Hotel Touraine Opera

The Hotel Touraine Opera is housed in a seven-floor building with potted flowers in the lower-level front windows. The low-ceilinged lobby is a modern, fairly nondescript space given a jolt of energy with its vibrant orange wallpaper, sofas, armchairs, and lampshades. Guests gather here to read French and international newspapers, work on their laptops, and sip drinks from the 24-hour honesty bar. There's an attractive breakfast room in the basement with a stone barrel-vaulted ceiling that's atmospheric for some and a bit claustrophobic for others. The hotel draws budget-minded leisure travelers to its affordable rates and choice location near shopping, dining, and sights. A fair number of business travelers also make their way here. 

The Hotel Touraine Opera has a prime Right Bank location, situated on a side street in the 9th Arrondissement. It's a bustling neighborhood with major department stores and flagships of popular chains, restaurants, cafes, and top sights. It's also close to public transportation, just a three-minute walk or less from three line 12 metro stations. The Gustave Moreau Museum is a four-minute stroll from the hotel, the Fragonard Perfume Museum and Galeries Lafayette department store is five minutes on foot, and the Palais Garnier opera house and Printemps department store are roughly a 10-minute walk. Rue de Rivoli shopping, the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, and eastern end of the Champs-Elysees are all 15 minutes away by metro. Saint Lazare Train Station is five minutes by taxi or a little less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and Charles de Gaulle Airport is 30 minutes to an hour (depending on traffic) by car or 45 minutes by RER train. 

Guest rooms at Hotel Touraine Opera have a functional, contemporary look. Neutrals are invigorated with splashes of orange, red, purple, or light blue in the walls and trim, bedding is all-white, and Paris-themed art or photography accents walls. Units are well-maintained, windows open to fresh air, and noise is generally not an issue. Standard amenities are a plus, with AC, desks, flat-screen TVs, lightly stocked minibars, electric kettles with free tea and instant coffee, and free Wi-Fi. Many of the bathrooms are bit snug, and have small showers with curtains or shower/tub combos, and limited counter space around the sink. All have hairdryers, and colorful, playfully packaged toiletries. 

The Touraine Opera offers a limited lineup of property amenities, with the breakfast buffet (fee for most bookings) as the highlight. Served in a cellar with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, the breakfast features scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and an excellent variety of cold items, with the spread drawing mostly praise from previous guests. A less expensive express menu of cold items is also available, and continental breakfast can be ordered to guest rooms at no additional charge. A 24-hour lobby honesty bar offers espresso, cold beverages, and snacks for purchase, and room service with light fare is available in the evening. There is no full-service restaurant, but many dining options are in the area, and also no gym on-site. The hotel does offer a public computer and printer, luggage storage, and 24-hour front desk with tourist assistance. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. The Touraine has no on-site parking, but nearby public parking is available for a hefty fee. There's a Velib (Paris bike-share) station in front of the hotel, and they’re a nice way to get around the city.