Best boutique hotels in Paris 2023: Montmartre, Le Marais and other trendy neighbourhoods

Once upon a time a trip to Paris meant an overpriced stay in a tourist-trap hotel, a trip up the Eiffel Towerand an omelette by the Arc de Triomphe, but as travellers’ tastes for the unique evolve, so does the French capital’s characterful hospitality offerings.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic city break for two or are just passing through for the night, these days there’s no shortage of idiosyncratic boutique hotels on offer. Those looking for Instagram-ready vintage décor will find their bonheur at one of the crop of design-led addresses clustered in the trendy Sentier area in the centre and hip Pigalle in the north of the city, all within easy reach of the sights should you want to do the tourist thing.

Meanwhile, there are some sumptuous boutique hideaways on offer for anyone looking for a touch of French luxury, as well as lower-cost, high-character options for travellers on a tighter budget.

Neighbourhood: Le Marais

So sexy that guests may require a cold shower five minutes after stepping through its discreet entrance in the trendy Marais district, Sinner is a five-star like no other.

Décor takes inspiration from Catholicism with an added seductive twist – think wooden panelling that resembles a confessional booth in the lifts, stained-glass windows (that definitely don’t depict the life of the Lord) in the darkened corridors, and incense wafting from the in-house restaurant at night. 

While ecclesiastical drama rules the roost in communal spaces, the rooms themselves offer a softer, more genteel, airy vibe. But make no mistake, sex is still very much on the menu: bespoke lube sits discreetly among the luxe toiletries in the bathroom, book titles on the shelf include the Marquis de Sade’s The 120 Days of Sodom, and those beds were definitely made for sin. 

There’s also a spa, plus a concept store, The Crypt, in the lobby. 

Neighbourhood: Pigalle

Located in the heart of the area historically known for its cabarets (Moulin Rouge included) and sex shops – more recently reborn as a hipster hub – this low-key address mixes laid-back cool and bawdy kitsch touches to create one of the most stylish accommodation options in Paris. Guests can relax and sample the small but tasty seasonal menu in the elegant open-plan lounge and admire the curated local art selection in their rooms – or else head out to one of the many neighbouring bars for cocktails and live music.

Neighbourhood: Louvre/Central

This boutique five-star may sit in the beating heart of Paris, but guests can enjoy serene, quiet seclusion in its chic blue-hued salons and opulent rooms and suites. The address stands out for its slinky subterranean spa, with its beautiful pool area and indulgent La Colline treatments.

When guests are ready to soak up the buzz of the city, the restaurant Brasserie Réjane offers palate-pleasing seasonal dishes and tasty cocktails in a chic but relaxed setting amid the thrum of Avenue de l’Opéra.

Neighbourhood: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

If you have a penchant for literary history and an appetite for luxury, L’Hôtel cannot be beaten. Though today’s hotel is unquestionably swish (indeed it is Paris’s smallest five-star hotel), it was once the more modest Hôtel d’Alsace, where a penniless Oscar Wilde spent his last months – guests can opt to stay in the Oscar Wilde room where the author died in 1900, famously fighting a “duel to the death” with his wallpaper. Beyond its historical credentials, the hotel also offers Michelin-starred dining at Julien Montbabut’s Le Restaurant and eccentrically opulent décor from Jacques Garcia.

Neighbourhood: Le Marais

Be prepared to be transported back to the 18th-century at this eccentric and lovingly looked-after little hotel in the heart of the lively Marais area. The hotel’s owner, a keen collector, has arranged the lobby as an exquisite Ancien Régime drawing room, complete with a harp and silk wallpaper and Louis XVI-style furniture. The old-fashioned charm continues into the rooms, some of which feature pretty balconies overlooking the lively shopping and café district.

Price: From €170 (£141)

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Neighbourhood: Sentier

This beautiful hotel’s setting, a grand 18th-century mansion house that once belonged to an adviser to Louis XV, is quintessentially Parisian, but the boutique chain’s London roots are in evidence with a laid-back feel and eclectic design touches. Soak up the local atmosphere with your morning coffee in the plant-decked courtyard. In the evening, retire to Jacques’ Bar – decorated with a playful mix of English eccentricity and Moroccan influence – and pick from a range of custom cocktails. Travellers on a budget can plump for dinky, but Instagram-friendly, “Shoebox” rooms.

