Pros

  • Spacious rooms with wet bars, minibars, and Nespresso machines
  • Some rooms have private balconies and wicker patio seating
  • Centrally located in the 1st arrondissement, about a 10-minute walk to the Louvre
  • Easy access to metro lines 1 and 7
  • Small on-site spa features a sauna
  • Dining area with a breakfast buffet (for a fee) becomes a bar in the evenings
  • Pet-friendly property
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Top-floor Duplex Rooms can be reached only by stairs
  • Limited on-site dining options
  • No parking available
  • No fitness center/gym
  • Spa is small, and can only take one appointment at a time
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Bottom Line

With a full renovation in 2013, the upscale boutique L'Empire Paris, about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre and Tuileries Garden, is quite the trendy spot. It's aggressively modern, with a black-and-white color scheme and sleek, futuristic decor. The 42 rooms are large for Paris, and come with free Wi-Fi, wet bars, minibars, and Nespresso machines -- and have either king or twin beds. The hotel has a dining area with a bar, and a small wellness center with a sauna. The hotel draws families, business travelers, and couples, but travelers may want to compare rates with the Hotel du Louvre, which is nearby.

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Amenities

  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

L’Empire Paris

Scene

Bold and dominating black-and-white modern design within a Haussmann-style building

Fully renovated in 2013, this boutique hotel’s exterior is standard Haussmann elegance, with a stone facade and faux iron balconies. At the main entrance, there is a sign for both the hotel and L’Empire Cafe, which has a small outdoor seating area. The interiors, with their sharp, modern design, purple track lights, and black-and-white color scheme, tell a different story. As guests enter, the lobby confronts them with panels of mirrors, recessed ceiling spotlights, and enlarged black-and-white murals of Paris scenes. The check-in desk is small, and takes up little space in an otherwise unoccupied area. Past the lobby is a computer station, with plenty of newspapers and seating nearby. To the left is the cafe, where walls are painted black and murals of panoramic aerial views of Paris adorn the walls. The small spa, which is limited to one appointment at a time, is dimly lit with purple track lights.

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Location

Centrally located in the 1st arrondissement, within walking distance of the Louvre and metro

Located at the intersection of Rue de Rivoli and Rue de l'Arbre Sec, the hotel is on a street that's far from quiet, surrounded by popular retail chain stores like Mango and Forever 21. Higher-end shopping on the Rue Saint-Honore is within a 10-minute walk. The Louvre, the Palais Royal, the Seine, and the Place Vendome are within a 10-minute walk. Metro Louvre is the closest to the hotel, but Chatelet-Les Halles, a transportation hub where metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, and the RER connect, is within a five-minute walk. 

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Rooms

Sharp, sleek, modern rooms with minibars, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi; some rooms have private balconies

Room and suite choices include Classic, Deluxe, and Superior, as well as Family, Executive, Josephine, and Connected Lofts. White and black walls meet with full wall murals similar to those in the lobby. Sheets and pillows are accented in jewel tones, and large argyle headboards grab attention. Rooms have parquet flooring, free-standing flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines (not in Classic Rooms), minibars, and safes. Unfortunately, the freestanding TVs are sometimes placed in awkward positions, blocking access to the minibars or the closets. Bathrooms in Classic Rooms have standing showers, while others have soaking tubs with rainfall showerheads, robes and slippers, hairdryers, and toiletries. Higher-priced rooms have wet bars and Nespresso machines, and small sitting areas. Some rooms have private balconies. The Josephine Suite has separate living and sleeping areas, a private balcony, and a separate bathtub and shower. The Connected Rooms are are more like apartments, and might be a good choice for families and groups.  

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Features

Wellness Center with sauna, and a cafe and bar

There is a small Wellness Center with a limited spa menu of massages, scrubs, and facials. It consists of two massage tables, a sauna, and a whirlpool; appointments are necessary. The L'Empire Cafe serves a breakfast buffet of eggs, pancakes, meats, fruit, and cheese, along with coffee, teas, and juice for a fee, and lunch. It morphs into a bar at night. There's a computer station, free newspapers, and a lounge area where guests can work. Wi-Fi is free throughout.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

L’Empire Paris

Scene

Bold and dominating black-and-white modern design within a Haussmann-style building

Fully renovated in 2013, this boutique hotel’s exterior is standard Haussmann elegance, with a stone facade and faux iron balconies. At the main entrance, there is a sign for both the hotel and L’Empire Cafe, which has a small outdoor seating area. The interiors, with their sharp, modern design, purple track lights, and black-and-white color scheme, tell a different story. As guests enter, the lobby confronts them with panels of mirrors, recessed ceiling spotlights, and enlarged black-and-white murals of Paris scenes. The check-in desk is small, and takes up little space in an otherwise unoccupied area. Past the lobby is a computer station, with plenty of newspapers and seating nearby. To the left is the cafe, where walls are painted black and murals of panoramic aerial views of Paris adorn the walls. The small spa, which is limited to one appointment at a time, is dimly lit with purple track lights.

See More Scene

Location

Centrally located in the 1st arrondissement, within walking distance of the Louvre and metro

Located at the intersection of Rue de Rivoli and Rue de l'Arbre Sec, the hotel is on a street that's far from quiet, surrounded by popular retail chain stores like Mango and Forever 21. Higher-end shopping on the Rue Saint-Honore is within a 10-minute walk. The Louvre, the Palais Royal, the Seine, and the Place Vendome are within a 10-minute walk. Metro Louvre is the closest to the hotel, but Chatelet-Les Halles, a transportation hub where metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, and the RER connect, is within a five-minute walk. 

See More Location

Rooms

Sharp, sleek, modern rooms with minibars, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi; some rooms have private balconies

Room and suite choices include Classic, Deluxe, and Superior, as well as Family, Executive, Josephine, and Connected Lofts. White and black walls meet with full wall murals similar to those in the lobby. Sheets and pillows are accented in jewel tones, and large argyle headboards grab attention. Rooms have parquet flooring, free-standing flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines (not in Classic Rooms), minibars, and safes. Unfortunately, the freestanding TVs are sometimes placed in awkward positions, blocking access to the minibars or the closets. Bathrooms in Classic Rooms have standing showers, while others have soaking tubs with rainfall showerheads, robes and slippers, hairdryers, and toiletries. Higher-priced rooms have wet bars and Nespresso machines, and small sitting areas. Some rooms have private balconies. The Josephine Suite has separate living and sleeping areas, a private balcony, and a separate bathtub and shower. The Connected Rooms are are more like apartments, and might be a good choice for families and groups.  

See More Rooms

Features

Wellness Center with sauna, and a cafe and bar

There is a small Wellness Center with a limited spa menu of massages, scrubs, and facials. It consists of two massage tables, a sauna, and a whirlpool; appointments are necessary. The L'Empire Cafe serves a breakfast buffet of eggs, pancakes, meats, fruit, and cheese, along with coffee, teas, and juice for a fee, and lunch. It morphs into a bar at night. There's a computer station, free newspapers, and a lounge area where guests can work. Wi-Fi is free throughout.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.