Hotel Marais Bastille

In a classically Parisian building with
ornate, wrought-iron balconies, this hotel provides an intimate
base for couples, solo travelers, and families in a wildly trendy corner of the
city. The hotel’s small lobby is packed with brightly colored contemporary
furniture with retro lines set across light tiled floors. There are plenty of
cozy spots to linger with a coffee just off the lobby, including the hotel’s
“living room,” a wood-floored nook filled with objets
d’art, a comfortable sofa, and a small table looking
out onto a plant-filled (but seatless) courtyard. A computer for guest use can
be found in the Living Room along with newspapers and a small library, while
the breakfast room -- a blend of dark wood and soft green accents -- is a cozy,
light-filled space that’s a fine way to start the day.

On a tree-lined boulevard set within the
11th Arrondissement, the hotel is within walking distance of the legendary
nightlife of the Bastille and the trend-happy boutiques, cafes, galleries, and
cobblestoned streets of the Marais (a 10-minute walk west). The largest outdoor
market in Paris, Marche Bastille, takes place outside the hotel’s front door on
Thursdays and Sundays, featuring an array of food stalls and artisanal goods.
The closest metro stations are at Richard-Lenoir (a five-minute walk north) and
Bastille (a seven-minute walk south) for destinations like Montmartre, the
Musee d’Orsay, and the Louvre. Of course, Paris is built for walking, though
sights like Notre Dame and the Centre Pompidou will take 20 to 30 minutes to reach
by foot. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about 35 minutes northeast by taxi, or an
hour using RER trains and the metro, while Orly Airport can be reached using
the same trains in 40 minutes, a trip that takes 20 to 25 minutes by cab barring
traffic.

The Michel Jouannet-designed rooms here go
way beyond usual bland chain hotel standards, with industrial-chic elements and
contemporary comforts coming together to create a warm, inviting effect. Bright
jewel tone accents in throw pillows and ottomans complement striped carpets,
dark wood veneer furniture, and brightly painted ceilings. Heavy damask
curtains bring an intentionally antique vibe to the rooms, amplifying other
purposeful details like sliding bathroom doors that are mounted on exposed
industrial hardware. The vibe is loft-meets-bedroom, and comfortable twin or
queen beds sit between end tables with vintage light fixtures hanging on either
side. Snapshots from around Paris give the space a specific, local charm, and
some rooms either have windows that open out onto the street or small terraces
looking onto a park. All rooms include desks, safes,
mini-fridges with minibars, telephones, individually controlled
air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. However, the televisions in some
Standard Rooms are mounted adjacent to the beds; screens are thus hard to see as the
only real seating in the room is one retro-style chair on the opposite wall
(which is a single pull-out chair bed in larger Superior Rooms). Bathrooms have
contemporary gray tiles, marble vanities, Damana toiletries, and walk-in
showers or tub/shower combos with contemporary fixtures depending on category
of booking. (Keep in mind we did notice some dirty grout.) Guests should also know
that air-conditioning only works during certain months of the year. And though the street outside can be busy, rooms are well soundproofed, except of
course if the windows need to be opened to cool rooms down.

The
hotel’s Living Room and breakfast room are two of its best features, and both
are warm and inviting places to gear up for, or recover from, a day in Paris.
The breakfast buffet features hot and cold options, including some typically
American items like scrambled eggs, but isn’t included with bookings and can be
expensive. Breakfast can also be ordered in guest rooms, with room service available
during later hours from an off-site caterer. The hotel’s front desk is staffed
24 hours and can arrange bicycle, moto, and car rentals as well as tour
bookings and left-luggage service. Wi-Fi is free
throughout the property with laundry service also offered. Cribs are available free of charge for guests with small children.