Neighbourhood: Gobelins/Latin Quarter

This cosy address located on a quiet road on the charming Left Bank offers excellent value for money with its homely but chic rooms (think natty rugs and vintage light fixtures) and a gorgeous winter garden. The historic Latin Quarter, as well as the Luxembourg Gardens and Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens are all within close walking distance. Expect a low-key, friendly welcome, a charming hotchpotch of décor from designer Vanessa Scoffier and a tasty breakfast served in a sunny room overlooking the garden.

Neighbourhood: Montmartre

The view of the rooftops and Eiffel Tower from the hotel’s terrace bar are hard to beat, while the location allows for easy exploration of the bucolic slopes of Montmartre, with its windmills, vineyards and art museums, as well as swift access to the bars of Pigalle. Meanwhile, the hotel offers on-site cultural events and yoga lessons, as well as a rooftop bar and treatments at the in-house Nuxe spa.

Neighbourhood: Louvre, central

This stylish but unpretentious boutique hotel provides a calming retreat in a central location, with the Louvre and Galeries Lafayette shopping district a short walk away. As well as comfortable, well-appointed rooms, guests also have use of a subterranean spa and relaxation area, with a small pool and fitness space. Staff are attentive and helpful, from check-in to check-out.

Neighbourhood: Grands Boulevards

The Experimental Group, the hospitality maestros behind this design-led address, have been setting trends on the Paris scene for over a decade. At Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, the Grand Restaurant, set in a light-bathed courtyard and topped with a retractable glass ceiling has become a favourite with locals, along with the sumptuous cocktail bar, The Shell. Kitsch-chic styling continues into the rooms.

Neighbourhood: Louvre, central

Art enthusiasts will be in heaven at this centrally located boutique hotel, where each floor has been designed by a different contemporary artist and the lobby houses an art shop and “Drawing Lab” dedicated to contemporary drawing. Comforts are not forgotten amid the theme – rooms are comfortable and well-appointed and the breakfast is very good. There’s a rooftop terrace for sun downers.

Neighbourhood: Opéra

Nestled in the busy Opéra district, Chouchou is a small but stylish gem. Its rooms are decked out with classic French fittings – think parquet floors, velvet furniture, and classic railing balconies – with luxurious additions, such as bluetooth speakers, grand pianos, flat screen TVs, and, in some cases, Japanese toilets operated by remote controls. The star of the show, however, are the suites, with each modelled on a different element of French culture. There’s La Vie En Rose, a pastel-covered homage to French music, L’Anamour, a celebration of Serge Gainsbourg (his records are everywhere, as are photos of Jane Birkin), and L’Arrache-Couer, which features a fully equipped library. For foodies, Chouchou also boasts a lively food market and bar area, where guests can help themselves to cheese boards, charcuterie, oysters, and many other French delicacies alongside a crisp, cold glass (or two) of Chablis.

Neighbourhood: Latin Quarter

Blink and you might miss this hotel, which is located on a quiet street in the city’s Latin Quarter. Charming and discreet, the reception area is modelled on an open plan living area, with velvet sofas, an espresso machine, and a fridge filled with wine all ready and waiting for guests. The rooms are nothing fancy but are flooded with light (a rarity in some Parisian hotels) and kitted out in deep crimson interiors, making them feel like the perfect place to kick back after a long day out trawling through the city’s busy tourist traps.

The hotel is named in honour of its seven suites, which are themed around (you guessed it) the seven deadly sins. Speaking of which, the 7th Sin suite is a highlight, featuring a freestanding bathtub, a large round bed and a Jacuzzi on a private terrace. There’s no food apart from breakfast, which is served in the lounge in a low-key buffet style. Be sure to check out the “Wellness Chapel” while you’re there, where guests can enjoy a range of massages, facials (try the Gua Sha option for an invigorating facial massage) and other beauty services as provided by the hotel’s wellness partner Holissence.

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