Are you looking for an original hotel in Paris? Let’s face it, a LOT of hotels here can feel pretty generic, especially if it’s part of an international chain. If you’d like to steer clear of cookie-cutter places, then you’ll want to check out these quirky Paris hotels. Places created by famous fashion designers, one that floats on the Seine River and another that makes you feel like you’re sleeping on the Eiffel Tower, you definitely won’t have a boring stay at these super cool hotels.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image Courtesy of Secret de Paris via Booking.com
Secret de Paris, 9th Arrondissement
I instantly loved this eclectic boutique hotel when I visited it a few years ago. Located on the edge of the hip South Pigalle neighborhood, the hotel’s rooms have been cleverly designed to make you feel that you’re actually sleeping in some of Paris’s top monuments. Far from kitschy, the Musée d’Orsay room has a replica of the museum’s famous clocks, the Eiffel Tower room has sections of ironwork and walls featuring vistas of the city, and the Moulin Rouge room has a wall that looks like you’re inside the cabaret’s red windmill. Perfect for couples, some rooms have a double Jacuzzi tub and there’s also a small spa with a sauna and steam room for all guests. (WA)
Image Courtesy of OFF Paris Seine via Booking.com
OFF Paris Seine, 13th Arrondissement
This floating hotel is definitely among the most quirky Paris hotels. The glass-covered barge is docked off the banks of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement. It has 54 rooms and 4 suites, but I recommend spending a tad more to make sure you have a river-view room. This part of the 13th district is a start-up/tech hub in the city and is quite a cool Parisian secret where few tourists go, so it’s also a fantastic match if you’re looking for a more local experience. In addition to the hotel’s great restaurant and its lively bar, this stretch of the riverbank is lined with fun rooftop and barge bars that are popular with Parisians, especially when the weather is nice. (WA)
Image Courtesy of Le Bellechasse via Booking.com
Le Bellechasse, 7th Arrondissement
If you’d like to stay on the Left Bank, then this original hotel is a great option. Found near the Musée d’Orsay, the hotel was designed by fashion designer Christian Lacroix who took inspiration from the various arts, from painting and sculpture to literature and cinema. Rooms feature unique wallpaper with massive butterflies, Renaissance-era Italian paintings, or prints of old maps. It has a really pretty courtyard terrace where you can enjoy a drink and leaving the hotel you can amble through the charming back streets of the Saint-Germain neighborhood and its art galleries, antique stores, and design shops.
Image Courtesy of Chouchou via Booking.com
Chouchou, 9th Arrondissement
If a central location is important to you, consider this playful hotel in the Opera District. Right around the corner from the Opera Garnier, you can easily walk to many of Paris’s top attractions from the hotel, including the Louvre, the Palais Royal, Place Vendome, and the famous Galeries Lafayette department store. The hotel has a stylish carnival-like spirit – in a good way – with a large bar-restaurant with friendly sharing tables and funky lights. Rooms have a stylish contemporary look and some have record players and other cool amenities. They also have some single rooms, which makes it a great hotel in Paris for solo travelers. (WA)
Image Courtesy of 25Hours Terminus Nord via Booking.com
25Hours Terminus Nord, 10th Arrondissement
If you asked me a few years ago if I’d stay in this large hotel right across from the Gare du Nord train station, I’d have said no way. But the hotel has been wonderfully transformed into a cool boutique hotel. Its location makes it very convenient for travelers with early or late trains to London, Belgium, or the Netherlands. Gare du Nord also has AMAZING metro links, so that’s another advantage for getting around the city. Plus, it’s a short walk to the cool Canal St-Martin, the hip South Pigalle area, and Montmartre. Inside the hotel, the decor is inspired by the multicultural neighborhood around the station. You’ll find colorful African fabrics, quirky art objects, and some rooms have balconies or clawfoot bathtubs. (WA)
Image Courtesy of Vice Versa via Booking.com
Vice Versa, 15th Arrondissement
This is another Left Back hotel created by a well-known French designer, this time Chantal Thomass. She’s done up the rooms to chicly evoke the seven deadly sins, which I think definitely makes it one of the best quirky Paris hotels. For example, “pride” feels like you’re in an ancient Roman villa and is decked out in gold and marble statues while “lust” is all in pink and black and has sultry images. Situated in the local and safe 15th arrondissement, I think the hotel is a good fit for a surprise romantic getaway or repeat visitors to Paris. (WA)
Image Courtesy of La Fantaisie via Booking.com
La Fantaisie, 9th Arrondissement
Found between South Pigalle and Les Grands Boulevards, this whimsical hotel is like a burst of spring. Rooms feature floral wallpaper or framed floral prints and furniture are in pastel colors – but don’t worry, this “flower-power” isn’t over-the-top. It also has a leafy courtyard restaurant and a rooftop bar where you can sip a fabulous cocktail inspired by nature or try some garden-focused contemporary cuisine. (WA)
Image Courtesy of Hotel du Petit Moulin via Booking.com
Hotel du Petit Moulin, 3rd Arrondissement
Another creation of Christian Lacroix, this cozy boutique hotel is on a small side street in the North Marais. You might actually walk right by it because it’s hidden behind the facade of a former historic bakery, where it gets its name “the little mill”. Each of its 17 rooms was individually decorated by Lacroix, walls are plastered in murals of floral motifs, vintage art prints, or the night’s sky. The hotel is a fantastic base for exploring this hip district and its cool boutiques, contemporary art galleries, and modern coffee shops and restaurants. (WA)
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