Novotel Paris Les Halles

The Novotel’s bright, airy lobby always seems to be bustling. A constant whirl of guests check in and check out, local businessmen and women meet for drinks at the bar, and lost tourists pop in to ask for directions. The buzzy atmosphere is a reflection of the Novotel’s central Paris location, wedged between the Les Halles shopping center and Les Halles metro station—one of the busiest in Paris. Novotel guests are a mix of families, couples, and business travelers from around the world. Loyal Novotel clients might notice that the Les Halles outpost is a bit nicer than the chain’s average property, and prices reflect this. 

It’s tough to beat the Novotel’s location in the 1st Arrondissement. The true center of Paris is home to popular attractions like the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, Place Vendome, and Pont Neuf. The Novotel is located across the street from the refurbished Les Halles, a modern shopping complex with name brand stores, a supermarket, and a movie theater. The area is also replete with great dining options, cool bars, and independent boutiques. Les Halles metro station is located directly in front of the hotel’s entrance, which conveniently links to metro line 4 and the RER A, B, and D. The RER B connects travelers with Charles de Gaulle International Airport in 40 minutes, and Orly International Airport in 50 minutes (with an additional leg on OrlyBus). 

The Novotel is within walking distance of popular attractions like the Pompidou Centre (seven minutes), Hotel de Ville (10 minutes), the Louvre (11 minutes), and Ile de la Cite (11 minutes). The Chatelet metro station, one of the busiest and most well-connected in Paris, is a three-minute walk from the hotel. The Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Bastille can be accessed via line 1, and Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens, and the Catacombes via line 4.  

Guest rooms at the Novotel are sharp, with sleek chocolate-brown furniture, pops of red, and contemporary wall murals. Like the lobby, rooms are bright and airy, and though they don’t have outdoor space, many offer views of Les Halles. Beds are topped with white duvets, and floating bedside tables have reading lights and USB ports. Standard amenities include wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, terrycloth bathrobes and slippers, Nespresso machines, and well-stocked minibars. There’s also lots of closet space, with enough room to accommodate luggage and hotel-supplied extras like irons and ironing boards, and electronic safes. Bathrooms are equally posh, with glass-enclosed walk-in rainfall showers, floating vanities, and fair trade toiletries. Bathrooms lack tubs, which may be an issue for families traveling with little ones. 

The Novotel has several room types, though not all are renovated. We visited a standard room, but the Novotel also has superior rooms, executive rooms, and suites. Superior and executive rooms are a bit larger than standard rooms and offer “better views” of the courtyard instead of the street, but adding separate seating areas requires upgrading to a suite. Many of the upper-category rooms feature different decorative elements, such as gray-and-yellow color schemes and handsome blond-wood furniture. 

It's worth mentioning that during our visit, there was construction outside the hotel related to the Les Halles redevelopment project, which significantly marred the look of the Novotel’s entrance. While this particular work is now complete, there seems to be constant construction in the Les Halles area, so guests may hear some related noise in rooms. 

The Novotel’s most notable amenities are its on-site restaurant and bar. The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner—it’s typically packed in the mornings and empty at night. Breakfast is served buffet-style for an additional charge, and the spread includes a great assortment of hot and cold items. There's a self-serve full English breakfast, plus fresh pastries and yogurt. There are also several Nespresso machines where diners can craft their own espresso drinks. The restaurant is located in a beautiful atrium that overlooks Les Halles.

Adjacent to the restaurant is the hotel’s bar. A few nights per week, a pianist brings the space to life with live music. When the weather’s nice, drinks and bar snacks can be taken outside to the hotel’s meticulously landscaped courtyard. 

Other amenities include a small but stylish fitness center that's well-equipped with TechnoGym cardio machines and a few free weights, and free Wi-Fi that works well across the entire property.