the best 4-star hotels in Paris

Maison Favart

The pitch? In the Vivienne district, a 10-minute walk from the famous Paris Opera, this 4-star hotel is nestled on a peaceful square in the heart of the capital's 2nd arrondissement, away from the hustle and bustle of the Grands Boulevards. Decorated in eighteenth-century style, the charming hotel pays homage to Justine and Charles Favart, former owners of the premises and a prolific theatrical couple. Charles, a playwright and director of the Opéra Comique, contributed to the fame of vaudeville in  the 18th century.

The hotel? Designed in a typically Parisian style by the architectural duo Laurent & Laurence, the hotel tells its guests a romantic and artistic story right from the lobby, with its stone-walled common areas, upholstered armchairs, pastel shades from almond green to powder pink, not forgetting its lounge library featuring a roaring fire. A stylistic exercise in Baroque frivolity and modern comfort, the decor of the 39 rooms and suites combines curiosities, luxurious fabrics and the spirit of a family home. Divided into 5 categories, the alcoves resemble an opera stage set, adorned with taffeta, passementerie, thick velvet, silk, satin and toile de Jouy curtains. Some offer the privilege of a courtyard balcony, while others boast a first-rate view of the Opéra Comique. All rooms have a unique layout, with a modern, attic or boudoir feel.

The real gem of the hotel, the 75 m² La Petite Maison comprises two apartments overlooking the Place Boieldieu and the Opéra Comique. Comprising two bedrooms, two lounges, a dining room and two marble bathrooms with Jacuzzis, the independent maisonette is a vibrant tribute to Charles Favart's passion for drama, song and dance.

What makes the difference? On the lower floor, under stone vaults, residents can enjoy a fitness room with a triptych of cardio exercises, a sauna and a swimming pool with waterfall and water jets in the heart of Paris. The wellness area can be booked for an hour of absolute peace and quiet. Every afternoon, a snack is served to residents.

Good to know? Near the Grands Boulevards, Opéra Garnier and Opéra Comique, the hotel on rue de Marivaux is a five-minute walk from Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, ideal for a shopping trip in the capital.

Maison Favart
39 keys, from €300 per night.
5 Rue de Marivaux, 75002 Paris

Hôtel des Grands Boulevards

The most talked-about address of 2018! On the Grands Boulevards, the Experimental Group, known for its cocktail bars and trendy restaurants in Paris, London and Ibiza, has struck again, transforming an old private mansion from the late 19th century into a new-generation boutique hotel. Here, everything has been designed to make guests and Parisians feel at home: luminous rooms decorated by Dorothée Meilichzon (almost a regular designer with the Expé gang), attentive but relaxed service, a trendy restaurant with a menu by Italian chef Giovanni Passerini, a rooftop open in summer and winter (The Shed) and a cocktail bar, the signature of the Experimental Cocktail Club.

What makes the difference? This hotel stand out is its lively atmosphere at any time of day, thanks to its bars and restaurant.

Good to know? Although located in one of Paris's noisiest districts, the hotel remains an absolute haven of peace, thanks to its excellent soundproofing.

Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
From 160€.
17 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002 Paris

Square Louvois Hotel

A chic, confidential address nestled in a sober building in the 2nd arrondissement, Square Louvois Hotel cultivates unostentatious luxury. As soon as you enter the lobby, you leave the hustle and bustle of Paris behind. Sober colors, dark parquet floors, copper, brass and warm materials (leather, felt, wood) shape a decor that's both discreet and sophisticated. In each of the 50 rooms, you'll find the same soothing atmosphere, bedding and amenities worthy of the finest 5-star hotels!

What makes the difference?

• A swimming pool with the air of a natural spring, whose stone vaults are the setting for a warm wellness area with fitness room, herbal tea room and hydromassage bench.
• The lounge-library, with its ubiquitous books, is the perfect place to immerse yourself in literary Paris without leaving the hotel.

Square Louvois
From 180€.
12 Rue de Louvois, 75002 Paris

Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers

Designed by Samy Marciano, also behind the highly successful Bachaumont, the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers opened its doors in 2018. Just a stone's throw from Montorgueil and Marais, not far from République, the seven-storey building features 66 rooms and four suites, all decorated by designer Raphael Navot: terrazzo, granite, raw steel and retro furniture. Not to mention a solid food and beverage offering focused on transalpine gastronomy, with an Italian restaurant (Le Ristorante National), a cicchetteria (La Cicchetteria National), and a cocktail bar (L'Herbarium).

What makes the difference? The rooftop is home to one of the capital's most confidential rooftops. the rooftop is open to a maximum of 30 people, from 6pm to midnight on weekdays, and from 3pm on weekends, by reservation only.

Good to know? On the top floor, a magnificent Penthouse, designed as a Parisian apartment, with lounge and private terrace.

Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers
From 170€.
243 Rue Saint-Martin, 75003 Paris

Le Ballu

In the heart of New Athens, between the department store district and Pigalle, a couple with a passion for architecture have opened Le Ballu, a "comic-book" hotel with multiple inspirations, from Tintin's imaginary Syldavia to the Eastern Europe of the 1960s. On the upper floors, 37 rooms are decorated in a colorful vintage spirit: a deep color palette, clear lines in a nod to Hergé, Slavic furniture and magnificent terrazzo in the bathrooms. On the first floor, a restaurant with a bistro-style menu by Michaël Riss, and in the basement, a swimming corridor and spa... inspired by the design of 1960s Russian baths, of course!

What makes the difference? The green terrace, where breakfast is served amidst plants and shrubs.

Good to know? The spa and swimming corridor can be made private on request.

Le Ballu
From €180 per night.
30 Rue Ballu, 75009 Paris

25hours Hotel Paris Terminus Nord

The first French address for the German brand 25hours, which is omnipresent in German-speaking Europe (Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Hamburg...) and has become one of the benchmarks for contemporary, trendy design hotels. At the 25hours Paris Terminus Nord, you'll enter a world in tune with a particularly cosmopolitan neighborhood, a blend of Parisian, Indian and African influences right opposite the Gare du Nord, Europe's busiest train station. The warm, colorful rooms offer comfort specially designed for a young, urban and connected clientele (ultra-fast Wi-Fi!). Lovers of Middle Eastern cuisine can dine at NENI, the restaurant of Israeli chef Haya Molcho, before enjoying explosive cocktails at SAPE Bar.

What makes the difference? The offbeat approach and maximum efficiency, like the Grab & Go breakfast offered every morning to even the busiest guests.

Good to know? Every month, the Live at 25 event features a concert, show or happening.