Annie's Paris Gems

I would like to help you find your Paris hotel.

Your Friend Annie in Paris

I love recommending Paris hotels to friends. It makes my day when people tell me they loved the gem of a Paris hotel that I discovered.

First, let's get something straight. I'm not a travel agent or an Influencer. No one pays me. I don't get a kick back, referral fee, a commission--not even a free coffee (although it would be most appreciated). My recommendations are purely based on my own personal experiences and observations. I never want compensation to influence my recommendations.

Why do people ask me for Paris hotel recommendations?

1) I've been around.

I have been going to Paris two to three times a year for over twenty-five years. I have explored most of the city and stayed in several arrondissements. My hotels have ranged from the fanciest 5 star in the 8e Arrondissement to a 1-2 star minimal hotel in the Latin Quarter. 

On a recent three week solo trip to Paris, I stayed in six different hotels. 

I don't know many people like me. Most people don't have the luxury of spending three weeks in Paris exploring hotels. Most people have a few days or a week and they might not go back for several years. They want to stay in one hotel and not waste time moving hotels. I don't mind moving because I love experiencing different hotels.

2) I'm picky. 

To me, the hotel is part of the experience. I want to find the very best hotels within my budget. I want a two star that acts like a three star, a three star that acts like a four, etc. I love staying at a 5 star hotel, but only if it is totally worth it. 

I have read many hotel recommendations on social media that frankly scare me. Rave reviews for hotels that haven't been renovated since George Washington stayed there. Hotels that I know are dreary and dark are being touted by people who obviously enjoyed their stay, but what do they have to compare it to? Or hotels that are located far from the main areas, when it's so easy to be centrally located.

3) I am a habitual hotel "tourer".

I have an unusual activity that I do whenever I'm in Paris. I "tour" hotels. 

Between the hours of 11am and 3pm (after check out, before check in) I stop in hotels that interest me, or that I've read about, or that friends have asked me to visit. I explain to the person at the desk that I recommend hotels to travelers, and ask if I might see a room or two. They are usually very happy to show me around. 

My hotel tours tell me alot about a hotel that I can't get from their website. 

Is the staff friendly? Is the lobby inviting, would I enjoy hanging out there on a rainy afternoon? How small are the rooms? Do they smell musty? Are the bathrooms remodeled? Bathtubs or showers? Do the rooms look clean? Are the rooms light and bright, or dark and dreary? Hard surface floors or carpet? Where is breakfast served? Is coffee available during the day? 

I also make note of the area around the hotels. 

How crowded is the area? Does it feel safe? Is there an abundance of cafes and restaurants close to the hotel? How central is it? Would I feel comfortable staying in that area by myself? Is it walking distance to the main areas? Is the architecture beautiful? Are there parks nearby? Where are the nearest Metros?

Annie's Paris Gems--The Paris Hotels That I Recommend

Annie's Paris Gems (below) is a spreadsheet of Paris hotels that I recommend based on my personal experience being a guest of or touring the hotel. I consider these hotels real "gems". They range from 2 star to 5 star, minimalist to elegant. To be included on my list, they must be a good value for the money compared to other hotels in their class, in a central location, clean, and inviting. The rooms should also be light and bright with newer bathrooms.

Keep in mind that there are thousands of beautiful hotels in Paris. Since my list is limited to hotels I have personally visited, I am hoping that it will help you narrow down your choices. 

If, after looking over the list, you still need help making a decision, I'm happy to help. 

Since I've seen every hotel first hand, I can answer questions about a hotel and make sure it is appropriate for your situation.

If you share with me your hotel budget, what month you are going, and how many beds you need, I can suggest hotels from my list I think will work for you. 

To contact me, leave me a private comment below with your email address and I will contact you. (Comments are private unless I give permission for them to be published)

A Note About The Paris Hotels I Don't Recommend: 

I have visited many highly reviewed Paris hotels that I don't recommend, and therefore, they are not on my list. It doesn't mean they are bad hotels. It means that I think there are other hotels that are a better value. Seeing many different hotels gives me a unique comparative perspective. 

If a hotel you are interested in is not on my list, feel free to ask me about it. I will give my honest opinion if I'm familiar with it.

You can always send me a private message in the comments below. 

Please help me and my readers by sending me any corrections or updates. And if you have stayed in one of the hotels on the list, please let me know what you thought of it.

