Hôtel Bradford Elysées - Astotel

This classic 19th-century building was part of the renovation of Paris ordered by Napoleon III that dispensed with crowded hovels and erected palatial structures on the newly widened avenues. The Bradford Elysees -- part of the Astotel group, with 17 hotels in Paris -- was originally built as a private residence, and its elegant interiors are decorated with portraits of its namesake family. A 2015 renovation updated its interiors in a modern palette of light-gray molded walls and dark-wood furnishings with muted pastel accents. Many antique pieces remain, and the parquet wood floors show just the right amount of wear. An antique cage elevator -- which survived the renovation -- services the six-story building, running through the center of its central open staircase.

Located in the 8th Arrondissement, about an eight-minute walk to the Champs Elysees, the Bradford Elysees is within walking distance of a number of restaurants (and a delicious bakery), as well as Paris' famous shopping district on Avenue Montaigne and the Faubourg Saint Honore. The neighborhood is in the heart of business and tourist activity, with couture boutiques on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, and a host of international embassies and presidential palaces nearby. The Saint-Philippe-du-Roule metro station is a three-minute walk from the hotel, and the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay are about a 15-minute trip on public transportation. The Grand Palais and the Arc de Triomphe are about a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and the Eiffel Tower is a 24-minute trip on public transportation. The lovely Parc Monceau is a 13-minute walk north of the hotel. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about a 50-minute drive or an hour via public transportation. Orly Airport is about a 40-minute drive.

The Bradford Elysees - Astotel's 50 rooms got a full renovation in 2015, while still retaining decorative nods to 19th-century Paris, with elegant chandeliers, paintings in antique frames, and wall mirrors with gilded patinas. Diamond-patterned carpets pair with dark-wood furniture and flashes of red. Standard Rooms have small desks and chairs, along with armchairs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard along with flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, minibars, and kettles, but there are no coffeemakers. Slightly larger Superior Rooms add love seats, and Deluxe Rooms have sitting areas with paired armchairs and a small table. Bathrooms are modern, with heated towel racks, well-lit vanities, and shower/tub combos with dual showerheads. Some rooms have architectural echoes of the original house, such as decorative marble fireplaces, while others have Juliet balconies. Some rooms on the sixth floor offer a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower on the other side of the Seine.

Retaining the intimacy of a boutique property, the hotel has a stylish lounge bar decorated with bird cages and striped wallpaper with an atrium ceiling, where free soft drinks and snacks are available every afternoon. A breakfast buffet of hot and cold items, including scrambled eggs, ham, and smoked salmon is served daily in a bright dining room. There are no fitness or spa facilities, and no business center. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.