Mayflower Hotel

This stylish hotel, which opened in 2015, has a lobby that's decorated like a trendy living room, with hardwood floors, dramatic portrait photography, and a seating area clustered around a low coffee table. There's a sleek, modern couch and chairs upholstered in varying shades of grey under a pretty, wreath-shaped chandelier. Pink marble wainscoting lines the walls, and a matching reception desk is lit from above by gold pendant lights. A small bar and breakfast room is around the corner, and there's an outdoor central courtyard, with attractive, black patio furniture. The hotel mostly draws couples, and a handful of other leisure travelers.

The hotel is on a quiet street at the northern edge of Paris' 8th Arrondissement. There isn't much on this block, but the area is known for its music stores, and there are many restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops within walking distance. The Rome metro station is a two-minute walk from the hotel, and the Europe and Leige stops can be reached within five-minutes on foot. Gare Saint-Lazare, one of Paris's main train and metro hubs, and a popular shopping center, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Guests can also walk to several attractions in about 20 minutes or less, including the Opera Garnier and Moulin Rouge, but other top Right Bank sights, such as the Louvre and neighborhoods like the Marais, require a metro ride. Via public transportation, the hotel is about an hour from both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.

Guest rooms have modern and warm, sophisticated decor, with patterned brown carpeting, cream walls, forest green curtains, and grey accents. Sleek, dark-wood furniture is paired with Art Deco touches, like black wall sconces and table lamps, and black-and-white photos on walls complete the look. While units start at a tight 139 square feet, they feel more cozy than cramped.

Standard rooms with double or queen beds have gold reading lights, small desks, and tiny seating areas with grey chairs. Upgraded rooms have king-size beds, and Junior Suites have living areas with sofa beds. Upscale amenities are a plus -- all units come with 40-inch flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, free minibars, safes, free Wi-Fi.

Attractive bathrooms are also on the small side, but the striking, cube-patterned tiling on floors adds dimension and makes them appear larger. All have smart marble vanities, heated towel racks, walk-in showers with oversize removable rainfall showerheads, hairdryers, and a generous stock of Nuxe Paris toiletries. Some upgraded rooms have more spacious bathrooms with large rainfall showers. All units, whether they face the street or courtyard, are generally quiet.

Across from the stylish lobby lounge, a breakfast room and a small cocktail bar share a space with less than a dozen tables, but the hotel doesn't have a full-service restaurant. For a fee, a typical French breakfast is available, with cheese and pastries, along with a small buffet of smoked salmon, hard-boiled or scrambled eggs, and other hot options like bacon and sausage. There's a quiet central outdoor courtyard with patio chairs, and the lobby has a 24-hour business corner with a Mac computer and a printer, plus free tea, coffee, and sweets. However, the hotel lacks a fitness center. Laundry and suit pressing services are available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.