are situated in the four corners surrounding a cosy bed in the middle.

The Kube Hotel Paris
1-5 passage Ruelle, 18th
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 05 20 00
Métro: La Chapelle
For those on the hunt for some hygge, look no further than The Kube Hotel Paris. Taking its inspiration from Scandinavian design, the walls are made of plexiglass, some of the beds are suspended and backlit, and all rooms overlook a beautiful inner courtyard. We’re especially in love though with the Nordic suite, which looks like an actual iceberg adrift in the middle of Paris. Then there’s the city’s only ice bar, quite possibly the coolest – and coldest – place for an apero. Located up in the trendy 18th, you’ll also be close to the Sacré-Cœur and the picturesque enclave of Montmartre, among other attractions.

Hôtel La Lanterne
12 rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, 5th
Tel: +33 (0)1 53 19 88 39
Métro: Maubert Mutualité
Found in the Latin Quarter, a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, this independent boutique hotel prides itself on being a perfect example of Parisian chic – and certainly it is brimming with local character. From the two oval windows rescued from a grand Parisian residence to the Latin Quarter posters sought out in antique shops, there is nothing homogenised about this place. Guests here can also enjoy a French-style breakfast, honesty bar and a private garden. The pièce de résistance though is the beautiful underground swimming pool, under a vaulted stone ceiling, complete with Turkish bath and sensorial shower.

Maison Albar Hotel Paris Céline
23/25 rue du Pont Neuf, 1st
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 88 92 60
Métro: Les Halles
Ideally located in the heart of Paris, close to the Pont Neuf bridge, the Maison Albar Hotel Paris Céline is a stylish boutique hotel offering the epitome of French elegance. Dating from 1923, the building is full of character while also offering the latest in lux. For the best room of all, though, go for the top-floor suite, which offers a 180-degree view over the capital. When it’s time for dinner, head down to the hotel’s ‘urban eatery’, Odette, where they offer generous portions of delicious local cuisine that’s made for sharing. Then there’s their relaxing retreat, Le Spa Céline by Cinq Mondes, complete with a lovely indoor pool, jacuzzi, hammam, sensory shower and fitness centre.

The rooftop terrace bar at Mama Shelter (Photo: © Mama Shelter)

Mama Shelter
109 rue de Bagnolet, 20th
Tel: +33 (0)1 43 48 48 48
Métro: Alexandre Dumas
With its rooftop bar named by Vogue magazine as one of the best in Paris in June 2017, hip hotel Mama Shelter is definitely one of the ‘places to be’ right now. Found amongst the artists’ studios that still bedeck the boho 20th, it’s no surprise that this place is a draw for creative types. What is more, the 172 super-modern rooms here were designed by the celebrated designer Philippe Starck, no less. The restaurant features simple, homemade cuisine, with some nice sharing dishes, and the vibe is friendly and relaxed throughout. A real ‘urban refuge’, as they like to describe themselves.

Molitor
13 rue Nungesser et Coli, 16th
Tel: +33 (0)1 56 07 08 50
Métro: Boulogne – Jean Jaurès
Another historical swimming baths in Paris, Molitor is home two spectacular heated pools (one indoor and outdoor) that are both listed monuments. But there’s more to this place than just clocking up lengths. Located in the chic 16th, this five-star haven offers super-chic minimalist style in the 117 rooms and seven suites, while art is also everywhere – a hang-over from the days when the building became something of an artists’ Mecca. Today, guests can also enjoy the dedicated fitness centre, the recently-opened yoga studio, the Spa by Clarins, the Urbaine Brasserie, the hotel bar and a roof-top terrace (open from May to September).

