Les Tournelles

This charming boutique hotel is housed in a beautiful five-story 17th-century building that was the home of the First Duke of Bedford, who was then the regent of France. It was named after an even older residence, the 15th-century Palais des Tournelles, which stood on the site of the present Place des Vosges. The hotel was totally renovated in 2016 after new management took over. Guests enter a sharp little lobby that feels like a homey living room. Check-in takes place seated on leather chairs at a desk. Everything is fresh and tastefully decorated in shades of plum, teal, black, and gray. Candles give off a floral, musky scent, and the vibe is high-end and inviting. With its excellent location and freshened-up interiors, this hotel is suitable for any type of traveler, though most guests are couples.

The hotel is located in the heart of Le Marais, a neighborhood rich in culture and history, and an enviable spot to call home while visiting Paris. The street is lined with shops and galleries, as are most of the lanes in the area. Many attractions are within walking distance, including the Musee Carnavalet, which is a three-minute walk. The Place des Vosges, a tree-lined square with beautiful stone buildings and a colonnade, is a block away. World-famous Rue de Rivoli -- where L’Hotel de Ville (the city hall), the Louvre, and the Tuileries Garden and Palace are located -- is a five-minute walk away, and the Seine River will take about 10 minutes to reach on foot. It's a 20-minute walk to Notre Dame, while the Centre Pompidou, the city's contemporary art museum, is a bit closer -- a 15-minute walk from the hotel. For getting to places farther afield, the hotel is a five-minute walk to the Saint-Paul or Chemin Vert Metro stations. Orly and Charles de Gaulle Airports are both 40 minutes to an hour away by taxi, depending on traffic, though both can be reached by some combination of train and/or metro in about an hour as well.

There's little difference between one room and the next here, save for the style and number of beds on offer.  Decor is charming and attractive, with teal or red walls, high wooden headboards, dark wood modern furniture, and striped bed toppers. Red, gray, and black patterned carpeting, paisley accent pillows, and gray and white drapery give everything a classic edge. All come with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, small work desks, and safes. Double Rooms only offer 14 square meter floor plans (151 square feet), making them -- and most rooms here -- small, even by Parisian standards. Bathrooms are sparkling clean and beautifully tiled in an interesting mix of black, red or teal, and gray. None have tubs, but they do include hairdryers, upscale toiletries, and rainfall showerheads. Rooms look out onto Rue de Turenne or Rue du Foin. 

There aren't many features here, which is pretty typical among the historic hotels in this part of the city. A Parisian breakfast of fresh breads, fruits, yogurts, and ham is served daily in a lovely breakfast room with stone ceiling in the 17th-century cellar. It's not included in room rates. There's also a cozy lounge space that's beautifully decorated with a mix of velvet sofas and chairs in shades of teal and purple. Guests can help themselves to tea and coffee as well as liquors at the honor bar, and magazines, books, and newspapers are available. The setting feels more like a living room in someone's home than a hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and the front desk is staffed around the clock.