Convenient Latin Quarter location near public transport
In walking distance to Notre Dame and other top sights
Intimate boutique hotel with colorful and tastefully decorated interiors
Uncommon indoor pool, hammam, and terrace garden
Elegant contemporary accommodations, some with balconies
Minibars, flat-screen TVs, and loaner smartphones are standard in rooms
Common areas include a stylish lobby with honor bar
Free computer corner and free Wi-Fi throughout
Breakfast typically costs extra
On-site parking isn’t available
Situated on the Left Bank, not far from the Pantheon, this upper-middle-range boutique property pays homage to the City of Light through a subtle lantern theme that’s evident in both the hotel’s name and decor. Dotted with antique accents and dominated by original Nicolas Sénégas photographs, its 27 contemporary rooms look elegant; they're also nicely outfitted with minibars, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and even loaner smartphones. For some guests, though, the beautifully vaulted wellness zone -- complete with a hammam and rare indoor pool -- is the biggest draw. Those who’d trade such features for a historic ambiance can try the nearby Melia Colbert, housed in a 19th-century mansion.
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Scene
A boutique hotel for design-conscious vacationers
Lacking any Haussmannian flourishes, this six-story hotel looks bland from the outside. But its name -- together with the discrete lanterns hanging by the doorway offer a hint about what’s within -- namely a series of “illuminating” spaces created by Pierre Dubois and Aimé Cecil. Take the "très chic" lobby. A light panel made of tangerine-colored glass plus eye-popping armchairs in fuchsia and teal stand out against a neutral background, their mod style acting as a compelling contrast to assorted antiques (including two porthole-like window frames rescued from the dormer of a "grande maison" and now transformed into imposing mirrors). French photographer Nicolas Sénégas’ black-and-white mural of iconic Parisian street lamps bridges past and present while underscoring the hotel’s theme. The vast majority of guests here are couples on romantic getaways, eager to make the most of the hotel's Latin Quarter location.
Location
Near the Pantheon, in the popular Latin Quarter
Set slightly below grade on a narrow side street, about halfway between the Pantheon and the Seine, La Lanterne offers a convenient location for leisure travelers. Sights abound in this area: the Musée National du Moyen Âge and Luxembourg Gardens -- accessible on foot in 10 minutes or less -- being two notable examples. However, proximity to both bustling Boulevard Saint-Michel and the student-filled Sorbonne district means there are lots of interesting shops and eateries nearby too. When you’re ready to explore farther, the rest of the city can be easily reached via public transport. The Maubert-Mutualité metro station is a mere three-minute walk, while Cardinal Lemoine and Cluny-La Sorbonne are five minutes away.- Three-minute walk to Maubert-Mutualité Metro Station
Rooms
Well-equipped rooms with a refined contemporary look
Decor-wise the elegant guest rooms are more subdued and lack the punchy colors of the lobby, yet they continue to mingle old and new (picture comfortable, clean-lined furnishings offset by vintage "objets d’art"). The lantern theme is carried up as well, thanks to stylized bedside lights and Sénégas’ oversized lamppost photos, which create a focal point above the upholstered headboards. In terms of amenities, all rooms are air-conditioned and come with digital safes, minibars (stocked with French touches like Champagne and Perrier along with the usual sodas), coffee/tea-making supplies, flat-screen TVs tuned to international channels, and free Wi-Fi; moreover, each includes a free loaner smartphone with an unlimited 4G connection plus unlimited calling capacity within Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Some ground-floor Superior Rooms open onto the garden terrace, while top-floor Privilège-class accommodations add wee furnished balconies overlooking Parisian rooftops. The 377-square-foot suite (being more than twice the size of the smallest offerings here) has enough space for a separate seating area. Bathrooms across the board are done up in handsome cocoa-and-cream hues with Baroque-inspired accent tiles providing an extra bit of oomph. All feature an Italian shower or shower/tub combo (the suite boasts both) along with perks like magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, fluffy robes, and Anne Semonin toiletries. Note that the Latin Quarter location does have the potential to get noisy on weekends, but most guests find the rooms sufficiently soundproofed.
Features
An Instagramable indoor pool leads the list.
La Lanterne's standout feature is definitely its atmospheric pool -- a basement beauty poised beneath a vaulted stone ceiling with a super-sized mural of the lamp-lit Alexandre 3rd Bridge adorning one wall; adjacent to it, a steamy hammam and sensorial shower are icing on the cake. Guests who would rather relax with a drink can do so upstairs in the lobby bar, where beverages are available on the honor system. If you prefer kicking back outside, the property's tiny garden terrace provides a fresh-air alternative. Additional common areas include an iMac computer corner on the main level and a breakfast room downstairs. The latter has a stylish contemporary-meets-classic look with Murano chandeliers above, a playful tiled “carpet” below, and plenty of decorative lanterns. Note that the hot-and-cold breakfast buffet laid out there each morning costs extra and other meals aren’t offered; light bites, however, can be delivered to your room until late at night. Among the other on-site features are a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff; concierge and dry-cleaning/laundry services; free newspapers in lobby; and free Wi-Fi throughout.
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