Areas to Stay

Paris has 20 districts (arrondissements), each with a distinct vibe and personality. These are a few of my recommended areas to stay (use the map for guidance):

• 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th Arrondissements: Centrally located near main attractions.

• Saint Germain (6th arrondissement): Centrally located left bank district with picturesque streets, high-end shops, and iconic cafes.

• Pigalle (9th and 18th arrondissements): Former red light district known for nightlife, design-forward boutique hotels, and trendy restaurants.

• Montmartre (18th arrondissement): Charming and romantic area removed from the heart of Paris.

• Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissments): Paris’s hip and historic Jewish quarter home to local boutiques, lively bars, small gardens, and the Picasso museum.

Pricing

Luxury Hotels: 🏷$1000+

Boutique Hotels: 🏷 $300-1000

Affordable Hotels: 🏷 Under $300

Note: Rates vary depending on the room type, travel dates, and how far in advance you book. I’ve provided broad ranges based on the average refundable rate during peak travel times, but the actual rate may be more or less than expected.

Right Bank

1st, 2nd, 8th

Centrally located near main attractions.

Luxury

🛌 La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa*

@Chelsea

Housed in a 19th century mansion, La Reserve exudes Parisian chic and elegance with velvet fabrics, marble fireplaces, and scenic views of the city. There are more suites than traditional rooms, each with its own look. If you're interested in art, culture, and shopping, the location in the 8th arrondissement is perfect. Plan for dinner at the Michelin-starred Le Gabriel for a memoral fine dining experience. ... Set in a 19th-century mansion originally constructed for the Duc de Morny, and later the private residence of couturier Pierre Cardin, the five years-old La Réserve has nearly double the number of suites as traditional rooms, with only 40 rooms total, each with its own look, many with velvet headboards and silk wallpaper, all with marbled bathrooms. Here, designer Jacques Garcia took a lighter hand than much of his work elsewhere, still with heavy jacquards and gilded moldings, but with a more refined lilt. Garcia has a knack for library-style rooms and the Duc de Morny Library is an exquisite example, reserved for guests only for breakfast and a good seat for early evening drinks. Sit in Le Gabriel for dinner with all of the best trappings of French formality, including a noteworthy cheese trolley. The crowd in this Palace-designated hotel is sophisticated and the service is too, with the lobby acting more as lounge and check-ins taking place in the rooms themselves. La Réserve also has 10 apartments (some with three bedrooms) in an adjacent building, well-suited to longer or family-centric stays

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Le Meurice

@Chelsea

Taking up a large swath of the iconic Rue de Rivoli and facing the Tuileries garden, Hotel Le Meurice is a lot like the palace at Versailles, minus the train ride. Francophiles, understandably, will love it. The hotel is so grand and so ornate, each room brimming with Louis XVI furnishings—the holy grail of silks, gold, brocade, and crystal. While the suites are otherworldly, the classic rooms really hold their own, outfitted with French linen sheets, fresh flowers, floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms, and beautiful artwork. If you can tear yourself away from those bathrooms, the Valmont spa (no one does toning treatments quite like the French), Philippe Starck–designed restaurant Le Dalí, and Alain Ducasse's Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Meurice Alain Ducasse—helmed by chef Jocelyn Herland, are all at your disposal. Oh, and you know those stunning, even-more-beautiful-than-real-life fruit-shaped desserts you've been seeing all over your Instagram feed? They are the creation of pastry chef Cédric Grolet, who's set up his patisserie right here in the hotel.

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🛌 Le Bristol Paris

@Chelsea

With almost 200 rooms and suites, Le Bristol , a Paris institution and Palace-designated hotel, is one of the largest in the city, but it retains a chic sense of intimacy that many far smaller ones lack. Here, there’s an airiness to the grandiosity, largely driven by the meticulous garden at its core, but also in the pastel color palette (be it light gray-blue, the color of a Parisian spring sky or Petit Trianon mint green) found throughout the bright and spacious rooms, and the famed nautical-themed rooftop pool under the building’s mansard roof. The rooms facing Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the city’s most famous shopping street, have exceptional light, while the ones facing the interior courtyard are wonderfully serene. There’s even a new, sweet, resident of its lobby, Socrate, a Burmese kitten, to welcome guests. Le Bristol will never be the hippest of the five-stars and that’s precisely why we love it. Timeless. Midnight in Paris was filmed here! Highlights: This is a classic hotel– they offer spectacular staff service, and a grand but homey experience. They are great with kids in terms of amenities and the spa offers children’s treatments too.

