Hôtel de l'Abbaye Saint-Germain

A gated cobblestone courtyard off a quiet street leads to the hotel’s entrance. The luxurious lobby has a Parisian flair. Florals abound in shades of rose, crimson and green, though it’s far from chintzy. The hotel bar has a similarly chic look, with a small curved, gold-plated and glass-topped bar and a marble fireplace.

The hotel is located off a quiet but charmless street in the center of the Saint Germain quarter and within walking distance of the city’s main attractions. It's a five-minute walk to the Luxembourg Gardens and La Bon Marche department store, and 10 minutes to the cafes and luxury shops on the Boulevard Saint Germain. It’s also a 15-minute walk to the Pont Neuf and around a 20-minute walk to both the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum. It’s close to several Metro stations, including the Saint-Sulpice stop a block away.

The 44 air-conditioned rooms, some of which are on the small side, are elegantly decorated with subtly striped rose carpeting, floral drapes and bedspreads, and antique furnishings from Paris flea markets. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, safes for storing small valuables — they’re not large enough to accommodate laptops — and free Wi-Fi. There are no minibars, coffeemakers or tea kettles, and mini-fridges are available only on request. Large marble bathrooms include tubs with handheld shower heads. The larger suites, including four duplex suites with private terraces, also have stall showers.

The paved garden with a fountain and ample greenery, where breakfast is served in nice weather (it’s served in the conservatory-style breakfast room in the cooler months), is the draw here. Breakfast is included in the room rate, but only breads, jams and pastries are covered and extras such as cheese and eggs come with a fee. The bar, with its plush sofas, serves light food.