You want to go to Paris?  Great, now where to stay?  If you are like me, you often default to the US chain hotels such Marriott, Hilton and Starwood first and then have massive sticker shock when you find a room and do both conversions –  Euro € to US $ and room size from meters to square feet.  But it’s Paris and you shouldn’t be looking at the U.S. chains but instead finding something uniquely Paris…..like a Paris boutique hotel rather than an expense account business hotel where breakfasts are expensive (think $40+).  Just looking at TripAdvisor, you will see over 1,700 hotel options, excluding the more than 6,000 other lodging options available.   It’s just too overwhelming to find a starting point.  If you use a travel agent, you will get a good mix of options to choose from but chances are you are an online warrior looking to plan your dream trip to the city of lights.

Over the years, my Paris hotel strategy has evolved and I now look to stay in smaller, boutique properties around the city’s many neighborhoods called arrondissements.  Note I said smaller which means in total rooms as well as size.  A smaller hotel tends to feel a bit more private with fewer staff who get to know you quickly and are keen to assist you. No doubt about it, Paris hotel rooms will be small at the entry level pricing but hopefully, you’ve traveled to Paris to see the sights so being comfortable is important but you aren’t spending all day in your room.  I’ve survived small inside rooms on cruise ships and small rooms in NYC so having a window and a bit of sunlight is a bonus.

Having visited Paris now three times in the past two years, I continue to search for cool Paris boutique hotels and these are the three hotels and neighborhoods that I really enjoyed on my recent visits.

Paris Boutique Hotel in the 5th Arrondissement

Hotel Atmospheres

Arrondissement – 5th

Neighborhood– Saint Germain/Sorbonne/Notre Dame

Metro Lines – Line 10 – Maubert Mutualité, RER (B or C) – Saint Michel – Notre Dame

Number of Rooms: 56

Single Twin Room starting at €139, Double starting at €157 per night

Website: Hotel Atmospheres

Read the Review Hotel Atmospheres Review

This colorful hotel is great for a first time visit to Paris as you can walk to the Seine and Notre Dame in less than ten minutes.  The hotel is a showcase for the photography of Theirry Des Ouches.

With just 56 rooms, the hotel manages to serve all room types from a single room to a family room.  The open lobby has a spiral staircase leading to the breakfast room and spa/gym on the basement floor.  A funky honor bar is located in the lobby as well as an outdoor space (for smokers).  I’ve stayed in a third floor room twin room with my niece and a second floor double room.  Each room was unique in color and floorplan – hey is that a Space Invader in my shower?

Paris Boutique Hotel in the 11th Arrondissement

Hotel Fabric – Oberkampf

Arrondissement – 11th

Neighborhood – Bastille or Oberkampf

Metro Lines – The hotel is served by four metro lines – 3, 5, 8 and 9.  The closest to the hotel was St. Ambroise on line 9 with Richard Lenoir (line 5) and Oberkampf (lines 5 and 9) a short walk.

Total Number of Rooms: 33

Club Room starting at €192 per night

Website: Hotel Fabric

Read the Review of Hotel Fabric

This converted factory to hotel is located in the French neighborhood of Oberkampf a bit off the tourist path.  The high ceilings in our twin room were a welcome change from the smaller rooms in Paris.  The room is still on the small side but doesn’t feel that way.  Like other design hotels, the lobby space is a lovely gathering spot for breakfast, playing games, working (which you shouldn’t do on vacation) or checking in on social media.  Bring your translation app as the area is more French speaking than English.  My favorite dinner at La Villaret (no website), the bartender spoke a bit of English to assist but I relied on my Word Lens app to translate the menu.  It was an incredible dinner as we sat outside listening to the music of the street festival (block party) nearby.

Paris Boutique Hotel in the 15th Arrondissement

Hotel Platine

Arrondissement – 15th

Neighborhood – 1.7 km from Eiffel Tower and a block from the Seine

Metro Lines – Line 10 Charles Michel, RER (C) Javel

Number of Rooms: 46

Double Room (albeit small) starting at €119 on promotion

Website: Platine Hotel

Read the Review of Platine Hotel

This gem of a Paris boutique hotel I found on Hotel Tonight, saving more than $100 each night based on other website prices.  Built around a Marilyn Monroe theme of classic glamour and elegance, this was a fun find.  The room was small as the door hit the bed upon entry but the design was perfect.  The bed was so comfortable and quiet it was hard to leave and explore the city.  The staff was quick to reply to my email request for an airport transfer.  Check-in was conversational and informational and every time I passed the front desk, I was greeted.  Friendly staff was a highlight.

The location is another highlight – a block from the Seine, 10-15 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower and the new Beaugrenelle mall across the street containing all the shops you need without fighting the tourists in the city center.

So these are my new favorite Paris boutique hotel options offering up fabulous style, attentive staff and a memorable experience that isn’t the cookie cutter Western hotel.

For those of you concerned about ratings, remember that TripAdvisor has over 1,700 hotels with ratings constantly changing – at last check, Hotel Fabric is #22, Atmospheres #89 and Platine #179, each with a 4.5+ rating and in the top 10% of hotels.  In comparison, the Westin, where I’ve stayed on points in the past (otherwise TOO expensive) is #588. Paris is about discovery, small rooms and magic so find some fun in a new Paris boutique hotel.

Do you have a favorite small Paris boutique hotel that you want to share with us?  I’d love to try other boutique hotels and wander about a new arrondissement.