After nearly 20 years as a travel author living in France, I’ve been lucky to each review and frequent my share of Paris hotels. And while town’s luxurious five-star stays are definitely worth the splurge, Paris also excels in four-star hotels—a category designated by the French government through a rigorous classification system, which rates properties from one-star to ultra-luxury palace hotels.
4-star establishments offer a variety of the niceties and luxury of five-star ones, but with smaller rooms (the minimum size is 172 square feet for a double) and a gentler price tag. Strict regulations on this category—vetted by an anonymous government inspector with a checklist of 243 criteria—include aesthetic considerations (like appearance of the facade), facilities (a bar is required), service (including multi-lingual reception staff), and room amenities (like flat-screen TVs and a central light switch by the bed). Also necessary is environmental sustainability and accessibility for guests who’ve limited mobility. (Unlike five-star hotels, four-star retreats aren’t required to have turn-down service, valet parking, mini bars, or a dedicated concierge.)
Afar’s latest edition of Hotels We Love represents a handful of the highest four-star hotels in Paris in a variety of neighborhoods. Whether you’re on the lookout for a hip hangout spot near the Canal Saint-Martin or prefer a Jazz Age-infused refuge near the Luxembourg Gardens, these 14 hotels reflect the district where they’re anchored—a lot so that you just might even start feeling like an area.
Boudoir des Muses
- Location: Upper Marais
- Why we adore it: A romantic boutique hotel with a racy past
- From $275
- Book now
In the fashionable Upper Marais district, the 28-room Boudoir des Muses debuted in September 2024 in a renovated constructing with a notorious past. At this address at 6 rue Saintonge, a theater once regaled 18th-century audiences; later, rumors of salacious misdeeds led Napoleon to shut down the alleged brothel. The constructing had a temporary stint as a part of a convent. Now this heritage has been brought back to life as a hybrid hotel and nightlife venue with weekly cabaret shows under artistic director Maud’Amour (of the Madame Arthur cabaret and Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show).
Designed with a circular stage under an atrium skylight, the old theater is surrounded by potted palm trees and bar seating where you may sip a cocktail and share tapas like foie gras bites. On the ceiling, Latin phrases describe the Apocalypse, while on the ground, the serpent-patterned carpets allude to Adam and Eve’s transgressions within the Garden of Eden. (The staff also wear coiled gold serpents pinned to their uniforms.) The playful decor features a cabinet of candles fashioned as nude busts, erotic art, and a confessional box within the downstairs bathroom where you may admit your sins (via written note).
A standout guest room isn’t any. 406, a two-bedroom apartment with timber beams under the eaves. A porthole-style window overlooks the downstairs stage, where the burlesque cabaret shows occur on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Other regular events include drawing workshops, poetry writing, DJ sets, and tarot card readings. The hotel also has a downstairs bath area with two spaces that might be privatized for amorous couples. One is supplied with a Jacuzzi and sauna; the opposite has a hammam and a plunge pool beneath ancient stone partitions.
The hotel is managed by Elegancia Hotels, behind other Parisian retreats including the Chouchou near the Opera, and OFF Paris Seine, a floating hotel.
Grand Coeur Latin
- Neighborhood: Latin Quarter (fifth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: A trendy retreat for exploring the Left Bank on foot
- From $277
- Book now
Situated on a quiet side street between the Panthéon and the Luxembourg Gardens, the Grand Coeur Latin opened in September 2024 with 82 rooms on seven floors. Construction work to expand and excavate a swimming pool uncovered priceless Gallo-Roman artifacts, and the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research was called to the scene for a full-blown archaeological dig. This testifies to the hotel’s location in the center of historic Paris, where the thriving ancient city of Lutetia had a forum, amphitheater, and thermal baths some two millennia ago.
Late autumn will see the launch of the lower-level spa, inspired by ancient Roman baths. A recurring design motif is the arch—present in the emblem, niched alcoves, and patterned fabric on the partitions—a nod to the medieval monastic school that after stood here. Within the corridors, the “strawberry thief” William Morris wallpaper conjures illuminations in medieval manuscripts. A buffet breakfast is served in a reasonably space near the lobby, but there isn’t a on-site restaurant.
Grand Hôtel Cayré
- Neighborhood: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Why we adore it: Art deco splendor inspired by the Roaring Twenties
- From $400
- Book now
At the sting of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Grand Hotel Cayré has stood on the corner of Boulevard Raspail and the Rue du Bac since 1920. From its Jazz Age heyday as a hub for writers and artists, it needed a bit of TLC. A head-to-toe renovation was accomplished in summer 2024. General manager Mickael Meunier, previously of town’s happening hotel Les Bains, orchestrated the renaissance.
