Hotel Eugene en Ville

The hotel uses an imaginary ‘whimsical dandy’ called Eugene as its inspiration, with his personality brought to life through the decor, which is best described as industrial-Baroque. Gray features heavily, from pinstripe carpets and classical geometric wallpaper to warehouse-style metal staircases. Ornate mirrors and quirky artwork adorn the lobby walls. Decorative plates of monocled cats alongside shelves of top hats may sound like it borders on the ridiculous, but here it sets off the overall look well and there’s a charm about the place. Dim lighting and curio-laden bookcases add to the seductive atmosphere. The hotel appeals to tourist couples looking for an affordable upscale city break at a characterful, design-led base, plus the occasional business traveler.

Hotel Eugene en Ville sits on a typical Paris side street in the 9th Arrondissement, just off Rue La Fayette, with plenty of tourist-friendly restaurants, cafes, and bars nearby. The closest attractions are the Palais Garnier opera house and the upmarket department store, Galeries Lafayette, around a ten-minute walk away. For travelers keen to explore Paris on foot, Montmartre, Basilica Sacre Coeur, and the Louvre can be reached in a 20-minute walk or an equally length cab ride. Two metro stations, Le Peletier and Cadet, are two and five minutes (respectively) away on foot for reaching farther destinations like the Musee d'Orsay (25 minutes) or the Eiffel Tower (35 minutes). The Gare du Nord is a 15-minute walk away and is particularly handy for guests traveling to Paris by Eurostar. Charles de Gaulle Airport takes 40 minutes to reach by taxi, depending on traffic, or around an hour by train. Orly Airport takes the same amount of time to reach by train.

Rooms are typically Parisian in size; on the small side, starting at 150 square feet (14 square meters). The gray color scheme is accentuated with silver, black, and white details, and the overall look ranges from whimsical -- with trompe-l’oeil bookcases -- to dramatic -- with heavily embossed dark walls. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, comfy large beds, damask curtains, white duvets, and crisp cotton linens. Basic tech is covered with a flat-screen TV, iPod dock, and free-but-patchy Wi-Fi, and coffee- and tea-making facilities are available. Stylish bathrooms are separated from the sleeping area by a dividing curtain and have designer sinks and heated towel rails. Classic Rooms have a walk-in rainfall shower, while Superior Rooms have a shower/tub combo, and all include robes, hairdryers, and upmarket toiletries. Toilets are housed in a separate cubicle. The Superior Rooms with Terrace have a large terrace, which is rare to find in Paris and well worth the upgrade in warmer months. Traffic noise can be heard in some street-facing rooms, particularly on the lower floors. 

The street-level La Cantine D’Eugene is the hotel’s sole feature. The decor here is some of the most formal in the hotel, with exposed pendant lights dangling from the dark, heavily embossed ceiling. But the atmosphere is relaxed, with long, communal tables and travelers enjoying long, lazy wine- and cheese-fueled soirees. It’s best to face away from the huge TV screen broadcasting cycles of promo material, which unnecessarily dominates the room. For breakfast (at a fee), there’s the choice of a simple croissant and hot drink, or a more extensive buffet. It’s a notch above the average buffet, with smoked salmon, a choice of water (still or sparkling, using the hotel’s own filtering process) and milk (soy, regular), but no cooked options. At the bar, there’s a good selection of regional wines and Champagne. It’s worth noting that food service stops early on selected days -- an honor bar remains available for drinks. There’s no gym or spa at the hotel. Massages can be arranged in-room and 24-hour room service is offered. There is free Wi-Fi, but previous guests note that it’s unreliable and sometimes disappears completely.