Le 55 Montparnasse Hotel

Surrounded by numerous stores, cafes, and bakeries, Le 55 Montparnasse Hotel blends into its neighborhood. As guests enter through the glass automatic doors, they'll find the front desk tucked into the right side of the beige tile-floor lobby, and a seating area with leather chairs to the left. There's a small lobby bar, and a vending machine stocked with snacks, as well as a coffee-serving station. Newspapers and travel brochures are available for guests to peruse. A small elevator, which might pose a challenge for large groups traveling with lots of luggage but is nonetheless a welcome addition, sits a few steps up from the lobby. The overall decor leans more toward the functional than the warm and cozy, not unlike which would be found in a budget chain hotel stateside. The breakfast room, with an exposed brick wall, spectacular plant shielded window, and a buffet bar of fruit, cereals, and yogurt, offers a refreshingly warm respite.

On the corner of Rue de Plaisance and the busy Rue Raymond Losserand, the hotel sits in the heart of a true Parisian neighborhood, surrounded by numerous stores, cafes, and bakeries -- guests can grab breakfast and midday treats at Votre Artisan, which is next door to the hotel. At the southern end of the Left Bank, the hotel is not within walking distance of major sights -- aside from the Tour Montparnasse, with great views from the top -- but Pernety metro station (Line 13) is a block away, and connects to the Champs Elysees, the Opera area, and the Porte de Vanves flea market, which is two stops away in the opposite direction from the others. 

Standard Rooms, which offer either full- or twin-size beds at opposite ends, are small. Top-floor rooms have slanting walls, which further reduce the already tight spaces. Larger family rooms include king-size beds, and twin beds in alcoves. The Superior Balcony Room has a terrace, with plants and patio-style seating. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, small desks, wardrobe closets, air-conditioning, and bedside lights, but lack coffeemakers and safes. All offer views of the surrounding neighborhood. The minimal decoration includes dark-wood Ligne Roset furnishings and gray-patterned carpeting. The small white-tiled bathrooms include shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. Guests relishing quiet should request rooms facing the calm Rue des Thermopyles.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout the property. Breakfast, for an extra fee, includes fruit, coffee, bread, yogurt, and cereals, and can be deliverd to the rooms. A coffee station and vending machine are located in the lobby for guests who prefer to grab-and-go. Private parking is available nearby for a daily fee.