In style and ambience, Le Grand Hôtel Cayré embodies the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Interior architect Michaelis Boyd dressed the interiors with antique mirrors, embroidered fabrics, and art deco–style lamps and crystal chandeliers. The art-filled Annette is an all-day restaurant that goals to be a neighborhood institution. Bruno Brangea, previously head chef at Ducasse Paris, oversees the brasserie menu (pâté en croute, eggs mimosa, beef tartare). The Officine Bac (the Dispensary) is a horny drinking den where Oscar Blackstone creates cocktails inspired by the botanicals utilized by chemist naturalist Raspail. Other welcome attractions include a gym and a “refresh room” for guests arriving on red-eye flights.
Leading as much as the 123 guest rooms, the unique staircase encompasses a sky fresco painted by Mathias Kiss. Two standout suites offer all-inclusive mini bars and Eiffel Tower views. L’appartement du Collectionneur, on the seventh floor, is a showroom of Twentieth- and Twenty first-century furniture and ornamental arts. Think modernist pieces by Pierre Sala, furniture by Rinck, and fabrics by Pierre Frey. In case you like what you discover, you may buy it and take it home (the gathering rotates every six months).
Hotel Astra Opéra
- Neighborhood: Opera (ninth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: A renovated retreat with a latest pool and wellness area
- From $221
- Book now
The family-owned Hotel Astra Opéra emerged from a three-year makeover in late 2023 with a latest centerpiece: a subterranean wellness area with a pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. The vast lobby area now has three areas: a library, front room, and breakfast room under a glass-capped atrium ceiling. The renovation reduced the room count from 82 to 73 rooms to make them more spacious. Marie-Agnès Gillot, an étoile ballet dancer on the nearby Palais Garnier opera, danced across a plaster mold to create a bit of art that’s on partitions within the seventh-floor rooms. A standout is room no. 703, a light-filled aerie on the highest floor offering a terrace with a table and chairs overlooking Parisian rooftops. Hotel Astra is a favourite of business travelers throughout the week, which lends it a company vibe; the leisure clientele also includes families who appreciate the dedicated family rooms and children corner within the lobby.
The Cachan family began the Astotel group in 1960, and today it has 17 three- and four-star properties in Paris. A day by day “Open Bar” (2 p.m.–2 a.m.), available in any respect its properties, welcomes all Astotel guests free of charge snacks and nonalcoholic drinks.
Hotel Brighton
- Location: Louvre (1st arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: The enviable rue de Rivoli location facing the Tuileries Gardens
- From $332
- Book now
With an incredible location across from the Tuileries Gardens, the 62-room Hotel Brighton is just a couple of doors down from the famous Angelina tearoom and the palace hotel Le Meurice. It was in-built the late nineteenth century to welcome bourgeois Brits embarking on their Grand Tour of Europe. The legendary rue de Rivoli is lined with a pedestrian arcade; the mosaic floor tiles proceed contained in the entrance of the hotel, where original marble columns decorate partitions. It’s a small hotel, with no restaurant or spa, but loaded with history. The antique-filled Junior Suites and Suites on the front of the constructing have glorious garden views.
The Brighton is a component of Esprit de France, nine hotels in Paris dedicated to preserving and showcasing French heritage. (The group also manages 30 châteaux residences across the country.) A partner of Art Basel Paris, Esprit de France publishes a bit of blue book of insider addresses for guests to get essentially the most out of their Paris sojourn.
Hôtel Château d’Eau
- Neighborhood: Faubourg Saint-Denis (tenth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: A trendy addition to a “real” Parisian neighborhood
- From $177
- Book now
Gritty and concrete, this area of the tenth arrondissement is a neighborhood where Parisians live and work and hang around at the fashionable restaurants on rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. (You’ll find Paris-roasted specialty coffee at White and cocktails championing French spirits at award-winning bar Le Syndicat.) This vibrant quarter never had a four-star property until the Hotel Chateau d’Eau, the most recent property from Touriste Hotels, which has nine design-centric boutique hotels with accessible prices.
Hotel Chateau d’Eau debuted in May 2024 with interiors by Necchi Architecture channeling the neighborhood’s Nineteen Seventies history as a hub for the style industry’s fabric suppliers. The lobby is a showcase: a pair of life-size ceramic panthers, leopard print armchairs, lacquered partitions, and a record player with a number of vinyl. Spread across six floors, the 34 guest rooms are small but well-conceived, with even a “single” category available—snapped up by business travelers arriving on the nearby Gare du Nord. They arrive with Diptyque bath amenities and plush carpets in orange, purple, and other retro tones. Superior room no. 602 offers street views from its windows under the eaves. There’s also a gym in a vaulted cellar.
Hotel C.O.Q.
