Campanile Paris 19 – La Villette

The hotel’s unremarkable modern facade houses a purely functional lobby that’s dominated by a wood-paneled front desk and an electronic express check-in station. Le Lounge Bar and Le Restaurant both open off of the lobby and are reasonably attractive (if generic) places for a meal, coffee, or drink. The restaurant has a cafeteria vibe, with plastic furniture, wood laminate tables, and buffet stations looking out onto the busy street, while the bar is filled with large pleather chairs and has a massive flat-screen TV showing local and international news. The Campanile brand is known throughout France for no-frills, often-discounted venues and this outpost is a decent choice for business travelers, couples, and families, though couples looking for a distinctly romantic vibe will want to look elsewhere.

To be clear, this hotel’s La Villette neighborhood isn’t the Beaux-Arts dream many visitors have when they visit Paris. The area immediately around the property can be a little dodgy, though there are many international, casual eateries in the area as well as a supermarket next door. The neighborhood is known for Villette Park, a space suited for families that’s home to the Cite des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe. The Crimee and Corentin Cariou Metro stations are both less than a five-minute walk in opposite directions from the hotel for trips to central Paris landmarks, including the Louvre (30 minutes), Luxembourg Gardens (40 minutes), and the Eiffel Tower (50 minutes). Gare du Nord, one of the city’s main train stations, is 20 minutes southwest by metro, while Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports are both 20-30 minutes away by taxi.

It’s a cliche to remark on the less-than-generous size of hotel rooms in cities like Paris, but these units take cozy to a new level. Reminiscent of cruise ship cabins, guest rooms are outfitted in a modern combination of neutral tans and dark grays while throw pillows and open “closet” areas provide bursts of lime green. Padded headboards give the rooms a soft touch that’s amplified by dark, striped carpets, and there are some other interesting design elements, like metal bedside light fixtures that wrap in on themselves and retro walnut desk chairs. There’s little in the way of hanging art besides one wall-mounted light fixture that serves a semi-sculptural function, but all rooms include flat-screen TVs, desks, telephones, individually controlled air-conditioning, and electric kettles for coffee or tea. Small en-suite bathrooms have white tiled walls and gray tiled floors, with narrow walk-in showers or tub/shower combos, contemporary sinks, small wooden vanities, pump-dispensed toiletries, and hairdryers. Triple Rooms are significantly larger than other categories, but the design scheme is identical across all units.

Like many mid-range hotels in Paris, this property’s features are limited, but there is an on-site eatery and bar for guests in need of a meal or nightcap. The restaurant serves a run-of-the-mill breakfast buffet with pastry options and cold meats, though it’s a reasonable bargain by Parisian hotel standards. It also opens for lunch and dinner, with a la carte options and buffets; room service is available as well. The bar has beer, wine, and cocktail options and serves coffee during the day. Self-parking is available, though there are fees attached, and the hotel has one meeting room with audiovisual services and a capacity of 70 people. Wi-Fi is free, though it can be touch-and-go in certain areas, and the 24-hour front desk provides concierge services. Laundry and dry cleaning are also available.