Budget Parisian hotels you'll want to stay in forever

Designed by Philippe Starck, Mama Shelter is a step in a new direction for any Paris fan. The vast room on the ground floor is modern and warm and from the outside, the place is impressive – the massive building faces the Flèche d’Or and you see the full impact once you’ve entered the reception area. Its spot-on decoration and book collection will make you feel at home at once.

If you’re allergic to hype, you might be better off closing this tab. Since opening ten years ago, Hotel Amour has enjoyed a reputation for being a stronghold of Parisian trendiness. Located in the heart of SoPi (South Pigalle), just a few streets from Pigalle and its sex shops, this boutique hotel was opened by the prolific Costes brothers and la Clique (the team behind the renowned Paris club le Baron). 

Always filled with a hubbub of laughter and clinking glasses, the hotel’s reception melds into the restaurant and the conviviality will have you staying longer than planned. Designed by two inspirational architects, Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay, from the Festen agency, decor is inspired by the neo-classicism of the  Nouvel Athènes micro-neighbourhood.

Opened in 2006, the Five Hôtel was the first boutique hotel in the French capital and its reputation has blossomed, thanks to the creative and passionate team behind it. Close to Jardin des Plantes, Vincent Bastie and Marie-Paule Clout’s design conjures up images of romantic adventures and enchanted spaces.

Not long ago, a trip to Paris meant choosing between an extravagant (but exorbitant) palace or a three-star chain lacking style and taste. But now Paris is home to plenty of independent micro hotels with a modus operando of being trendy and reasonably-priced. And Hotel Paradis fits this mould perfectly.

This small hotel on the left bank is not far from the Manufacture des Gobelins and blends several eras with precision and charm. The nineteenth-century wallpaper and contemporary coloured tiles in the entrance hall go together wonderfully. The majority of the decorative objects come from the personal collection of Vanessa Scoffier, the former editor of Marie Claire and a complete accessory queen. Think Guariche coffee tables and Platner armchairs.

There’s nothing dodgy about this four-star hotel, especially after its complete renovation in 2016. Rather, the red velvet and golden cupids at the head of the bed owe more to minimalist, refined style than the fantastic. Owned by Maranatha hotels, Trinité Haussmann hired Laurent Mangoust (First Hotel) to design its interiors and its 34 rooms (ranging from 12 to 25m2). With immaculate white walls, wooden parquet flooring, rectangular moldings and marble in the bathrooms, the decor is easily warmed to.

The spirit of Marilyn Monroe has been kept alive in the 15th arrondissement, not far from the Beaugrenelle shopping complex. A true shrine to the star, the hotel catapults you into a world of fifties sass with Vincent Bastié, architect and renowned hotel decorator at the helm. Think pastel yellow accents, diffused lamps, vintage furniture and black and white checkerboard floors – not to mention, Marilyn in video and photo form.

"With the spirit of a Parisian house, we combine elegance with a cool attitude": there’s no doubt that style is of the utmost importance at the C.O.Q. ("Community of Quality"). Expect Memphis lamps, Zanotta furniture, Farrow & Ball paint on the walls… Designed by Pauline D’Hoop and Delphine Sauvage from Favorite agency, Michel Delloye’s C.O.Q hotel can be truly proud of its trappings.

Just the right distance from the chaos of the Madeleine and the main Parisian shopping district, Hôtel Chavanel is the epitomisation of peace. It feels just like home: exposed wooden beam ceilings and contemporary design with all the features of a luxury hotel. At the outset, it may seem a little mish-mash but take time to examine the details in the 25 rooms (from €144-198 for classic rooms) and you will see that nothing is left to chance.

Hotels now have to make a statement: each new address tries to stand out with a stronger aesthetic, quirkier touches and more original décor. Take the aptly named Hidden Hotel, nestled at the bottom of rue de l’Arc de Triomphe, a few steps from the monument of the same name. The first of Elegancia’s ventures, which also runs OFF Paris Seine, boasts décor that will trump all the tired clichés.

In the heart of Montmartre, it’s possible to dream with your eyes wide open. Design hotel par excellence, the Déclic functions on its own originality. This unique establishment plunges you into visual fireworks for an overnight stay. Design by Sandrine Alouf – an “atmospherist” who combines decor and stories to take visitors on a motionless journey...

The 9th arrondissement is well-equipped when it comes to hotels, owing to its geographical situation and its lively reputation. Rue Clauzel, a stone’s throw from rue des Martyrs, boasts several addresses including the great boutique shop Nous at number 19, the vintage store Zach & Sam at number 13, and of course hotel Matins de Paris at number three. This four-star hotel has 33 rooms with minimalist and functional decor, such as its kitsch paintings of Pigalle and beautiful brightly-coloured curtains.

SoPi (South Pigalle) is the new hotspot in Paris and tourists have duly taken note. With its designer boutiques, trendy restaurants and concept store bakeries, the streets just south of Pigalle are full of surprises. Far from the hustle and bustle of the famous Pigalle drag, those in search of the livelier side of Paris will delight in this address nestled away in a courtyard.

The bourgeois-bohemian Hotel Panache is on the corner of Poissonnière, one of the liveliest streets in the 9th. Adrien Gloaguen chose this area, wedged between SoPi (South Pigalle) and Grands Boulevards carefully for his hotel-restaurant comprising thirty-eight very Parisian rooms decorated by the excellent Dorothée Meilichzon – who also designed the Hotel Paradis.

Located in the 14th district of Paris, guests can find brasseries and theatres and the hotel is a 15-minute walk from Montparnasse Train Station. The 24-hour reception hotel offers a bar, a garden and soundproofed rooms with air-conditioning and a satellite, LCD TV. Free Wi-Fi access is available.