The best hotels in Paris city centre

An insider's guide to the best hotels in Paris city centre, including the top places to stay for cosy rooms, excellent restaurants, stylish bars, private gardens and stunning views, in locations close to the Champs-Élysées, the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Eiffel Tower.

A lovingly tended budget hotel with the Eiffel Tower virtually at the end of a smart, residential street in an area of diplomats and the bourgeoisie. The pedestrianised rue Cler, renowned for its upmarket food shops and pavement cafés, is right around the corner. The hotel's 25 rooms are prettily decorated in blue or yellow colour schemes with floral curtains and photos of Paris monuments. Some have views of the top of the Eiffel Tower, while a couple have private flowery courtyards.

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This renowned four-star address near the Champs-Élysées is loaded in history. Its glamorous Art Deco past is the focal point of a contemporary decor that sees stylish rooms mix original vintage features with up-to-the-minute fabrics and luxuries. The sophisticated hotel bar and restaurant – which is run by the Experimental Cocktail Club – is a legend in its own right. As well as Paris' premier shopping street, the hotel is also well-placed for visits to the Arc de Triomphe, Palais Garnier opera house and Grand Palais, which hosts fabulous art exhibitions.

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Le Roch is an elegant boutique hotel that cleverly combines history, good taste and a sense of contemporary style, with a relaxing approach. It has a creative restaurant, secret terrace, sophisticated spa and swimming pool. Located between the Louvre and Opéra, the hotel is on a central yet quiet street that remains surprisingly authentic for this smart part of Paris. The Tuileries gardens are at the end of the street, while rue St-Honoré is a must for Colette concept store and upmarket shopping.

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This super-stylish photography hotel works hard to get things just right for guests – with extraordinary success. Dramatically different room styles rooms cater to every possible taste, mood and age; a couple have their own little patio garden, and the hotel has a gym and fitness room. It's in the heart of St-Germain des Près on the Left Bank where Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and other Parisian literary elite hobnobbed in the 1930s. Cathédrale de Notre Dame and the River Seine are a 10-minute walk away, and the Panthéon and the little-known but fascinating Musée de la Moyen Age are right next door.

• The palace hotels of Paris

This understated five-star – once frequented by Lauren Bacall and Gene Kelly – is a delightful hidden gem. Decorated in quintessentially French style, it is at once luxurious and intimate. Expect fine design, courtesy of Pierre-Yves Rochon, excellent personalised service and an outstanding location. It's on a quiet residential road amidst the busy hum of the prestigious Triangle d'Or, which takes in avenues Champs-Elysées, Montaigne and George V. The Grand Palais and the high-end boutiques of the Champs-Elysées and Montaigne are less than five minutes' walk away, while the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Quais de Seine are also within walking distance.

• The best boutique hotels in Paris

Once the simple Hôtel d'Alsace, where Oscar Wilde died in 1900 'living beyond his means' and at war with the wallpaper. But there's much more to it than that, with the allure of its 20 bedrooms by interior decorator Jacques Garcia and its Michelin-starred Le Restaurant. There's a tiny atmospheric swimming pool and hammam hidden in the cellar. On a historic street in smart St-Germain-des-Prés on the Left Bank, the hotel is surrounded by art galleries and antiques shops, and close to the legendary cafés, where fashion shoppers still mix with publishers.

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This flamboyant three-star hotel in downtown Paris inspires guests with a rainbow of tangy colour schemes, inventive printed wallpapers and a treasure trove of retro curiosities uncovered at the flea market. The ambiance is very much guesthouse chic and there’s a marvellous wine bar to boot. The hotel languishes directly opposite the imposing 17th-century building of Banque de France (meaning superb views of the elegant hôtel particulier from many of the hotel rooms). Big-hitter sights such as the Musée de Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Cathédrale de Notre Dame and the River Seine are all within easy walking distance.

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This boutique five-star hotel offers comfort, slick design courtesy of Pierre-Yves Rochon, and attentive service – as well as a modern take on French classics in Le Lulli restaurant. It's located in the heart of Paris, next to the secluded splendour of the Palais Royal gardens, which provide a tranquil (and rather beautiful) respite from the buzz of the city centre. Views from rooms are of the surrounding square or walls of the Palais Royal, with impressive views of the Palais Royal gardens or rooftops of Paris from the higher floors. The hotel’s signature Panoramic and Palais Royal suites enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding skyline, including the Eiffel Tower.

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This renovated Belle Epoque bank provides an attractive and characterful base from which to explore Paris, with some of the city's most famous monuments in close walking distance. Galeries Lafayette and the surrounding shopping district are next door, while Place Vendôme, the Palais Garnier, the Louvre and the flagships of Rue Saint Honoré are also a short walk away. The property's former purpose lends the hotel a grand aesthetic and idiosyncratic character. Rooms blend classic features such as parquet floors and delicate moulding detail with well picked contemporary touches such as natty rugs and simple framed prints.

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This friendly boutique hotel pays tribute to the materials that have made Paris' identity. The interior plays with the classic stone, wood and zinc of Haussmannian Paris to create a fashionable mix of retro and contemporary, with a vintage 50s-look mezzanine lounge with tastefully scattered reading and an honesty bar. The hotel's ideal Right Bank location is made for both sightseeing and shopping: between the Louvre and the rue St-Honoré fashion stretch, with the chance to relax in Tuileries Gardens at the end of the street.