And tells us all about his experience…


Hotel du Pantheon
The hotel has a very strong style. After being used to more minimalist hotels, I discovered the special atmosphere here. It’s like being in someone’s home (a distant grandmother? An upper-class country house in the south of France?). Slightly lost amidst all these colours, I was reassured by the obvious attention to detail, the kindness of the staff and the warm colours of my room (n° 23), soon losing all track of time. I took a very long bath and laid for hours on the bed, where the view of the roofs and the Place du Pantheon transported me to a Paris unknown, soothed by the calm of my room… Nothing disturbs you, which is the definition of a good hotel really: a place where you can forget the daily grind and just relax.

Eiffel Park Hotel
I had a strange feeling about this hotel before sleeping there, much as I did for the Hotel de la Sorbonne. Why? Because I don’t know the area, the hotel with built in the 80s, and I’d seen the style of the rooms. I was given a room whose décor I didn’t like, making me feel a bit out of place, in a part of town that I don’t know. Was this all a bad idea? Should I stick with areas I know? Hmm… strangely, I only really started to get to know the hotel when I started taking the photos. I particularly liked room 301, bathed in light, very soft. Room 401 and its typical “toile de Jouy” fabric is just as nice. Both would be good for a honeymooning couple. Another good point is the bar and the breakfast room. I really shouldn’t have had breakfast in my room when it’s served in a large, bright room on the ground floor. And then there’s the large terrace looking over the roofs of Paris too!! Plus, the bar has to be seen too! There’s no reason to resist the charms of its big comfy chairs, fire and piano. An ideal place for a nice glass of wine!

Hotel Jardin de l’Odeon
The Jardin de l’Odeon is a very masculine hotel. Despite being managed by the charming, energetic Anne-Sophie, its style is subdued thanks to the colours used (brown, tobacco, ochre, maroon, blue-grey), Art Deco furniture and graphic-motif fabrics. The businessmen I ran into seemed quite at ease there. My room was on the 6th floor, looking out southwest. As soon as I opened the curtains, I flopped back onto the sunlit bed for a quick nap… and woke up two hours later, ravenous! First stop: rue des Canettes, where my head (or my stomach?) found it hard to choose between all the restaurants. Then on to the Café de Flore, where a group of Japanese women were staring at Karl Lagerfeld and Hedi Slimane who had just come across the street from the Hune bookshop after checking out the latest publications. As in the other hotels of the group, breakfast was served with a smile, a perfect way to start the day! More smiles a little later when I checked out, thanks to great receptionist, Alexandre.

Hotel des Grands Hommes

When I told my friends I was going to sleep at the Grands Hommes, they didn’t believe me. I had to explain how I got the room. That’s when I realised that this hotel – which could just as well be in a far-away land as far as I’m concerned, as I hardly ever go to the Left Bank – is 1) famous, and 2) considered to be one of Paris’ best. All of a sudden, you become someone important too, at least in your friends’ eyes! Very amusing!! The hotel has a great view over the city. When you look out of your room, you’re not quite sure if you’re in Paris or Rome. You lose track of time, the ambiance of the room changes during the hours, allowing you to enjoy different aspects of it… Watching the sun set from your terrace is a unique experience. You see a lush succession of reds, orange, mauve and finally blues, all whilst sipping from your glass. It reminded me of a wonderful sunset in Santorini. And that’s something! Early morning is just as amazing, with a beaming sun as a bonus. With an exceptionally clear view from my 6th floor room, it felt like the city was mine!!

Hotel de la Sorbonne
To tell the truth, I was a little doubtful about sleeping in this hotel. As it’s a 2-star, I thought it wouldn’t have all the charms of the other hotels. I was wrong. Firstly, the check-in was the fastest I’ve ever encountered. Let me explain: often when you reserve, you are given lots of information that you have to give again when you arrive. This can be quite tiring after a long voyage. But here, nothing! And as a bonus, you get a smile from Anne, the lovely receptionist. Perfect! The rest of stay went just as well. The room (n°54) was tastefully decorated (pastel colours and standard furniture), large, and had a great view onto the roofs of La Sorbonne. Another advantage is the area; as well as the students that line the rue Victor during the day, the neighbouring streets are full of fine restaurants and cinemas showing a specialist selection of films. Something for the stomach and the mind. Personally, that’s perfect for me.

Residence Henri IV
I didn’t get to sleep at the Henri IV Residence. The hotel is small and very successful… The first time I visited, I didn’t feel like I was in a hotel at all, but more like a family hostel at the turn of the century… The guests seem to like it, as everyone was very smiley! The hotel is in a nice calm area, and don’t miss the nearby tasty Thai restaurant “Cheng Mei”. My taste buds won’t forget it for a while!