- Location: Place d’Italie/Les Gobelins (thirteenth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: Tranquil local living in an untouristed area
- From $138
- Book now
The under-appreciated thirteenth arrondissement includes the hilltop Buttes-aux-Cailles district and the historic Gobelins tapestry factory. That is where the design-forward C.O.Q. opened in 2016. The hotel is from Hôteliers Impertinents, a small French hospitality group.
The 50-room C.O.Q. takes its name from “Community of Quality.” The moniker can also be a nod to the proud coq (rooster), an emblem of France, and a stuffed cockerel keeps watch over reception, while a courtyard garden has a chicken coop. With a colourful, carpeted lounge loaded with reading material, Hotel C.O.Q. has the texture of a family home in a Paris neighborhood that’s completely off the tourist map. There’s a relaxed and bohemian vibe making it an appealing place to linger. The room decor also contributes to this feel; think vintage furniture, oil paintings, decorative mirrors, and custom-designed wardrobes. C.O.Q. is family-friendly too, offering baby amenities on request and candy-filled jars on the reception desk. The lavish buffet breakfast showcases only French products, reminiscent of Alain Milliat jams, Poilâne bread, and locally roasted coffee by Terres de Café. Note: There’s no gym or wellness facilities.
Hotel Florida
- Location: Madeleine (eighth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: Vintage glamour and a full of life Mediterranean restaurant
- From $266
- Book now
This Haussmannian constructing on Boulevard Malesherbes has been a hotel because the early Twentieth century, hosting the likes of party-loving F. Scott Fitzgerald. It just got a glow-up courtesy of restaurateur-turned-hotelier Matthieu Dumas. The town’s reincarnated Hotel Florida opened in March 2024 after a three-year renovation. Designers took inspiration from the hotel’s art deco history and the neighborhood’s spirited Nineteen Seventies nightlife. It’s all brass and velour and geometric tiles and funky vintage finds.
A highlight is Nepita restaurant, a colourful ode to the Mediterranean by chef Amandine Chaignot (she was a culinary consultant for the Paris Olympics). You may’t go mistaken with the langoustine taglioni and salad Nicoise, as approved by enthusiastic regulars (it’s packed at midday for business lunches). Servers wear custom sneakers by Panafrica— you may pick up your personal pair within the lobby boutique, alongside the hotel’s bespoke scented candles. Upstairs, the 39 guest rooms have tropical leaf wallpaper, built-in bars with mix-your-own cocktails, and—in some rooms like no. 41 (Deluxe)—a green marble bathtub. For Eiffel Tower views, book certainly one of the 4 rooms on the seventh floor.
Hôtel Le Six
- Neighborhood: Montparnasse/Luxembourg Gardens (sixth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: Friendly service near the Luxembourg Gardens
- From $222
- Book now
The staff is a component of the charm of this 41-room hideaway named after the sixth arrondissement where it’s situated. Le Six is tucked on a quiet residential street between the Luxembourg Gardens and the famed corner of Montparnasse where artists and writers flocked to the cafés within the Twenties. (Le Select was certainly one of Hemingway’s favorites.) Jazz fills the lobby, which extends right into a glass-capped lounge flooded with natural light. Starting at 183 square feet within the classic category, rooms include Nespresso machines and L’Occitane amenities. Deluxe room no. 403, decorated with a leafy green wall mural above the king-size bed, is a top pick due to the balcony overlooking rue Stanislas. 4 suites are perfect for families, with a sitting area’s sofa bed for the children. An expansion is planned for the small subterranean spa, outfitted with a treatment room and hammam (privatized with each booking).
Hotel L’Eldorado
- Location: Batignolles (seventeenth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: An elegant and romantic retreat in a bistro- and bar-filled area
- From $220
- Book now
Removed from Paris tourist zones, the village-like Batignolles quarter has upped its cool cred recently with trendy bistros and bars full of local bobos. Daring and beau, the design-forward Hotel L’Eldorado debuted in 2023. Eye-catching wallpaper and a melange of antiques create the atmosphere of a Parisian home—with a beautiful garden. The hotel’s restaurant draws a trendy crowd for the well-executed French fare and the atmosphere: Chinoiserie-inspired wallpaper, partitions of porcelain plates, and a working fireplace in winter.
The 26 guest rooms also showcase boldly patterned wallpaper; the palette in no. 5 (the Suite Eldorado) reflects the hotel’s garden greenery, and the balcony offers Eiffel Tower views. The Garden Deluxe (no. 30), with floral wallpaper, has a toilet in green marble. Despite its small size, the L’Eldorado has a dedicated concierge to make it easier to discover the neighborhood; Montmartre and the famous Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market are inside walking distance.
