Paris Hip Hotels, France | The Hotel Guru

It started with the Daddy of them all, Hôtel Costes. So hip, so cool, so self assured that it doesn't advertise. But these days Costes is not alone; Paris has a clutch of seriously hip hotels. Hotels which work as a practical place to stay but which are also fun, with a palpable buzz of expectation around them. And there’s something particularly Parisian about them: Paris Hip Hotels occupy their own level of cool. Some of these recommendations are design hotels with a capital 'D', some benefit from the collaboration with big names in the visual arts world, or the fashion world. Some are très chic in that effortlessly Parisian way, some have a cool pedigree and some are just frontrunners for future trends. All of them offer more than just a place to lay your head — these are travel experiences in themselves.

For Parisian Chic

So cool the website is borderline unhelpful, Hôtel Costes has done everything to excess, but somehow lavish haute-bordello style works, and the A-listers love it. Pool, gym, hammam and spa, fine dining, a very lively bar — all achingly hip. Costes is so hip it even gets away with having its own fragrance boutique — because it's right next to its own rose-only florist! Costes is so Paris hip that it doesn't even matter that we all know about it now. And if this review seems ungenerous, it's blatant jealousy!
From the original we skip to a new hip hotel — Fouquet’s Barrière — a collaboration between architect Edouard Francois and interior designer Jacques Garcia, their aim being to create a 21st Century French palace. Which to them means chocolate coloured leather walls, TVs encased in sharkskin, and sofas in shades of gold. If you're looking for the royal treatment this is your one (personal butlers are one hand to spoil)!

For the Album

The more affordable younger sibling of Costes, Hotel Bourg Tibourg in the Marais has an elegantly Moorish feel to it. Handsome and compact, this is another hip hotel in Paris benefitting from interiors designed by Jacques Garcia, but this time they're more 'elegant chic' than 'flamboyant opulence'. There's a scale...
The Hotel Particulier is a townhouse in the heart of Montmatre, complete with lush gardens and an elegant facade. It’s got a fabulous restaurant, and a cool bar, and upstairs are just five suites, all designed by local artists on slightly off-kilter themes: try ‘Tree with Ears’, or ‘Poems and Hats’. Totally memorable for all the right reasons.

For Romantics

L' Hôtel deserves to be on a list of hip hotels in Paris because Oscar Wilde once lived here. Even if it had the decor of an airport Travelodge it would still make the list. But of course it has gorgeously flamboyant interiors designed by Jacques Garcia — again! — and a reputation for being louche yet glamourous. The pool is candlelit, so perfect for romantic assignations. This is our pick for a hip hotel in Saint Germain.

For Fun

One of the best locations in Paris is the Seine, so a floating hotel makes a lot of sense. That’s the logic behind Off Paris Seine, a 58 room hotel moored on the river just to the east of Notre Dame. It has 58 rooms and suites, chicly decorated with wood, copper, glass and brushed concrete, and all of them have great views. The hip lounge is an obvious hot spot come a summer evening.
Le Bellechasse, with its interiors designed by Christian Lacroix, who based it on Roman era art and design, is a super chic 33 room hotel in the 7th arrondissement, right by the Musee d'Orsay. Quirky and lively, these rooms and suites are a great lesson in what you can do with a fairly ordinary shaped room. Expect all sorts, from giant murals and frescoes, to candy cane stripes. There’s no restaurant, but they do a fancy breakfast.
The Hotel Fabric is housed in a converted 19th century factory in Oberkampf. Inside are 33 rooms and suites, totally contemporary in style, with huge headboards, colourful throws and exposed brick walls. This is a great place for foodies, because, while there’s no restaurant, you’re surrounded by great places to eat and drink — and they do offer breakfast and room service.

For Hip Design

The name doesn't sound it but the 1K Hotel, a hip hotel in the Marais, is definitely a Design hotel that works. Think Austin Powers meets A Clockwork Orange and you're halfway to getting the vibe. And then there's some technology thrown in — fingerprint keypads replace room keys and the corridors are illuminated by dark blue bulbs
If you prefer your contemporary design minimalist and monochrome then the Hotel Le A is the hotel for you. Brickwork is white, floorboards are black and it is lit by cool, cylindrical lights. Every now and then there's the ubiquitous piece of modern art, but they're exceptionally well selected — in fact Hotel Le A is probably the Design Hotel the other design hotels are emulating.

