Hotel Augustin – Astotel

Occupying a six-story Haussmann-style building, Hotel Augustin is a beauty inside and out. The exteriors are quintessentially Parisian, with tall windows and wrap-around wrought-iron balconies. Inside, snappy design adds a modern, youthful topcoat to the architecture's historical bones. Decor in Crayola colors infused public spaces with a sense of "joie de vivre," and funky mid-century furnishings like Eames chairs and Danish sofas bring another layer of style. Graphic patterns, such as the black-and-white hexagon backsplash in the lobby, give a certain playful charm, as do the squiggly line drawings in the hallways depicting iconic Parisian landmarks. All together, interiors feel fresh, fun, and fashionable. Floors are connected through both an elevator and a curling staircase, where a colorful lotus-print carpet leads guests to rooms. 

Although it's a smaller, boutique-style property, there's ample public space to stretch out, particularly in the breakfast room, which remains stocked with a generous pile of snacks throughout the day, inviting lingering. The crowd here fluctuates on any given day. On weekdays, business travelers make the Augustin their home-away-from-home. And on weekends, couples on romantic getaways tend to check-in. On our visit we also spotted a handful of families, no doubt drawn by the quiet location and the Triple and Family units on offer. The child-sized racing car set on astroturf by the stairs no doubt delights plenty of kids and kids-at-heart, too. There were also several travelers visiting from other parts of France, coming to tour their capital city.

The Augustin is part of the Astotel group, a local chain of 16 boutique hotels sprinkled around Paris. Travelers that find this property's style and service appealing could also consider its sister properties, such as the Hotel Joyce and the Hotel Joke, which also earn rave reviews from past guests.

Hotel Augustin is located in the regal 8th Arrondissement, a neighborhood with a mix of commercial and residential buildings. Boulevard Haussmann is a mere block away, pointing to the fact that this area of the city is absolutely swimming in Haussmann's belle epoque buildings. Compared to the lively neighborhoods of the Marais or the Latin Quarter, the 8th Arrondissement can feel a little more buttoned up, and it's an early-to-bed part of town with comparatively little in the way of nightlife. That said, streets are surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and shops, and public transportation is plentiful -- the metro stop of St Augustin is just a four-minute walk away, and the Saint Lazare train station can be reached in seven minutes. 

In terms of sightseeing, the landmark of Place de la Concorde can be reached in a 15-minute walk, and the Jeu de Paume (national gallery) can be reached in 17 minutes on foot. Angelina tea salon, famed for its hot chocolate, is a 20-minute stroll away. But while the hotel advertises that it's near the Arc de Triomphe, it actually takes a lengthy 24 minutes to reach walking (public transportation shortens transit time to 13 minutes). Likewise, the Louvre Museum is over 30 minutes away walking (22 by public transportation). Reaching Paris' number one sight, the Eiffel Tower, takes about 30 minutes via public transportation. Charles de Gaulle Airport is about an hour away by metro and train or 30 minutes by taxi.

Guest rooms at Hotel Augustin were renovated in 2015 and continue to reflect the fun, fashionable style displayed in public spaces. Rooms either have a powder blue, pale pink, or light yellow signature color setting off black-and-white interiors. Here, too, playful details abound, such as brightly colored wainscoting and star-patterned walls. Diamond-patterned bedding and carpet add more zip to the decor. All rooms are furnished with plush platform beds, wooden desks, and open wardrobes (really just rods holding hangers). If there's a shortcoming to the rooms, it's that they don't offer much in the way of storage and drawer space.

Room categories range from petite Singles catering to solo travelers all the way up to Triple and Family Rooms for groups. Some rooms on higher floors sit under the buildings slanted rooftop, and as such they have walls tilted at a 45-degree angle, although they also display some pretty views across Parisian rooftops. 

Fifteen rooms have balconies, lovely outdoor spaces looking over the street scene below (although the balcony in our unit was a bit weathered with peeling paint). Other rooms have essentially what is a faux balcony -- tall windows that open to a wrought-iron railing, although they lack a ledge to step out on. While views can be nice, some units do overlook a breezeway's brick wall. Amenities across all room categories include flat-screen TVs, safes, hairdryers, electric kettles, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Guests rave about the minibars, which are free and restocked daily with a handful of nonalcoholic beverages (sodas, juices, sparkling water). Higher-category rooms also add iHome docking stations.

White-tiled bathrooms are stylistically simple compared to bedrooms, but they do have a few fun details, such as ceramic robot figurines. Most are equipped with walk-in showers topped with both handheld and rainfall showerheads, but some bathrooms have shower/tub combos. All are stocked with posh Algotherm toiletries.

While the boutique Hotel Augustin doesn't have the features a sprawling chain hotel would offer -- there's no full-service restaurant, bar, or gym -- it does have several little touches that add to its value and appeal. A cheery breakfast room just off the lobby puts out a full spread of breads, jams, cold cuts, French cheeses, fresh juices, and croissants and other treats. While most guests enjoy this buffet for free, it isn't always included in rates. There are no other meals served on site, but the dining room remains stocked throughout the day with refreshments to entice guests to linger over mixed nuts, pretzels, or a slice of a fruit tart together with a mug of tea or coffee. Room service is provided as well from an external kitchen.

Other services on hand include luggage storage and laundry service. Newspapers are available; Wi-Fi is free; and doorman umbrellas sit by the entrance ready to rescue guests in sudden downpours. Kids under two years old stay for free (baby cots are available). Note that pets are not allowed.