Hotel National Des Arts et Metiers

Housed in two lovely Haussmannian buildings, Hotel National des Arts et Metiers combines traditional Paris flair with sleek, super-cool interiors by famous designer Raphael Navot. The lobby, which has a retractable glass roof, lush plants, and a mix of dark velvet sitting, soft woods, metal, and concrete has an industrial feel with a strong artisan inspiration. This swish style continues in the trattoria, Ristorante National, which features backlit crushed velvet benches in ice-blue hues, industrial-chic wooden tables, and leather, metal, and wood chairs. Herbarium cocktail bar has an even moodier aesthetic, with fluffy ottomans set around low wood-and-metal tables, black leather stools wrapping around a curved bar, and dark velvet benches along the wall. 

The hotel opened in mid-2017 and quickly became a local favorite for its design, vibe, and wonderful dining and drinking venues. The atmosphere is happening, especially on weekends, when lines for the restaurant and the cocktail bar are common. The 30-person rooftop bar, offering lovely views over the Parisian roofs, is another nightlife hotspot here and reservations are recommended. Room rates are high but on par with other upscale boutiques in the area.

Hotel National des Arts et Metiers has a coveted central location in the 3rd Arrondissement, between the Haut-Marais and Montorgueil neighborhoods. The main entrance is located on a pretty square home to the Saint-Nicolas des Champs church and a few shops, and there are plenty of wonderful restaurants, bars, and boutiques within a few blocks of the hotel. The property is also within a 20-minute walk of a number of major attractions, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Picasso Museum, the Louvre, the Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame cathedral, and the Palais Royal. The property is also within a five-minute walk of several metro stations, including Arts et Metiers, Reamur-Sebastopol, Rambuteau, and Etienne Marcel, which allows for easy access to the rest of Paris. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about 45 minutes via public transportation, while Paris-Orly Airport can be reached in about an hour.

Guest rooms have a similar aesthetic to common spaces, but they’re light-filled and have a slightly softer palette. Classic herringbone parquet floors tie in well with dark velvet easy chairs and black marble nightstands, while padded fabric headboards in gray hues, mod wooden chairs, and black shelves are contemporary touches that add style and character. Starting at 215 square feet, entry-level rooms are snug, but big windows offering either street or courtyard views along with off-white walls make spaces feel a tad roomier than they really are. Some units have Juliet-style or pretty balconies furnished with a couple of chairs, a table, and potted plants. 

An array of great standard amenities include Nespresso machines, wonderfully stocked minibars, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Larger units feature small sitting areas, but none have sofa beds for additional guests. Many, however, can be connected to other units in different categories to create two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites. The 1,076-square-foot Penthouse is the only room that features a bar area with basic cooking facilities and a dining table. Bathrooms are swish and moody across the board, equipped with black-and-white terrazzo accents, black stone sinks, large walk-in showers, and Racine toiletries in big, wall-mounted containers. Robes and slippers are also provided in all room categories. 

Since it opened in mid-2017, this hotel has become a popular hangout spot for locals, mostly due to its excellent dining and drinking venues. Ristorante National is the hotel’s main eatery, offering direct access both from the street and the lobby. It serves up a great breakfast spread (a la carte options are also available) along with traditional trattoria fare for lunch and dinner -- including homemade pastas, antipasti, fish, and meat dishes -- and Italian tapas to share. Weekend brunch is also available. Helmed by former perfumer Oscar Quagliarinin, the hotel’s wonderful cocktail lounge, Herbarium, offers world-class mixed drinks and a short menu of small plates. Cocktails are handcrafted based on botanical infusions, and patrons are offered small bottles of different scents -- just as they would in a high-end perfume shop -- to create their preferred mix. The rooftop lounge is another highlight here. The space, furnished with plush couches and full of plants, is only big enough for 30 guests, so reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends.

The Hotel National Des Arts et Metiers also features a small gym with a handful of basic cardio and strength-training machines that guests can use free of charge. A small spa room is available for body treatments and salon services by appointment, and there's some event space in the basement, complete with its own kitchen.