For Hip History

In the heart of the Marais, Le Petit Moulin has been converted from the oldest boulangerie in Paris — this is where Victor Hugo probably bought his baguettes. Cool in itself, what gets this 17 room hotel on the list of hip hotels in Paris is that while the facade is original, the interior has been redone by design royalty, Christian Lacroix.

For Boutique Chic

The Hotel Montalembert is a cool boutique hotel close to the Musee d’Orsay on the Left Bank. Its 54 rooms and suites vary from quite classical to quite contemporary, with the public spaces offering a modern vibe: think teak walls and a combination of rounded and square edges. In addition to the bar and restaurant there’s also a library.
The Hotel de Sers has been converted from the elegant 19th Century mansion built for the Marquis de Sers, and is a prime example of traditional elegance blending with cutting edge design to produce a seriously cool result. Located by the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, the hotel bar, S'Bar is a cocktail hour magnet for locals in the know.

For Hip Location

The Hotel Notre Dame Saint Michel is another hotel on our hip list designed by Christian Lacroix. Its 26 rooms and suites offer similar explosions of colour and design as Le Petit Moulin, but with a Renaissance theme, rather than a Roman one, so you can expect wall-sized reproductions of Renaissance tapestries and art, plus lush fabrics, with plenty of velvet and brocade. There’s no restaurant, but there’s a chic bar, and the views of Notre Dame are spectacular.
The Hotel National des Arts et des Metiers is a hip pick in the iconically cool Marais. It looks invitingly typical of the area from the outside, and fits in perfectly amongst the cool cafes and bistros, and vintage and boutique shopping. Inside the vibe is more contemporary, with chic design furniture in muted greys and the sorts of colours you see in interiors magazines. There are two bars, one on the roof terrace, and a great Italian restaurant.

For a Hip Weekend

The Hoxton Paris is the largest hotel in the Hoxton brand, an elegant Haussmann building in the fashionable 2nd arrondissement, with an indoor/outdoor courtyard and 172 rooms and suites surrounding it. The decor is a chic mix of industrial and contemporary luxe, with vintage pieces and plenty of velvet and brass. The lounge, bar and restaurant areas are sophisticated and hip, popular with travellers and locals alike.

For Great Value

Mama Shelter Paris East, by Philippe Starck, is probably the largest hip hotel in Paris, and with its 172 iMac-inclusive, mood-lit rooms, and it’s also one of the best value. Stark has created a sultry, urban atmosphere, using brushed concrete on the walls, black paint and stylish moulded plastic lamps and chairs. In the 20th arrondissement, close to Père Lachaise, this is a cool spot, and the local interest in the hotel’s restaurant-lounge-bar is testament.
The Hotel Bienvenue is an elegant hotel, with the sort of decor you’ll find in cool interiors magazine. It’s in a lively spot in Pigalle, in the 9th arrondissement, with plenty of places to shop, eat and drink nearby — but a fantastic restaurant too, with gourmet style and tasty pastry. The hotel’s size — it has 38 rooms and suites — and its small garden and relaxed atmosphere make it a good choice for families too.

Still not sure where to book?

You might want to consult our list of Chic Paris Hotels
or consider the hotels on our list of Hotels with Paris Character
Or you could check out our full list of the best places to stay in Paris.
Alternatively, contact one of our friendly gurus for some advice.

18 Paris Hip Hotels

L'Hôtel, Paris

Paris (St-Germain-des-Prés)

Iconic, small, five star hotel where Oscar Wilde once lived on the Left Bank. Flamboyant interiors by Jacques Garcia, and the popular Le Bar. Comfortable and romantic rooms are dark and intimate — the perfect luxurious bolthole in the heart of Paris.

Sights nearby - Just across the river from the Louvre.
5* Luxury - The smallest 5* hotel in Paris.
Swimming Pool - Small plunge pool.
Designer

from £332 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees

18 Paris Hip Hotels

For Parisian Chic

For the Album

For Romantics

For Fun

For Hip Design

For Hip History

For Boutique Chic

For Hip Location

For a Hip Weekend

For Great Value

Still not sure where to book?

18 Paris Hip Hotels

Sign up to our weekly newsletter