Hôtel Monte Cristo
- Location: Gobelins/Mouffetard (fifth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: Inspired interior design, a destination bar, and a beautiful pool
- From $233
- Book now
To ascertain into the 50-room Hôtel Monte Cristo is to step into one other era. Like a cupboard of curiosities, a wall of exotic stuffed birds adorns the doorway, while the reception desk resembles an old apothecary lined with porcelain jars. Front and center is a portrait of creator Alexandre Dumas, whose novel The Count of Monte Cristo is the inspiration for the hotel’s interiors. The partitions of the Haydée junior suite, for instance, resemble an Oriental rug as a nod to the character’s Ottoman roots. Decor includes rattan armories handmade in India, Japanese lanterns, and objets d’art conjuring expeditions to faraway lands.
This hotel is the brainchild of the Hôteliers Impertinents. Before its 2018 opening, the Hotel Monte Cristo underwent a two-year construction project, adding two floors and making space underground for an excellent 55-foot pool and sauna. The tropical-feeling Bar 1802, with its wicker chairs, plants, and ceramic tiled bar, is France’s largest rum bar and features rare bottles.
Note that the pocket-size boudoir rooms on the highest floor include private balconies overlooking the fifth-arrondissement rooftops. This Left Bank location puts you inside walking distance of rue Mouffetard, the centuries-old market street, and sites of the Latin Quarter.
Hotel Windfall
- Neighborhood: Canal Saint-Martin (tenth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: Daring design and a full of life restaurant and bar popular with locals
- From $220
- Book now
When it opened nearly 10 years ago, Hotel Windfall quickly became a hangout for Parisians. This bijou 18-room retreat is the primary hotel for Pierre Moussié, a restaurateur behind trendy addresses just like the Brasserie Barbès and the Bouillon République. He teamed up together with his wife, Elodie Moussié, and friend Sophie Richard to remodel a Haussmannian townhouse on a quiet cobblestone street within the tenth arrondissement. Public spaces are thrumming with energy, from the breakfast café crème on the leafy terrace to the nightcap on the bar.
A design tour de force, the hotel has vibrant colours and antiques. The playful House of Hackney wallpaper lends an air of the English country house. Each room is finished in a distinct wallpaper, just like the bird print within the Deluxe (essentially the most requested room), and the green foliage in suite no. 62, the biggest room at 484 square feet. From the spacious bathroom, you may see the gleaming white dome of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. In-room amenities include a cocktail bar and a fridge stocked with local Demory beer and cans of wine. The staff go the additional mile—there’s even a dedicated concierge (Pauline) who helps guests experience town’s unique facets by arranging such activities as guided street art tours.
Hôtel Rochechouart
- Neighborhood: Pigalle/Montmartre (ninth arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: A restored 1920’s nightclub and a panoramic rooftop
- From $244
- Book now
On the history-filled, art deco–inspired Hotel Rochechouart, the favored Twenties Mikado nightclub was revived in 2022. Josephine Baker, Mistinguett, and other stars frequented the long-lasting joint within the Roaring Twenties, as did rocker Johnny Halliday within the Nineteen Sixties. The hotel’s Citrons et Huîtres seafood bar is known as for a Renoir still life; the artist used to color in a studio upstairs. Crowning the constructing is certainly one of town’s best rooftops, with a full 360-degree panorama of all of the Parisian monuments. These dining and drinking establishments forge the Hotel Rochechouart’s identity as an effervescent neighborhood hub, and it’s commonly booked for film screenings and fashion shoots.
The flagship for Orso Hotels, a bunch of seven Parisian boutique properties, the Hotel Rochechouart embraces an area ethos. For instance, breakfast ingredients come from the nearby Rue des Martyrs market street, and the lobby boutique collaborates with Parisian brands Maison Labiche and October Editions. The 105 guest rooms, starting with the Classic category (150 square feet), are decorated in earth tones with dark wood furniture and vintage brass lamps. Rooms on the seventh floor have Sacré-Cœur views.
Maison Armance
- Location: Place de la Concorde/Tuileries (1st arrondissement)
- Why we adore it: Elegant interiors create the texture of a non-public Parisian apartment
- From $288
- Book now
Hidden behind a teal-colored carriage entrance door on the rue Cambon, the road where Coco Chanel arrange her couture shop, the Maison Armance has the texture of a non-public Parisian pied-à-terre. This was the residence of French creator Stendhal within the nineteenth century, and later, as a hotel, hosted Serge Gainsbourg and Nina Simone. Take the elevator, or walk up the steps, to the sixth-floor reception area under the eaves. On this chic space, decorated with a marble fireplace and velvet chairs in midnight blue, you may see Paris rooftops through the windows.
The 20 guest rooms—resembling Parisian apartments with parquet floors, decorative wall moldings, and custom furniture—are unfolded on the highest floors of the residential constructing. Like Hôtel Brighton (cited above), Maison Armance is a component of the Esprit de France collection.
