Hotel de la Paix, 14e
This calm retreat in the heart of Montparnasse lets guests step out of the bustle and into a foyer full of natural light. A blend of old and new creates an individual, warm atmosphere: attractive flea market finds, antiques, characterful dark or honey-coloured wood furniture and headboards. Bedrooms have art, fresh flowers and splashes of colour from stylish fabrics; bathrooms are gleaming. Families and groups can choose communicating rooms. Have breakfast in your room or join the buffet in the dining room.
Doubles from €100, room only, +33 1 71 72 91 33, sawdays.co.uk/hoteldelapaix
Villa de Square, 16e
This Parisian guesthouse and its quiet garden rub shoulders with Le Corbusier’s Villa Jeanneret. Revel in fine art and antiques, ancient and modern all beautifully put together by friendly and super-chic hosts; they live on the top floor with three well-behaved teenagers and a small dog. Bedrooms are sumptuous in their fine objets and lovely fabrics (the largest has its own garden door), wonderful walk-in mosaic showers and fabulous washbasins. Beds are superb, towels deluxe, breakfast delicious and there’s a grand piano.
Doubles from €175 B&B, +33 1 71 72 91 33, sawdays.co.uk/villadusquare
Hôtel des Académies et des Arts, 6e
Poetry moves from the pavements of Paris into the cosiest new Left Bank hotel in town. Coming from the television industry, Laurent and Charlotte wanted to echo the rich history of Montparnasse. Modigliani’s studio was on the top floor, each room has a fine art book for guests to peruse, themes are art deco, Man Ray, music hall, high fashion. They asked renowned street artist, Jérôme Mesnager if he would join their new venture and he brought a small army of his emblematic “white bodies” to dance across, climb up and generally enliven this tiny box of contemporary luxury. There are sculptures, too, by Charlotte’s well-known mother. Bedrooms are small and perfectly formed.
Doubles from €165 B&B, +33 1 45 48 20 07, sawdays.co.uk/hoteldesacademies
Le Petit Chomel, 7e
Owners Georges and Charlotte Ferrero cleverly create a private house vibe in their boutique hotel. Style and elegance are their trademarks, and contemporary touches mix with lovely old things in an effortless way. Sink into a big sofa or bright orange chair in reception; relax by glowing lamps and vases of flowers. The breakfast lounge is a wonderful space to sit in, too, with shelves of books and sculptures, china and vibrant art. Bedrooms vary in size: the biggest are the suites on the sixth floor, with sitting rooms adorned with art; some have balconies with rooftop views. Next door is Les Botanistes, named best bistro in Paris in 2014.
Doubles from €175 room only, +33 1 45 48 55 52, sawdays.co.uk/lepetitchomel
Hôtel Passy Eiffel, 16e
The first owner of this place was a passionate beekeeper so he perhaps picked a place with a bit of nature as a centrepiece. When you step off the smart shopping street you can certainly believe that Passy was just a village a hundred years ago. Breathe deeply in this calm atmosphere, a restful mix of old-fashioned and contemporary styles. Lounge in the glassed-in veranda, where you can see a cute gardener’s cottage across the tiny cobbled yard. The family rooms have large windows, some of which provide an excellent view of the Eiffel Tower. Lovely staff, too.
Doubles from €99 room only, +33 1 45 25 55 66, sawdays.co.uk/hotelpassyeiffel
Grand Hôtel des Balcons, 6e
Les Balcons has the lot: an idea of service that produces tea on winter afternoons and a feast of a breakfast – that’s free on your birthday. Having decorated their art nouveau hotel by taking inspiration from the floral 1890s staircase windows, Jean-François and manager Marie run the place with great charm. Rooms are simple yet pleasing. The five big family rooms have smart décor and modern lamps, parquet floors and decent bathrooms. Some rooms are tiny but the space is used judiciously; amusing prints decorate the walls and front rooms have balconies with window boxes. Remarkable value, super people, and bang in the heart of the Latin Quarter.
Doubles from €125 room only, +33 1 46 34 78 50, sawdays.co.uk/grandhoteldesbalcons
Hôtel Relais Saint Sulpice, 6e
Smack on the back doorstep of Saint Sulpice church, this hotel is on one of those tiny magic streets untouched by time. You might miss the door if you are not careful: it looks more an entryway into an aristocratic 18th-century home. The womb-like salon has deep red papered walls, screened mahogany bookcases, a white faïence stove, Chinese jars and some bottles of French liqueur tempting guests to an evening apéritif. There’s no reception desk to speak of here, just a friendly spirit behind a table to hand out keys to your small but cosy room.
Doubles from €135 room only, +33 1 46 33 99 00, sawdays.co.uk/hotelrelaissaintsulpice
Millésime Hôtel, 6e
Behind its imposing old doors, the Millésime is welcoming, cosy and friendly. The hotel is undergoing a bit of a transformation and now has a Scandi-chic feel with blond wood, clean lines and calm colours. Smart, comfortable bedrooms vary in size but are never too tiny, and have charcoal curtains and throws and sleek white linen. Three rooms open on to the leafy patio. Splurge on the spacious top-floor suite, with its high ceilings and windows overlooking historic towers and domes. In the heart of the Left Bank, this is one of our favourite city hotels, and decent value for Saint- Germain.
Doubles from €140 room only, +33 1 44 07 97 97 , sawdays.co.uk/millesimehotel
Le Relais du Louvre, 1e
Look down the throats of gargoyles, soak up the history. Revolutionaries printed their newsletter in the cellar of this building, which inspired Puccini’s Café Momus in La Bohême. Everywhere, antiques and oriental rugs complement the firm beds and perfect bathrooms. Front rooms look along to the Louvre; others give on to a light-filled patio. Top-floor junior suites have space for a sofabed, pastel walls, exuberant upholstery and heaps of light from mansard windows. The sense of service is highly developed and, as there is no dining room, breakfast comes to you.
Doubles from €155 room only, +33 1 40 41 96 42, sawdays.co.uk/lerelaisdulouvre
Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc, 4e
Make haste if you want to experience the last breath of that dying species, the two-star Parisian hotel. The Jeanne d’Arc, always one of the friendliest and best-placed of the bunch, has a talented new owner who will soon be wielding her design flair and filing for an upgrade. She has already lifted the façade with glorious torrents of geraniums. Hurry if you want to enjoy fresh croissants beneath the extravagantly kitsch mirror in the airy breakfast room, a landmark for generations of guests. The hallway has already been beautified and the junk-shop-style furniture is heading for an update, but not at the price of the essence of the place, its cosy friendliness and superb value for the trend-conscious Marais.
Doubles from €150 room only, +33 1 48 87 62 11, sawdays.co.uk/hoteljeannedarc
Sawday’s new Special Places to Stay: French Châteaux and Hotels is available now, £15.99. For more information on all places featured visit sawdays.co.uk
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