I also would appreciate learning of any hotel that you feel qualifies as a "gem"so that I can tour it next time I'm in Paris.

Annie's Paris Gems will constantly be updated as I visit more hotels. Be sure to get the latest version when you are ready to book a hotel.

Before you book a hotel, read Annie's Guide to Booking the Perfect Paris Hotel!

Also, when you're ready to plan your trip here is Annie's Guide to Paris

Annie's Paris Gems 

Hotel	Website	Location/  Description	Notes		Annie’s Advice
Hotel Academie  ****	https://  academiehotel.com /en/	7th (on very edge of  6/7) north of Blvd  St Germain   Excellent staff an beautiful hotel.   Spotless. Perfect  location.   Light bright rooms.  3 room categories.  Hard surface floors  Modern bathrooms.  Luxury linens.   Washcloths.   Fragonard   amenities. Bathtubs  with grab bars	Extensive breakfast  buffet  Must ask   specifically for rooms with beds  separated into two  twins.	Classic Room   13m2   Delux 17m2   Junior Suite 20m2  Connecting Delux  Rooms available	Book breakfast with  reservation for   better rate.
Hotel Fougere****	https://www.hotel fougere.com/en/	6th, on rue   Bonaparte   Gorgeous hotel, it’s  like staying in a   stately home with  fine furnishing and antiques. Beautiful  lounge area. Lovely  staff. Perfect  location, easy to  walk everywhere.	Rooms are   beautifully   decorated. Luxury  linens. Bathtubs.  The Delux Room is  big by Paris   standards, 22m2.  The Superior Room  is very nice, a bit  smaller at 17m2.	Hotel Fougere has  the option of a suite  + small room for a  family of 3. It is not  listed on the   website so you   must contact the  hotel to make   arrangements.	Go for the Delux  Room or the Suite
Hotel La Perle***	https://www.hotel paris-laperle.com/ en/	6th, south of Blvd  St Germain   Great staff an  location. Beautiful  garden breakfast  room. Comfortable  beds, nice rooms.  Carpet. Bathtub.  Quiet street down  from St Sulpice and  Lux Gardens.	Breakfast is a bit  sparse. Charges  extra for espresso  vs free drip coffee Breakfast is a   special rate even if  you don’t book it  with reservation.	Executive Room  24m2   Superior Room   17m2   Some rooms are a  bit dark.	Don’t get the   breakfast. Too   many great places  for breakfast in the  area.   Get the bigger   room

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Odeon by   Malone***	https://  odeonhotel.fr/	6th, south of Blvd  St Germain, Latin  Quarter   Very nice hotel in  perfect location.  Easy walk to   everywhere. Free  breakfast. Nice   modern bathrooms  and good linens.  Showers. Carpet.  Very good value	Breakfast is   included and offer a nice buffet with  wait staff  Espresso. Eggs,  fruit, meat, cheese,  juice. Snacks are  offered all da	Superior Double  16m2   Deluxe Room   (Double or Twin) is  18m2. Bed can be  two twins.   Nespresso.   Family Room is two  doubles adjoining.  Beds can be twin  for 4 separate   beds. Key is left at  desk.	Get the Delux   Room.   If you ask the   breakfast staff, the will make you an  espresso or hard  boiled eggs.
Hotel Clement **  (budget)	https://en.hotel  clement.com/	6th, south of Blvd  St Germain. Across  from Marche St   Germain   A very popular   budget hotel in a  great location. Nice  lobby, nice rooms  (a bit dark). There is  an Elevator but you  must go up a few  stairs. Comfortable  bed. Very good  value	Lovely breakfast  (extra). Bathroom  rather dated.   Showers or   Bathtub.   Tradition 10m2   Classic 12m2   Twin 17m2   Superior double  15m2   Junior Suite (3   people) 19m2	Note: there is a   ‘food kitchen” next  door. There are not  homeless people  hanging around and  you probably   wouldn’t know it  was a food kitchen  unless someone  pointed it out.	Hotel sells out   quickly but if you  check frequently  you may find openings.
Hotel Diana **   (budget)	https://hotel-diana paris.com/	5th, south of Blvd  St Germain   Good, clean, basic  hotel. Small rooms.  No frills. Elevator.  Location is just   south of Notre   Dame. Easy to walk  everywhere	I have stayed   several times with  friends. It was   inexpensive enough  that we all had our  own room.	Single 8m2   Twin/Double 10m2  Superior 16-20m2  Triple —double bed  + twin 20m2	Good place to stay  if you want a clean  safe inexpensive  place in a central  location.

