Hotel du Cadran

Renovated in 2018, Hotel du Cadran consists of two buildings: a six-story corner building on Rue du Champ de Mars (one short black from Rue Cler) and a sister annex a few steps around the corner, on Rue Valadon (formerly a separate hotel). Inside the main building, a modern boutique-style lobby sports a funky faceted reception desk, pink and round shelves that look like floating macarons, and several pieces of retro-inspired furnishings: low chairs covered in floral damask and gray velour fabric, and even a kidney-shaped sofa. Free copies of "The New York Times" and "Le Figaro" are laid out on a communal dining table. Guests can pour a glass of white or red from the lobby's self-serve wine machine and enjoy it on the street-side terrace, which is literally steps from the pedestrian-friendly market street, Rue Cler. The hotel's breakfast room, in an exposed-brick vaulted cellar, is surprisingly stylish with wood floors and cool molded chairs. Rooms, like many in Paris, are tiny, but there are interconnecting and triple units available, plus suites. With its stylish decor and proximity to the Eiffel Tower, the hotel tends to attract sightseeing couples mostly from the Americas, though corporate guests do stay here, as well.

Located on a small street in the 7th arrondissement, Hotel du Cadran is equidistant from the imposing Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, each about a 15-minute walk. Rue Cler -- a charming pedestrian shopping street where one can find produce stands, bakeries, butchers, cafes, and cocktail bars -- is about a 30-second walk down Rue du Champ de Mars. Many major tourist attractions are within walking distance from the hotel, such as Pont de l'Alma (a 12-minute walk away), Rodin Museum (15 minutes), Grand Palais (20 minutes), and the Musee d'Orsay (25 minutes). For sights farther out, the École Militaire metro stop (line 8) is a three-minute walk. Airport transfers can be arranged through the hotel. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about a 40-minute drive from the hotel, Orly Airport about 25.

Most of Hotel du Cadran's 53 rooms are located in the main building, which has 41 total rooms, including Standards and Superiors, plus one Junior Suite. The other 12 units -- 11 Triples and one Double -- are in the second building around the corner. 

Small hotel rooms are typical for Paris, but the ones here are really small. The entry-level Standard Rooms have queen-size beds but only measure about 140 square feet while Superiors add about 20 square feet of space. The Junior Suite is 270 square feet. What the rooms lack in elbow room, they make up for in interior design. Most of the stylish spaces feature black-and-gold carpeting, pale iridescent tiling on the walls, and oat-colored linen curtains. Large flat-screen TVs with international channels are mounted in front of the beds, which have pale-wood indented headboards and brushed-brass reading lamps. (Headboards extend across the ceilings in the Superior rooms, which also have enough space for a bedside chair.) Pull-down wall desks contain vintage-style Marshall Bluetooth speakers and Nespresso machines with free coffee. Minibars, free safes, USB ports, and free Wi-Fi are available in all rooms.

Bathrooms are compact but modern and come stocked with hairdryers and free individual toiletries. Standard and Triple rooms have walk-in showers, and Superiors and the Junior Suite have shower/tub combos. Connecting and triple rooms (between 172 and 194 square feet) are available for families or small groups. Most of the three-person units are located in the annex (formerly a separate hotel), which is not even a one-minute from the main building and has its own lobby area. One special room is set up like a small cottage behind the annex.

Like most mid-range Parisian hotels, this one has little in the way of extra property features, but the few it has adds to its charm. The hotel's 2018 renovation extended the main-building lobby, giving it suitable hangout space, with chairs, a sofa, and a communal table. A self-serve wine machine doles out reds and whites by the glass, which guests can take to the outdoor terrace. Behind the lobby is a business center with two computers and a printer, both of which are free for guests to use. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the hotel. 

The breakfast room is located in the hotel's vaulted cellar with exposed brick walls. The buffet is decent with a small but quality selection of standards like baguettes, cereal, pastries, cold cuts, and cheese.  Guests have the option of adding on breakfast when booking. Like most three-pearl properties in the area, there is no full bar or full-service restaurant, though there is an interesting wellness facility: as part of its 2018 renovation, the hotel built a private spa area on the ground-floor of the annex building. Hotel guests can book the entire space, which has a large jetted tub, a shower, and a skylit sauna. The spa can only be booked by hotel guests.

Reception is open 24 hours and staff can arrange for airport transfers or car service, childcare, or dry cleaning and laundry service.