Terrass'' Hotel by MH

On the corner of rue Joseph de Maistre and rue Caulaincourt, the entrance to the Terrass” Hotel is marked by a steel black awning and striking gold lettering. Inside, a floor to ceiling abstract sculpture immediately grabs guests’ attention, along with its surrounding marble floor and mirrored ceiling. Staff members man a black-and-gold front desk that looks more like a high-top bar than a check-in space. On the opposite side of the room, the lobby stretches down a long corridor and leads to an informal living area. Patterned midcentury furniture, funky area rugs, and mod lighting continue the hotel’s trendy vibe. Guests hang around throughout the day, sipping coffee and connecting to Wi-Fi before heading into the city. Clientele here are a mix of North American and European travelers, many young-ish couples.  

Terrass” Hotel by MH is located in Montmartre, Paris’ hilltop neighborhood best known for the Sacre Coeur, an impressive domed basilica. Throughout the Belle Epoque, Montmartre was considered an artist’s hangout, where the likes of Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and Claude Monet rubbed elbows with their contemporaries. Today Montmartre still maintains its artistic charm, with cobblestone streets, open-air plazas, quaint bistros, and local galleries. Terrass" is a 12-minute walk from Sacre Coeur, a nine-minute walk from Place du Tetre, and is essentially across the street from the Montmartre Cemetery. It’s also a 10-minute walk from the Boulevard de Clichy and its famous Moulin Rouge (though travelers should be aware, the Boulevard de Clichy can be somewhat seedy at night). Many globetrotters consider Montmartre one of their favorite Paris neighborhoods. That said, it’s far from central tourist attractions like the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame -- all are about 20-minute drives, or even longer metro rides. The two closest metro stations are Place de Clichy (lines 2 and 13) and Abbesses (line 12), both are a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Terrass" is a 35-minute drive from both Charles de Gaulle and Orly International Airport, though times can vary if there’s traffic. 

Paying homage to the artistic history of Montmartre, room decor at Terrass" is supposedly inspired by artists’ dressing rooms and workspaces. Rooms have a loft-like feel, with high ceilings, mod lighting, and bold accent colors. Directors chairs and bulb vanity mirrors bring a splash of glamour, while funky geometric-print bed runners add a sense of individualism. Many rooms feature wood floors and traditional ceiling medallions, which contrast nicely with the spaces’ more contemporary elements. Upscale amenities include flat-screen TVs, USB charging ports, fully stocked minibars, electronic safes, and Nespresso machines in most suites. Tiled bathroom floors feature the same boxy patterns as the bed runners and walls are covered in shiny white subway tile (modeled after the Paris metro). They’re nicely stocked with heated towel racks and terry cloth robes. Standard rooms only have shower stalls, but suites feature gorgeous standalone bathtubs. Rooms have a varying degree of outdoor space, some have large terraces, others have tiny Juliet balconies, and still others have nothing at all. A few suites, like the Studio d’Artiste Eiffel we visited, have stunning distant views of the Eiffel Tower.  

For a small-scale boutique, Terrass" does pack a fair amount of facilities into its square footage, with varying degrees of success. Terrass" Restaurant, a posh rooftop eatery, is undoubtedly the hotel’s nicest feature. Located on the seventh floor, the restaurant offers panoramic views of the city below. Chic locals and young tourists flock to the outdoor patio during the warmer months, while corporate elite meet for lunch inside the main dining room. Abstract brass artwork hangs from the restaurant’s high ceilings, while leather, wood, and wrought iron accents create a mixed medium palette across the room. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast, served buffet style, is for hotel guests only. Lunch and dinner are open to the public. Also on the premises is a tiny spa with a sauna, steam room, and a private massage room for one or two people. Treatments include facials, massages, and body scrubs. Spa appointments must be made in advance. While the hotel advertises fitness facilities, the property doesn’t have a cohesive fitness center. Instead it has two “cabins,” one for running and one for cycling. The running cabin is barely large enough to fit a single treadmill, while the cycling cabin fits two stationary bikes. Stage, the hotel’s 4,300 square foot event space, is a private room that can be booked for various events. The creatively decorated space is used by local companies for team-building activities and seminars, and by community members for private parties and receptions. When it’s not booked, the hotel uses the space to host community events, like yoga classes, DIY workshops, and movie nights. Wi-Fi is free for all guests and works well across the property. Terrass" is a pet-friendly property, and guests can bring their small pets for an additional nightly fee.