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Hotel Des   Marronniers***	https://  www.hoteldesmarro nniers.com/en/	6th, rue Jacob. In  the heart of St   Germain   Just adorable!  Beautiful and very  french. Nice linens,  remodeled   bathrooms. Great  staff. Clarin  amenities.   Washcloths. Great  water pressure.   Hard surface floors Showers.	Breakfast in   beautiful garden  room or cozy   basement. Good  breakfast with   eggs, cheese and  meat. Coffee i  made by request.  Key is left at desk.	The Comfort Room  is only 13m2.   The 3 person room  is one room with a  king and a separate  room with a twin.  Perfect for families  or friends.   The Family room is  two connecting   doubles.	Rooms are small.  Be sure to check  room sizes. I stayed  in the Superior   Garden 12m2 and it  was perfect for one  person. It had a tiny  bathroom.   The attic room is  adorable.
Hotel Grand   Hommes***	https://  www.hoteldesgrand shommes.com/	5th, across from the  Pantheon   Lovely hotel.   Comfortable lobby,  updated   bathrooms, nice  linens.	I had a beautiful big  room with a large  bed and a view of  the Pantheon right  outside of the   double windows.	Location is good for  exploring the 5th.  Jardin des Plantes,  Mouffetard, Plac  de la Contrescarpe.  Emily in Paris apt  around the corner.  Lots of students,  busy area	I highly recommend  this hotel if you like  the location.   Altho I had a very  pleasant   experience, I prefer  being closer to the  river and more   central in the 6th.
Grand Hotel de  l’Univers***	https://www.hotel paris-univers.com/ en/	6th   Very nice hotel in a  perfect location.  French Country   style. The rooms  are beautifully   decorated.   Breakfast in the   basement.   Bathtubs.	Classic 12m2   Standard 15m2   Delux double   21-24m2   Executive (1st floor)	Lobby is very   inviting.   Great value	I suggest the bigger  rooms for more   than one person.  The street can get  very noisy. Ask for a  room facing the   back of the hotel  when you reserve.
Hotel De Seine****	https://  www.hoteldeseine. com/en/	6th   Beautiful old Paris  lobby. Very inviting.  Great location right  in the middle of St  Germain. Bathtubs.  Carpet. Clarins   amenities.	Lobby is very   inviting.	Executive room   18m2, can be 2   twin2   Delux room offer king + twin for 3  people, 22m2   Nespresso	Get the Executive  Room for 2, or the  Delux for 3

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Welcome Hotel ***  (feels more like a 2  star to me. Often  has lower rates if  you are looking for  a budget hotel)	https://  www.hotelwelcome paris.com/en/	6th, right on Blvd St  Germain   Small charming   hotel on corner,   right on Blvd St- Germain. Quaint  lobby. Old Paris   decor. Carpet.   Shower or bathtub  Ideal location.	I have only seen the  single room. It was  very tiny. But I   toured the common  areas and it is very nice. You can’t   beat the location.	Single 9-10m2   Classic 10m2   Classic twin 13m2  Superior/Dauphine  16m2   Parisian 18m2 (tub  + shower)   St Germain 28m2  (1st floor	Hotel is quaint. I  think a bigger room  would be a good  option IF you can get a deal
Hotel de   l’Empereur***	https://  hotelempereurparis. com/	7th, across from  Invalides   Great location right  across from   Invades and   walking to rue Cler.  Free breakfast,   Nespresso in lobby  Very good value	Nice lobby. Rooms  are open and   modern. Open   shower with no   door. Superior room  has a wonderful   view of Dome des  Invalides at night.  Nespresso	Double classic   14.5m2   Standard double  with view 14m2   Superior double  with view 17m2   Triple 21m2   Connecting   doubles with view,  2 double beds	Absolutely get the  room with the view  of the Dome!
Madison Hotel   ****(four star that  feels like a 5 star)	https://www.hotel madison.com/	6th, right on Blvd St  Germain   Beautiful upscale  hotel. Very classy.  The location on   Blvd St Germain  has a perfect view  of the church by the  same name.	The rooms that look  out to the church  are light and bright  and definitely wort the splurge.	Go for the Privilege  View Room, 20m2,  or the Deluxe View,  30m2. Stunning.   There is also an   apartment.	I would not hesitate  to suggest The   Madison to anyone  looking for a 5 star  hotel, unless they  must have a gym,  pool, or spa.
Hotel Recamier  ****	https://  en.hotelrecamier.co m/	6th, behind St   Sulpice Church   Charming, tucked  away in a quiet   corner with a   gorgeous view of  the church., The  lobby is cozy, like  the living room of  an elegant house.	The rooms are   elegant and classy.  Some have a small  balcony.   Classic 15m2   Delux 19m2   Tradition 21m2   Club 30m2   Club and Delux can  connect	Short walk to   Luxembourg   Gardens.	Any room with a  view of the church,  is spectacular. Go  for it.

