Hotel Monsieur

Those who have stayed in Paris’ many intimate boutique hotels, will recognize Hotel Monsieur's approach. It's small, smart, and practical, with an air of elegant sophistication. Occupying a narrow six-story building with a cream-colored facade embellished with lintels, cornice details, and wrought-iron balconies, its exterior is classic Paris. Inside, light wood floors are paired with moody gray walls, sleek modern pendant lights, and elegant velvet upholstery in scarlet -- including the reception desk, with its deep-tufted velvet panels. The decor, especially in rooms, is inspired by the Mathurins theater, which is right down the street. The property makes clever use of Paris’ typically tight quarters, but there are only so many places to linger. Business travelers and couples visiting Paris are drawn by the excellent location and the hotel's double rooms, though suites here can accommodate families.

Hotel Monsieur sits on a lively street in the 8th Arrondissement, between the popular opera and shopping districts, just a four-minute walk from the Mathurins theater. The immediate neighborhood is somewhat business-oriented, but there are many restaurants, shops, and attractions that can be reached on foot from here. The Place de la Madeleine, a temple-like church built in honor of Napoleon's victories, is a six-minute walk away. The big department stores of Le Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are eight minutes away on foot, while the elegant shopping district of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré can be reached in about 10 minutes. The Palais Garnier, also known as the Paris Opera, is also a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Guests can walk to the Place de la Concorde, a major Parisian square, in under 15-minutes. 

The hotel's location is convenient for accessing public transportation, too. It's just a five-minute walk from Gare Saint-Lazare, a main rail hub that has regional trains and the metro lines 3, 12, 13, and 14. The closest metro station, St Augustin (line 9), is just a three-minute walk. By public transit, guests can get to the Moulin Rouge (15 minutes), the Louvre (20 minutes), the Arc de Triumph (20 minutes), and the Eiffel Tower (30 minutes). Charles de Gaulle Airport can be reached in under an hour via public transit.

As with the rest of the hotel, guest rooms are smart and sophisticated -- if small -- finished with luxe fabrics and high-end details. Rooms are individually decorated, but several stylish elements unite them, such as hardwood floors, wood wainscoting, red velvet drapes, and molded ceilings. Walls range from soft gray to sage green. Bathrooms are even more distinct, with red, black, or floral tiling and everything from rainfall shower stalls to combination showers and tubs with antique-inspired chrome fixtures.

Amenities reflect the hotel's upscale status with flat-screen TVs, minibars, electronic safes, and coffee/tea service with electric kettles, plus thoughtful details like gooseneck reading lamps attached to headboards. Bathrooms are equipped with hairdryers and Murdock toiletries. At just under 200 square feet, entry-level Deluxe Rooms are tight quarters (though not technically tiny by Paris standards). Suites top out at a nice 365 square feet. Upper-category rooms may add sitting areas, terraces, or sofa beds, and connecting rooms are available. 

While Hotel Monsieur is missing some features typical of a four-pearl property, it’s on par with the boutiques of Paris, where limited square footage means trade offs. Space is maximized where possible, such as the nice little corner in the lobby that makes itself useful as a drink station with mint and lemon water and free coffee available from an espresso machine. Two mini-fridges and a wine machine make up the honesty bar with wine, beer, and soda selections. A breakfast room off the lobby is small but stylish, serving a daily breakfast for a somewhat pricey extra fee, though the choices are decent: smoked salmon, sausages, fresh fruit, bread, cereal, and pastries.

The wellness facilities here, while limited and located in the basement, are a boon for a boutique property of this size. The petite, modern fitness room is equipped with just four pieces of cardio equipment, including an elliptical and a treadmill. There’s also a roomy hammam and a stylish two-person treatment room. Guests find staff service exceptional, with a concierge, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk. Wi-Fi is free, and dogs and cats are allowed, with restrictions, for no extra fee.