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🛌 Hôtel de Crillon

@Chelsea

A Rosewood classic. This historic luxury hotel is set in an 18th-century palace on the centrally located Place de Concorde. There's no shortage of opulence and extravagance here; however, the rooms lean more modern than other traditional luxury hotels after the recent renovation. Butler service is available in every room and suite. Visit Bar Les Ambassadeurs for cocktails in an elegant space.

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Hotel Costes is a popular choice, but it gets noisy and rates are a little steep for the value.

Boutique

🛌 Château Voltaire

@Chelsea

Artfully designed boutique hotel centrally located between the Paris Opera and the Tuileries Gardens. The neutral color palette and focus on craftsmanship make Château Voltaire a timeless choice with understated elegance. If you're lucky, you'll get to stay in room number 32, the best of the hotel's 33 rooms. The food at Brasserie Emil has mixed reviews, but it's worth checking out for Mediterranean cuisine in an elegant setting.

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🛏 Hôtel des Grands Boulevards*

@Chelsea

Hôtel des Grands Boulevards embodies the Experimental Group brand known for youthful and design-forward boutique hotels, restaurants, and bars. Located in the 2nd arrondissement between the Marais and the Opera, this hotel features canopy beds with colorful velvet fabrics, Louis XVI-style furniture, and two standout cocktail bars, one in the lobby and another secret one on the rooftop. It's on a busy street close to the metro, but it's tucked away and feels secluded.

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🛌 Nolinski Paris

@Chelsea

This boutique hotel near the Tuileries Garden features 45 spacious rooms with a classic yet contemporary aesthetic. Amenities include a spa and pool in the basement. The concierge is especially helpful here.

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🛌 The Hoxton, Paris

@Chelsea

True to the Hoxton brand, the Paris outpost is hip and stylish with two beautiful courtyards and iconic French furniture and decor peppered throughout. The 172 rooms housed in an 18th century building feature chevron wood flooring and contemportary accents. Non-guests can also enjoy the Rivié restaurant and Moroccan-inspired Jacques' Bar.

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Hôtel Grand Powers

@Chelsea

Chic boutique retreat in the posh Golden Triangle area housed in a restored Haussmannian building. The rooms at Hôtel Grand Powers effortlessly meld historic architectural features with modern design. Amenities include a restaurant and dreamy spa.

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Affordable

🛌 Hôtel Panache Paris

@Chelsea

Dorothée Meilichzon designed this retro-chic boutique hotel in the 9ème to honor the unique flatiron shape of the building. Sprinkled throughout the rooms and common spaces are art nouveau furniture and decor, geometric mirrors, and triangle patterns. Hotel Panache also offers larger suites for families and a restaurant popular with guests and locals. ... The second offering from Adrien Gloaguen (he opened Le Paradis in 2012) Hotel Panache is located in the spirited 9th arrondissement and provides a haven from the multitude of crowded theatres, auction houses and restaurants. Designer Dorothée Meilichzon has embraced the geometric shape of the building, injecting touches of modernity into the communal spaces with beautiful mirrors and blown-glass lamps. A romantic stay is guaranteed. In imagining Pigalle’s Hôtel Panache, acclaimed designer Dorothée Meilichzon played off the unique flatiron shape of the building itself. The bedrooms combine rattan headboards and muted hues, but the depth and ingenuity of her achievements here lie in the proportions that fill the space. Inspired by the asymmetric shapes and curved forms of art nouveau furniture and decor, Meilichzon incorporated angles into almost everything – from geometric mirrors, triangle patterns on carpets and wallpaper, mosaic walls and twisted furniture, giving the rooms a fanciful allure. Unlike many accommodations in Paris, Hôtel Panache offers larger suites for families, with two double beds and a shared common area for ample space. There's a retro-chic vibe to this stylish spot in the 9ème; think graphic print wallpapers, vintage telephones and art nouveau-inspired cane headboards. What's more, the restaurant has become a popular address among locals as well as guests.

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Le Marais | 3rd + 4th

Paris’s hip and historic Jewish quarter home to local boutiques, lively bars, small gardens, and the Picasso museum.