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Hotel l’Abbaye****	https://  www.hotelabbayep aris.com/en	6th, south of Blvd  St Germain.   Pretty, romantic   hotel, with old Paris  elegance. The   lounge and dining  area are gorgeous  and so inviting.   Upscale.	There are many   room categories.  The smallest, the  Classic, is 9-13m2.  The largest, La   Veranda, is   23-25m2. There is  also a large   “duplex”   apartment.	Convenient location  between Cafe de  Flore and   Luxembourg   Gardens.	Stay here at least  once in your life.
Hotel de Lille***	https://  www.hoteldelille.co m/	7th, close to Musee  d’Orsay   Great location one  block from the river.  Very stylish modern  decor. Easy walk to  the Right Bank,   Tuilleries Gardens.	My room had a   large bed,   bookshelves, and  an entry alcove.   Lots of room. Hard  surface floors  Shower. Nespresso  My room was a   Double Delux	Executive double  14m2   Delux double 17m2  Club/Superior   Junior suite 23m2,  sofa bed for 3rd  person   Family Suite can  sleep 4-5 people	If you are ok with  modern decor,   you’ll love this   hotel.
Hotel des Deux  Iles***	https://  www.deuxiles  paris-hotel.com/	on Ile St Louis   Charming old hotel  on quiet street.   Rooms are small  but cosy. Only 17  rooms. Not   handicap   accessible. Very  Parisian, flowery  AC and Elevator	Beautiful lounge  area serving   afternoon tea.   Nespresso in some  rooms. The hotel  can be a bit   overpriced for the  size of rooms, old  decor.	I stayed in the Mini.  13.5m2. It was tiny.  La Charmante   14.5m2   L’Exquise 15m2   Singuliere 14m2  with a patio   All rooms can be  two twins or one  large bed.	Stay on Ile St Louis  at least once in   your life. It’s so   quiet and charming.  Wonderful   restaurants and   easy access to   Notre Dame, Marais
Hotel Bel Ami*****	https://  www.hotelbelami paris.com/	6th, behind Cafe de  Flore   Large 5 star in the  middle of St   Germain. Modern.  Very convenient  location.	Public area on main  floor is expansive Spa and fitness room. Concierge  and services you  would expect from  a 5 star.	Rooms are large by  Paris standards,  ranging from 19m2  to 2 bedroom   apartment.   Bathtubs and   carpet.	If you like modern  and 5 star, this is a  good option.

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Villa-des-Prés*****	https://  www.villadespres.c om/en/	6th, on rue de Buci  New. Very modern  art oriented.	The building   exterior looks like a  gorgeous upscale  apartment building.  The location is right  in the middle of the  busy restaurant   area of rue de Buci/ rue de Seine.	Rooms are large by  Paris standards,  ranging from 24m2  to suites and   apartments. King or  two twins.   There is a pool,   sauna, and spa   area in the   basement.	If you are a 5 star  client who would  appreciate a pool,  fitness room, in a ideal location, Villa des-Prés checks all  of the boxes.
La Villa Saint  Germain des Prés  *****	https://www.villa saintgermain.com/ rooms-suites	6th, on rue Jacob  New. Very modern  art oriented	An exact miniature  version of it’s sister  property, Villa-des Prés.	Rooms are large  and identical to   Villa-des-Prés,   ranging from 24m2  to large suites. King  or two twins.   There is also a pool,  fitness room, an  sauna in basement.	If you are a 5 star  client, love Villa des  Prés but want a   smaller property on  a street that isn’t so  busy, this is it.

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