Hotel Les Jardins de Montmartre

The drab concrete building isn't much to look at from the outside, but once inside, the hotel has gone above and beyond with the “green” concept, and with a name like Les Jardins (the gardens), perhaps it's no surprise that the decor here is plant-centric. Entered from the street through a small glass door, the walls and staircase of the small lobby are painted multiple shades of green, punctuated by bright red doors and neon pink wall art. The reception desk is covered with a large, blown-up photograph of blades of grass, while a huge canvas covered in moss and ferns is mounted behind the desk. There is no lounge or lobby, but a tiny elevator (or stairs lined with photo-realist stone carpeting) takes guests to higher floors. The breakfast area, though devoid of windows, is bright and set with clear vinyl chairs and tables that feature still more prints of plants and leaves. There are no other public areas in the hotel and the clientele is predominantly tourist couples, though a few families, business travelers, and solo travelers pass through. 

This hotel sits at the bottom of the Montmartre hill on a wide, tree-lined avenue in the 9th Arrondissement of northern Paris. The hotel is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and cafes, and a 15-minute walk up hill leads the striking Sacre Coeur Basilica and the hyper-photogenic street scenes around Place du Tertre. The famous Moulin Rouge is a bit of a hike from here, and takes 20 minutes to reach on foot, though the Jules Joffrin Metro station is a three-minute walk from the hotel entrance and offers easy access to other districts and attractions in Paris. Trips by metro can be made to the Louvre in 30 minutes, Notre Dame in 35 minutes, and the Eiffel Tower in 45 minutes. Trains for destinations across northern Europe and France depart from Gare du Nord train station, 15 minutes away by Metro, while Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport are both 30 minutes to an hour away by taxi depending on traffic. Both airports can also be reached using metro and RER trains in around an hour.

The garden theme continues in the rooms, with colors and decor based on the four seasons, ranging from hot pink and green Spring Rooms to blue and gray Winter Rooms. The decor may be over the top for some guests, as large photographic murals depicting various flora are mounted over the duvet-covered beds with bed runners and throw pillows that match the rooms' color schemes. Accent walls also play off of the murals' predominant seasonal color, like olive green and siena wallpaper in Summer Rooms, and carpets throughout resemble blades of grass or autumn leaves in an almost photo-realistic way. Many rooms are small (starting at 161 square feet, or 15 square meters) and all have a small table or desk with clear vinyl chairs, a flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, coffee/tea-making facilities, and free Wi-Fi access, which is slow in some rooms. Compact and clean en-suite bathrooms are modern and have sculptural white leaf-patterned walls and small vanities; less expensive rooms have an extremely narrow stand-up shower while others have tubs with a hand-held showerhead. There is no air-conditioning in any guest room and street noise may be an issue in lower-level street-facing rooms. 

Like many mid-range hotels throughout Paris, there aren't many features here -- there is no parking, business center, or proper restaurant on site. The hotel does offer a buffet breakfast with fresh cheese, meats, yogurt, and pastries, many of which are organic, though it is not included with all bookings. Guests may also take breakfast in their room for an additional fee. There is a free daily tea time in the evening with coffee, tea, and pastries. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the hotel, though it can be spotty, and the hotel can arrange airport transfers for a fee.