Hotel Saint-Marc

Despite the Hôtel Saint-Marc’s appeal to corporate travelers—it even has a partnership with the nearby Facebook France office—special effort has been put into its look, so it can’t be dismissed as just a business hotel. Designed by an Italian agency, the hotel’s Art Deco interiors feature boldly colored sofas, geometric-patterned drapes, and metallic coffee tables and chairs enveloped by lavender walls. Two lounges, including an outdoor cobblestoned patio under a veranda, offer lots of comfortable seating in quiet spaces. The area is especially popular in the afternoons when free hot beverages and pastries are offered. With its tasteful balance of retro and chic, the hotel’s aesthetic easily attracts tourists as well. 

Situated on a quieter back road of the Bourse business district, surrounded by office buildings, banks, and agencies, the hotel is a prime option for guests traveling for work—the Cloud Business Center is just a four-minute walk away—but tourist attractions are also easy to reach. The historic Opéra Comique is an eight-minute walk away, while the Palais-Royal is an 11-minute walk away. The Louvre is 15 minutes away on foot. Other Paris hot spots can be reached using the metro stations; there are two within a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe are 20 minutes away via public transport. The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral take 30 minutes to reach by train. Charles du Gaulle Airport is an hour away by either car or public transport.

The hotel’s Art Deco-inspired theme continues in its rooms, which are richly color-blocked, with patterned curtains and granite desks. Mirrored headboards and suede armchairs add to the trendy vibe, but guests have noted that all the deep colors and lack of lighting in the cabinets makes the spaces feel dark. Views of the city streets are pleasant but unexceptional. Patio-facing rooms are quiet, but street side rooms can be subjected to a bit of construction noise.Rooms vary in size, from 204-square-foot Superior Rooms to larger Executive, Deluxe, and Prestige Rooms, and all come with double beds; twin beds must be requested in advance. Suites have additional sofa beds in their living areas. Extra beds come with extra fees. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with Bluetooth speaker functions, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Minibars and electric kettles are provided, and rooms at the Executive level and above also have Nespresso machines. Ironing equipment can be requested, and routers can be rented for reasonable per-day fees. Bathrooms, though also dark, are sleekly outfitted in black and white tiles and stainless steel fixtures. Superior and Executive bathrooms have walk-in showers with both handheld and rainfall showerheads. Higher-tier bathrooms have shower/tub combos with handheld showerheads. Hairdryers and Hermes toiletries are provided in all bathrooms. 

While there’s no restaurant on-site, breakfast is served for a fee in a breakfast room furnished with emerald suede club chairs and metallic countertops. The full spread includes a solid range of pastries, fruit, cereals, meats, cheeses, salads, yogurts, and hot and cold beverages. An express breakfast, which includes two mini pastries and a drink, is also available at lower rates for guests on the go. The hotel’s honor bar, open from late afternoons through evenings, offers alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in a self-serve setup. Both breakfast and honesty bar items are also available for room service.The small indoor pool, spa, and hammam-style steam room are unusual but welcome extras for a boutique hotel in the middle of Paris, and can be reserved for private one-hour slots for free. Beauty, facial, and body treatments at the spa are reasonably priced, with free herbal teas on offer, and can be booked as in-room sessions as well. The hotel’s other amenities include a cloakroom with a shower for use during transit. In the absence of a business center, the front desk assists with printing and scanning. Free phone adaptors can be rented and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.