Luxury

Cour Des Vosges*

@Chelsea

An elegant luxury hotel tucked away in the Marais that features a tasteful blend of historic character and contemporary touches. The vibe here is more private and discreet than other Evok Collection hotels, making it feel more like an intimate guest house with garden surroundings. Amenities include a Roman-style bath, ground floor tea salon, and Devialet Phantom speakers in the rooms. Cour des Vosges is an ideal option for travelers who want privacy and luxury in a central location.

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Boutique

🛌 Hôtel Sookie

@Chelsea

Located in the Marais, this affordable boutique hotel features 31 rooms artfully appointed with wooden furniture, linen fabrics, and organic materials. The hotel's coffee shop is open to the public.

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Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin

@Chelsea

A flamboyant, design-forward newcomer to Saint Germain.

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Affordable

🛌 Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais Paris Marais

@Chelsea

For an intimate and more traditionally-French feel, there is Caron de Beaumarchais in the center of the Marais, and just down the block from the once home of playwright and bon vivant Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, who penned The Marriage of Figaro and Barber of Seville, both of which inspired Mozart operas. While outside, you’re in the center of the Marais– streets brimming with Jewish bakeries and falafel shops– walking into the lobby, you’re immediately transported to 18th century Paris– floral wallpaper adorned with framed impressionist artwork from the period, a piano and harp in the salon, and a crystal chandelier up above for added old world glamor. The living quarters echo the same themes, with rooms swathed in provincial fabrics, floral wallpaper and beddings, exposed wood beams and crystal chandeliers.

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Pigalle | 9th + 18th

Former red light district known for nightlife, design-forward boutique hotels, and trendy restaurants.

Affordable

🛌 Hôtel Rochechouart*

@Chelsea

Housed in a restored Art Deco townhouse, this Pigalle district boutique hotel blends old world charm with contemporary design details. The onsite bistro style restaurant and rooftop bar are highlights, but the chic yet understated bedrooms are the main reason to book a stay here. Many of them boast views of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre.

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🛌 Le Pigalle

@Chelsea

A hip boutique hotel that captures the creative energy of the Pigalle district with an artful blend of vintage and contemporary design elements. Le Pigalle features a cafe, bar, restaurant, and vinyl library. ... To feel like you’re waking up in the hippest of Parisian apartments, book a stay at Le Pigalle, our favourite spot for a supercharged local feel. Mismatched framed posters and paintings hang above cloud-like beds juxtaposed with vintage furniture, while knick-knacks and claw-foot bathtubs bring out the space’s young, sexy and creative atmosphere. Spend a long weekend here and soak up the lived-in personality of your room alongside Pigalle’s naughty ambience. The hotel represents the style of the area, known as Nouvelle Athènes for its neoclassical architecture, which inspired artists and poets in the late nineteenth century, conveying the image of Pigalle: historic, modern, decadent, multicultural, musical. The magnificent blend of vintage and contemporary design embodies the spirit of Le Pigalle, which is divided into a café, a bar, a restaurant, a vinyl library and a newspaper/book kiosk, all run by vivid local characters. Just a few metres away from Moulin Rouge and Sacré-Coeur, guests will enjoy the perfect morning walk through the iconic painters' quarter in Paris.

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Montmartre | 18th

Charming and romantic area removed from the heart of Paris.

Boutique

🛏 Hôtel Particulier Montmartre*

@Chelsea

This 19th century townhouse tucked away in Montmartre is a great option for travelers who prefer privacy and seclusion over a central location. Hôtel Particulier oozes Parisian charm and feels more like a countryside respite than a hotel in a major city. Don't miss the restaurant and cocktail bar, both open to the public.

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10th

Affordable

🛌 Hotel Providence*

@Chelsea

Set in a historic townhouse in the trendy Republique neighborhood, Hotel Providence is a dream for design lovers on a budget. Pierre Moussié expertly curated the vintage decor, moody palette, and velvet fabrics to create a romantic ambiance and opulent yet understated aesthetic. The wood-fire restaurant features a piano bar and secret garden terrace.

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🛌 Hôtel Les Deux Gares

@Chelsea

Hôtel Les Deux Gares has all the trademarks of Luke Edward Hall's flamboyant design style with a playful mix of bold colors and patterns. Bedrooms here are on the smaller side. The location between Gare du Nord and the Gare de l’Est is perfect for travelers who need easy access to the train, though you should exercise caution walking around the train stations after dark.

