Hotel Astoria – Astotel

Part of the Astotel hotel chain, the Hotel Astoria Opera - Asthotel Paris sits amid two cream-colored Haussmann town houses with classic details like ornamental lintels, wrought-iron balconies, and top dormer windows. Like other hotels in the Astotel chain, the Hotel Astoria Opera's offers bright, witty, modern decor. In the lobby lounge, modern square armchairs are upholstered in powder-blue fabric and finished with cherry-red cushions. Details like mounted cardboard deer heads and maps add a dose of whimsy. The style continues into the breakfast room, which has natural wood floors accented with a blue-and-gray circular rug, a partial glass roof that floods the room with natural light, and bright translucent chairs in neon orange and green. The hotel draws mostly tourists, especially couples, but its Single Rooms attract solo travelers, and its Triple Rooms and Apartments cater to families and groups of friends traveling together.

Hotel Astoria Opera sits slightly beyond the hectic bustle of central Paris in a lively area on the northern edge of Paris' 8th Arrondissement. The area is known for its music stores, and the hotel sits within walking distance of restaurants, bars, shops, and public transportation. Rome (line 2) is the nearest metro station, which is a two-minute walk from the hotel, while the Europe stop (line 3) is a seven-minute walk. The Gare Saint-Lazare, one of Paris' main train and metro hubs and a popular shopping center, is a nine-minute walk from the hotel. The Gare Saint-Lazare hosts SNCF, TGV, and RER Line E trains, in addition to metro lines 3, 12, 13, and 14. Guests can walk to several attractions in about 20 minutes or less, including the Opera Garnier and Moulin Rouge. The metro can take guests into central Paris in about 20 minutes, and most major attractions are reachable in a half hour or less. Via public transportation, the hotel is about an hour from both Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports.

• 11-minute walk to Parc Monceau
• 13-minute walk to the Moulin Rouge
• 16-minute walk to Galeries Lafayette
• 18-minute walk to Palais Garnier
• 15 minutes to Champs Elysées via public transportation
• 15 minutes to Sacre-Cœur via public transportation
• 18 minutes to L'Arc de Triomphe via public transportation
• 25 minutes to Musee d'Orsay via public transportation
• 30 minutes to the Eiffel Tower via public transportation
• 30 minutes to Notre Dame Cathedral via public transportation
• 35 minute drive to Charles de Gaulle Airport
• 50-minute drive to Orly Airport

While the Hotel Astoria Opera's 86 rooms are on the small side, they are stylish and modern with playful globe- and polka-dot patterned wall-to-wall carpeting, white walls and baby-blue accent walls behind the beds, white furniture, and gray upholstered headboards and accents finished with a sunburst pattern. Drapes are color blocked in blue and gray, and lamps have red accents. Higher-category rooms might have white molded desk chairs or felted gray ottomans. Bathrooms are fully tiled in gray and include granite sinks and shower/tub combos.

All rooms include air-conditioning, desks and chairs, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, wardrobe space, mini-fridges, and safes. Bathrooms provide hairdryers and individual toiletries. Irons and ironing boards are available on request. There are no in-room coffee- or tea-making facilities, but free coffee and tea are available in the breakfast room most of the day.

Rooms include Standard Singles (130 square feet), Standard and Superior Doubles or Twins (150 to 170 square feet), Triples (205 square feet), and Apartments with two connecting rooms that can sleep up to three. Rooms face the street and the courtyard, and their double-glazed windows shield guests from most exterior noise.

The Hotel Astoria Opera has no restaurant, bar, or gym -- its major draw is its bright and witty decor. The lobby lounge offers a cozy place to sit and read its small selection of  books and brochures. The breakfast room, with its partial glass roof that lets in lots of natural light, is also pleasant. Breakfast, which is included in some packages, offers hot and cold items like eggs, bacon, pastries, fruit, and cheese. Guests can have breakfast delivered to their rooms. The breakfast room serves as a snack bar during the day, with a free "open bar" consisting of non-alcoholic drinks, including  coffee and tea, and soda, and muffins, desserts, and other small bites. 

The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, and staff will assist with laundry and dry cleaning, luggage storage, and recommendations. Wi-Fi is free throughout.