Hotel Edouard VI

Filling an elegant, 19th-century Haussmann building with medieval decor has potential to yield a manufactured, theatrical space. But the hotel manages to pull it off brilliantly in the lobby's cozy sitting room and breakfast nook in the brick cellar. But, they aren't spots where one would spend hours lazily spreading jam on a croissant and nursing a second latte, or thumbing through an issue of "Le Figaro," contemplating an aperitif over the newspaper. Much like Parisians quickly shuffling to and from the Metro outside, couples and business travelers who frequent the hotel have fire beneath their feet. Guests usually gobble down the breakfast buffet while noting iron swords and sconces on walls, or collapse for a moment in one of the utilitarian wood cross-framed chairs, waiting for a friend or colleague before flying out the door again. 

The hotel sits on busy Boulevard du Montparnasse where it intersects with the equally busy Rue de Rennes. An outpost of Galerie Lafayette across the street is a bonus for last-minute gifts, and for those who can't be without a huge American cup of coffee, Starbucks is a two-minute walk away on Boulevard du Montparnasse. It's a 12-minute walk to Luxembourg Gardens in the heart of the neighborhood. Expect six minutes on foot to Gare Montparnasse, where there are four Metro lines -- hugely convenient for seeing Right Bank sights. Plan on 45 minutes in the car to reach Charles de Gaulle Airport, and a little more than 20 minutes to Orly Airport.

• Six-minute walk to Gare Montparnasse (Metro lines 4,6,12,13)
• 12-minute walk to Luxembourg Gardens
• 13 minutes to Musee d'Orsay via Metro
• 17 minutes to Notre-Dame via Metro
• 18 minutes to Champs-Elysees via Metro
• 20 minutes to Musee du Louvre via Metro
• 22 minutes to Eiffel Tower via Metro
• 23 minutes to Arc de Triomphe via Metro
• 23 minutes to Palais Garnier via Metro
• 29 minutes to Place des Vosges via Metro
• 30 minutes to Sacre-Cœur via Metro and Funiculaire de Montmartre
• 45-minute drive to Charles de Gaulle Airport; 20-minute drive to Orly Airport 

Traditional furnishings in rooms are elevated with a few design-conscious details. There are black and white photos of famous Paris sights, velvet bedding accents, and drapes in lively prints. The total effect is mixed -- some spaces feel pulled together and others border on the odd side of quirky. However, even with these additions, it's hard to ignore the marked-up walls and worn furniture that could use a refresh. 

French windows open to balconies or balconets, and there are flat-screen TVs and safes, but no coffee or tea supplies and minibars are skimpy with a few chilled soft drinks and bottled water. Bathrooms have updated fixtures though their sheen is overshadowed by stained tile grout. Some higher-end rooms have been overhauled, and are chic, modern spaces. They feature writing desks and Mid-century-inspired armchairs, brushed gold fixtures, and bathrooms with marble floors, heated towel racks, and sleek, wall-mounted sinks with open shelving.

If noise is a concern, opt for a unit that faces the interior courtyard.  

Features are minimal at this urban boutique hotel, since most guests are simply here to sleep, shower, and eat breakfast. The buffet breakfast, which includes hot items such as omelets and is served in a novel cellar setting, is the hotel's top feature. It isn't included in the rate and some guests say it's pricey, but most give it thumbs up for quality. The hotel doesn't have a full restaurant, bar, or business center, but it's free to us the public desktop in the lobby, print up to 10 pages, and access Wi-Fi. No on-site parking is available although private lots can be found nearby; ask reception for directions.