Set in
picturesque and trendy Le Marais area
10 minutes' walk
from the Pompidou Center
Superbly executed old-meets-new interior design
Pleasant
breakfast room serving French crepes
Attractive guest rooms with wood floors and flat-screen TVs
Fitness room and
sauna
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Some rooms are
tiny
Breakfast costs extra
The Hotel Jacques
de Molay is a mid-range boutique hotel set in the picturesque and increasingly
trendy Le Marais neighborhood of central Paris. Interiors convey a superb renovation that retains much of the feel of the older building -- including exposed beams and stone walls -- with fresh contemporary styling. Some of the 23 guest rooms are tiny, but all are nicely decorated with matte wood floors and soothing tones, with touches of deep purple or silver. Fitness facilities and a sauna are unexpected bonuses for this type of Parisian hotel, and while rates aren't cheap, it's a pretty good
value for the area. Cheaper but not quite as swish alternatives include the nearby Hotel Beaumarchais and Hotel Alhambra.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Superb meld of original ancient features with snazzy 21st-century styling
Although named
after the last Master of the Knights Templar who used to inhabit the nearby
fortress, there's little from the relatively plain exterior to hint at the
Jacques de Molay hotel's centuries-old heritage. Stepping inside, however,
guests are immediately met with the building's original, ancient timber beams
and lattices and 400-year-old stone walls -- all wonderfully melded with
sharp 21st-century touches and smart contemporary furnishings, including angular black-framed mirrors, and low-lying minimalist couches and chairs in stark white and bold violet. The creative and
tasteful 2013/14 renovation of the property is evident throughout, where old
and the new are elegantly juxtaposed and discreetly lit, creating a moody,
medieval ambience presented with sophisticated, modern flair. The property draws a mix of tourists, and business travelers drawn to the cozy meeting room with stone walls.
Location
Historic and trendy Le Marais location within walking distance of Pompidou Center
The hotel is
located on a narrow street in the historic and increasingly trendy Marais
neighborhood of Paris in the city's central 3rd arrondissement. Although the
area is fairly un-touristy, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and galleries
within easy walking distance -- the Pompidou Center, which houses the Beaubourg
Museum of Modern Art, is 10 minutes away on foot. The capital's city center
tourist attractions such as the Louvre and Notre Dame are easily accessible in about 20 minutes via
several nearby Metro stations all within five minutes' walk -- including Arts et Métiers. The Gare du Nord
Eurostar terminal is also just a few stops -- 20 minutes -- away from the République Metro,
three blocks from the hotel.
Rooms
Funky revamped rooms with original period features -- though some are tiny
The 2013
renovation revamped all the hotel's 23 rooms with jazzy contemporary styling
combining plush, faux-reptile fabrics, leather headboards, and funky patterned
wallpaper. Parts of the original building can be seen, with exposed beams in
some rooms, while this can also mean low-ceilings as well as a few
particularly small rooms (even for Paris). In-room amenities include stocked minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Modern bathrooms have muted wood floors and textured walls, and provide hairdryers and high-end bath
products; some have shower/tub combos with rain showerheads, while smaller rooms have stall showers. Two top-floor rooms also have Juliette balconies with pleasant Paris
rooftop views.
Features
Unexpected and unusual addition of fitness room and sauna
Pretty unusual
for a hotel of this ilk, there is a relatively good-size fitness room with free
weights and exercise machines, as well as a sauna. Petit dejeuner is served in a
pleasant breakfast room with a lovely domed skylight, and includes French crepes
and macaroons (though is generally not included in the rate). However, Wi-Fi is
free of charge throughout the property, and scooters are available for guest use.
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