Hôtel du Petit Moulin
29/31 rue de Poitou, 3rd
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 74 10 10
Métro: Filles du Calvaire
If, in true Through the Keyhole style, you had to guess who’d design a hotel like this, it probably wouldn’t take too long to work out that it was Christian Lacroix. From the Toile de Jouy-patterned wallpaper to the lacquered black doors and the polka-dot carpeted background, the flamboyant designer has left plenty of clues. It won’t be to everyone’s tastes but the 16 guestrooms and one junior suite are nothing if not memorable, and there’s a cool concept bar complete with cocktails and vinyl. Located in the trendy Haut Marais area, this four-star hotel also inhabits a building that was once the city’s first bakery. Today, the original shop frontage remains and is a protected site.

Hotel Providence
90 rue René Boulanger, 10th
Tel: +33 (0)1 46 34 34 04
Métro: Strasbourg – Saint-Denis
Located in the trendy 10th arrondissement, an area abuzz with new galleries, shops and bars, everything about this 19th century hotel oozes style, with an almost gothic splendour about the place. Think dark décor, mahogany furniture and original fireplaces, offset by House of Hackney patterned wallpapers from London. The 18 guestrooms, including two suites, continue the theme with deep, jewelled colours the order of the day. Ooh, and the finishing touch? Once you’ve dined in the elegant restaurant, with its regional specialities, every single room is equipped with its own cocktail bar complete with built-in ice-maker.

Hotel National des Arts et Métiers
243 rue Saint Martin, 3rd
Tel: +33 (0)1 80 97 22 80
Métro: Réaumur – Sébastopol
When a hotel spells out its name in ‘shadow’ letters on its a classic Haussmannian facade, you know you’re in for something a bit special. Such is the case at this design-led hotel located between the trendy Marais quarter and foodie mecca of Montorgueil. Wrapping around an internal courtyard, the 66 light-filled guestrooms are a study in contemporary design. Furthermore, the Italian restaurant is a culinary destination in its own right, while the bespoke cocktails, crafted by mixologist maestro Oscar Quargliarini, are as popular with Parisians as with guests. With the added bonus of their strong environmental credentials, what’s not to love?

Breakfast in bed at one of our hip hotels? Don’t mind if we do…

OFF Paris Seine
86 quai d’Austerlitz, 13th
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 06 62 66
Métro: Austerlitz
Of all the hotels on our list, the setting of this one must take some beating. Moored on the Seine, this is the first hotel to be located on the water in Paris. The height of contemporary style, each of the 54 rooms and four suites are beautifully designed – and also benefit from the play of light and reflections from the water as they change throughout the day. The stylish bar offers wonderful views and breakfast is served from 7am until 12noon to suit all timetables. There is also the added bonus of a plunge pool – and yet it’s all remarkably good value too. Definitely one of our hot tips.

Hotel Saint-Roch
25 rue Saint-Roch, 1st
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 60 17 91
Métro: Tuileries
Found right in the heart of Paris, close to many of the most famous attractions, this two-star hotel is surprisingly good value for the location. What is more, behind its white, typically Parisian facade, there is more to this place than meets the eye. In fact, this unassuming little hotel has seen some of the most thrilling chapters in French history and even retains bullet holes from 1795 when Napoleon ordered troops to open fire on royalists. The 22 guest rooms are neat, functional and do just what’s required, while on the top floor the upgrade options offer extra space and exposed beams. The hotel is also just a stone’s throw from one of the city’s most beautiful churches, its namesake Saint-Roch.

Hôtel Sezz Paris
6 avenue Frémiet, 16th
Tel: +33 (0)1 56 75 26 26
Métro: Passy
With an emphasis on the visual, this four-star design hotel combines contemporary style with the latest technology and attentive service. Carefully-selected natural materials, specially-designed furniture and a zen-like atmosphere set the tone, complemented by a rather cool honesty bar, La Grande Dame by Veuve Clicquot, along with a jacuzzi, a hammam and a massage space. The 26 rooms are all muted modern shades, wooden floors and plush rugs. However, if you fancy pushing the boat out, we recommend the 70m² suite with an exceptional view of the Eiffel Tower and the rooftops of Paris.

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