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16th

Luxury

Saint James Paris

@Chelsea

Set in a neoclassical former private residence and surrounded by a sizable structural garden, Paris’s only château-hotel underwent a radical decorative transformation last year—courtesy of Laura Gonzalez, who made it feel like a one-of-a-kind Parisian home once again. The 50 rooms and suites are perfect examples of Gonzalez’s maximalist design style: Think nature-inspired wallpapers, ornate moldings, and plush fabrics in mixed colors and textures. The wellness program also got a total reboot and was relaunched in 2021 as a three-room Guerlain spa, with large vaulted spaces, a stone staircase, and an aesthetic reminiscent of Greco-Roman thermal baths. Rooms from $620. —Lindsey Tramuta

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Left Bank

Saint Germain | 6th

Centrally located left bank district with picturesque streets, high-end shops, and iconic cafes.

Luxury

Relais Christine

@Chelsea

Housed in a 17th century former private mansion in Saint Germain, Relais Christine is a high-end boutique hotel with a sense of history and discreet, intimate feel. The design mixes classic and historic elements, with furnishing sourced from the Saint Ouen flea market. If possible, book a room with a terrace or garden access. Relais Christine is a perfect choice for guests who appreciate heritage and intimacy with a high level of service in a central location.

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Boutique

L’ Hotel

@Chelsea

Located in the sophisticated enclave of Saint Germain, L’Hotel feels dark and moody with rich fabrics and wood paneling, designed by Jacques Garcia to reflect its naughty history dating back to 1828. The twenty rooms tend to be small and cozy, so book a suite with a terrace if possible. Once a hangout for Oscar Wilde when he lived at the hotel, the basement now features a hammam. It’s central location just a short walk away from Notre Dame and across the Aeine from the Louvre and Tuileries garden makes this am ideal choice for those seeking a sense of intimacy in a central location. If you’re not staying here, it’s worth stopping by for lunch.

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7th

Quieter but still centrally located near main attractions (across the Seine from the 8th).

Luxury

🛌 J.K. Place Paris

@Chelsea

This stylish newcomer to Paris's luxury hotel scene is design-forward and well thought out. Located in the 8th arrondissement, J.K. Place is just a block away from the Seine and Musée d’Orsay. Take advantage of the private boat for dinner on the river and don't miss the onsite restaurant Casa Tua. It's a little bit scene-y, making it better suited to couples and solo travelers than families. ... Set in 8th arrondissement at the top of Boulevard Saint-Germain, a block from the Seine, and the Musée d’Orsay, JK Place has a more homey atmosphere than other hotels in its league. From a private boat made available to guests for dinner on the Seine, to the well-chosen vintage pieces sourced by interior designer Michele Bönan from the Les Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market, to the sexy and intimate barrooms, every corner feels easily lived-in. Opt for the master suite, for its comfortable 4-post bed, marble fireplace and tons of light. There’s something to be said for Italian hospitality, warm and informal, but detail-oriented, considering the hotel’s fashion and creative clientele. Nothing is overlooked, down to the theft-worthy correspondence paper and clothing bags, in the colors of the Madeleine with grosgrain ribbons, hanging in the closet.

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Boutique

🛌 Le Narcisse Blanc Hôtel & Spa

@Chelsea

Centrally located near Paris's main attractions, Le Narcisse is inspired by the Belle Époque ballet dancer Cléo de Mérode. The design aesthetic is timeless and elegant with a neutral palette, soft furniture, and gilded accents. Amenities include a luxurious spa and French restaurant.

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Hôtel Duc de Saint-Simon

@Chelsea

Hotel Duc de Saint Simon has all the old world charm for at an affordable price point. Most of the 39 rooms are on the smaller size, so go for one with a private terrace overlooking the courtyard if you want a little more space.

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13th

Affordable

Hôtel Monte Cristo Paris*

@Chelsea

Aptly named, Hôtel Monte Cristo is inspired by the adventures of the Alexandre Dumas book. References to the places featured in The Count of Monte Cristo are woven throughout this left bank hotel's design elements, including rich velvet fabrics, fringe detailing, and transportative art. Amenities include a sauna, indoor pool, and a bar with the largest selection of rums in Paris. We prefer the cosier Boudoir rooms to the more spacious options for their transpotative character. Ideally, book one on the top floor.

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🛌 C.O.Q Hotel Paris

@Chelsea

Located in the 13ème, C.O.Q. (Community of Quality) features design-forward rooms with a moody ambiance, vintage art, and streamlined furnishings. Don't miss the eggs at breakfast and bread from Poilâne. The location isn't ideal for travelers who want easy access to the main attractions in the city center.

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