Hotel Particulier Montmartre

Guests must ring a doorbell to be granted access to the private, gated lane where the four-pearl Hotel Particulier Montmarte is located. A leafy garden with cobblestone steps and tall trees surrounds the beautiful, 19th-century stone building with gray shutters. Inside, velvety furniture, heavy curtains, and gilded mirrors all create an elegant atmosphere. The lobby is decorated in dark blues and grays, and a handsome, tufted bar under a chandelier offers a small space where guests can grab a drink. Shelves of taxidermy give the restaurant a parlor feel, while red walls and candlelight add a touch of romance. Le Tres Particulier is the secret cocktail bar; the room has panoramic glass windows facing the garden and the bar is popular with locals and hotel guests alike. There are several beautiful outdoor seating areas at the hotel, including the gravel patio with wicker chairs by the bar, and the white wrought iron chairs and matching tables placed around the garden. With an intimate vibe akin to staying in a stylish friend's high-end home, this hotel draws mostly couples.

Montmarte is a bit of a hike from most of Paris' attractions, but is itself a charming, photo-worthy, authentically Parisian destination. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to Sacre Coeur Basilica, which has inspiring views across Paris and the Seine River. There are great restaurants and nightclubs nearby, but because the hotel is on a quiet, tree-lined street, it remains a peaceful hideaway (except when it's own bar is blasting the hits until late at night). The Caulaincourt Metro station is at the bottom of the hill, a five-minute walk from the hotel, making trips around Paris easy. The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay can be reached in less than 30 minutes, while it will take 40 minutes to reach Notre Dame by metro. The trendy Le Marais District takes around 30 minutes to reach by train as well. Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to reach by car or taxi depending on traffic. 

Each of the five suites at Hotel Particulier Montmarte features unique decor ranging from the 60s-themed Vegetale Suite with psychedelic wallpaper and a lime-green bathroom to the sleeker Poems and Hats Suite (Poemes et Chapeaux) with light carpeting, dark furnishings, and a glass-encased bathroom at its center. The top floor Curtain of Hair Suite (Abre a Oreilles) has tall ceilings and a deep claw-foot tub. Of course, the artistic touches found throughout suites -- such as paintings of eyes and printed poems hanging off lights -- aren’t for everyone, and many guests find the suites a bit too dark. The individual style is always eye catching, though, especially when it's used to sleek ends, like the all-black mosaic tiling in the Poems and Hat Suite. Amenities and style vary between suites, but all rooms have garden views, minibars, big flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are spacious and luxe, with shower/tub combos, some which are jetted, plus spacious vanities and high-end toiletries. Depending on guests' bearing, noise from the club downstairs on the weekends is either a fun distraction or a nuisance -- in either case, it may be heard well into the night. 

The Hotel Particulier Montmarte has a chic restaurant that resembles a posh parlor. It serves seasonal cuisine that uses eggs from the hotel’s two hens and honey from its beehives. Breakfast is available for a fee and includes pastries plus hot dishes, and there is a locally popular Sunday brunch, though the food gets mixed reviews. The hotel has lovely dining spaces both indoors in the beautiful dining room and outside in the cobbled, charming garden terrace. There’s also a late-night cocktail bar on-site with garden views that is open to guests and the public. Wi-Fi is free throughout.