Hotel Design Sorbonne

Hotel Design de la Sorbonne lives up to its middle name -- "Design." The reception desk glows in a soft green neon light, and the small lobby mixes traditionally styled furniture with bold contemporary colors and patterns for a striking effect. Guests are invited to visit each of the six floors to view photography galleries with different themes. Underfoot, the red carpeting has selected texts woven into it that relate to the images. In the breakfast room, photo exhibitions change regularly. A huge cityscape mural follows the curves of the central spiral staircase. This hotel is geared toward couples and business travelers who like small, non-chain boutique hotels that show art and style.

Located across from the Sorbonne University, this hotel is on a quiet street full of quaint Parisian buildings. The Latin Quarter neighborhood is full of shops, restaurants, arthouse cinemas, and independent bookshops. The Pantheon, the Saint Michel quarter, Notre Dame, and the Luxembourg Gardens are all within walking distance. The Louve is 25 minutes away on foot but can be reached by metro. Metro station Cluny-Sorbonne (Line 10) is a five-minute walk from the hotel, as is the RER (the suburban line that heads to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport) at Luxembourg.

Each room is different, but all are dramatic with bold, over-scaled damask wallpaper, graphic carpeting, and sleek bathrooms with modern fixtures. The palette uses a neutral base such as brown, black, or taupe and ramps it up with hits of turquoise, lime green, or hot pink. Beds are beautifully dressed in high-end linens. Bathrooms are small, some have a miniature sink and shower, but are outfitted with luxury toiletries and have excellent water pressure. The Design Room on the top floor has a separate claw-foot tub and a gorgeous rooftop view. Mixing the old with the new, vintage-style push-button phones sit on bedside tables and spiffy iMacs are in every room.

From the thoughtfully stationed umbrellas in the lobby to the iMac computers in every room, the Hotel Design de la Sorbonne offers many creature comforts. Its 100 percent nonsmoking policy is unusual for European hotels, and a welcome bonus for guests who are bothered by cigarettes. A friendly, helpful staff is at the reception desk 24/7, and there are free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and air-conditioning (not a given in many Paris hotels at this price point). Breakfast is available for a fee, and includes crepes and a do-it-yourself egg-making station with mini frying pans.