Appart’City Confort Paris Grande Bibliothèque

Things are reasonably pleasant at this mid-range option on the edge of central Paris, open since 2008. Don't come here expecting a quaint, central Parisian-style escape though, as the style throughout the hotel is modern, but decidedly functional, and even a little tired. The lobby is bright, with a sterile chain-hotel feel that consists of wood and beige tiled floors and dark-wood laminate furniture, some of which is a bit worn despite a 2015 renovation. A few sagging gray armchairs are gathered around wooden cafe tables, providing a place for guests to prep for their day before heading out into the city, but all in all there isn't much of a social, convivial vibe here. That's not surprising as the kitchenettes in every room make this a more ideal spot for independent vacationers or those on longer stays. The hotel is function-focused and can be a great value when compared with central Parisian hotels, drawing families and small groups, though the hotel gets its share of business guests, too. 

The Grande Bibliotheque is located in the 13th Arrondissement along a busy road in the Quartier de la Gare near Paris Diderot University, a five-minute walk to the banks of La Seine river and a nine-minute walk from the National Library of France. Bercy Village, a 15-minute walk across the river, is home to dozens of restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and shops, though there are also eateries right next door. The major sights and more iconic Parisian neighborhoods will take more work to reach and are not within walking distance. With that in mind, the Bibliotheque Francois Mitterrand Metro and RER stop is a five-minute walk from the hotel. While the hotel is technically within the borders of Paris, it still takes about 20 minutes by metro to get to the heart of the city on the Right Bank. The Paris Gare de Lyon train station is 12 minutes away via metro, and other destinations include 20 minutes to the Louvre, 25 minutes to the Musee d'Orsay, and 40 minutes to the Eiffel Tower. Expect a 30-minute drive to Charles de Gaulle Airport depending on traffic, while Orly Airport is a 20-minute drive in good conditions. Both airports can be reach by some combination of train and metro in just over an hour.

The hotel has 113 apartment-style suites with simple, modern decor comprising dark wood laminate floors, white walls, and beige-tile kitchenettes. While most furniture and accents have clean lines, the look in rooms is almost austere, as there's little in the way of wall art in many units. The lone pop of color in comes in a maroon statement headboard over the beds in most rooms. It all has the feeling of a minimalistic IKEA show-room, but is fine enough for guests who plan to spend most of their time exploring the city.

The entry-level Studios are reasonably spacious -- starting at 20 square meters (215 square feet) they are much larger than most entry-level rooms in Paris. Apartments and Superior Apartments are even larger, starting at 35 square meters (377 square feet), with separate bedrooms and living areas that include micro-suede couches. Some, like the Duplex Room that we visited, have proper dining rooms with bright-red chairs and large-scale photographic wall art. Some guest rooms face the adjacent railway, which can be noisy. Daily housekeeping, which costs extra, gets mixed reviews and guests have complained about maintenance issues. 

Kitchenettes include sinks, microwaves, mini-fridges, dishwashers, espresso makers, and cookware. Some rooms have stoves and ovens as well. Other standard features include desks, small tables and chairs, safes, compact balconies, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs with cable. Highchairs and children's beds are available for families with kids and pets are allowed for a small extra fee. Bathrooms are basic but include hairdryers, shower/tub combos, and free individual toiletries.

As an apartment-style hotel, it's not surprising that features here are limited, most of what is on offer costs extra. There's modern cafe area that serves up a daily American breakfast buffet for a fee, and outdoor seating is available on pleasant terrace in the hotel's courtyard. The hotel has 24-hour reception, concierge services, free daily newspapers, and overnight shoe shines. There's also a public computer for guests to use, and WI-Fi is available, but not free. Self-service laundry and underground parking are available, both for a fee.