52 B rue des Vinaigriers, Paris, France | (586) 210-9239
In a trendy, local neighborhood near the Gare de l’Est Metro station
Daily continental or buffet breakfast available
Cheerful, feminine rooms with mini-fridges
Parking discounts for hotel guests at nearby lot
Very little street noise on low floors
Free Wi-Fi
Room service available
Small rooms; some are not much wider than the bed(s)
No on-site restaurant/bar
Standing air conditioners take up valuable space in rooms
Not all guest rooms have iPod docks or bathtubs
Signs of wear and tear on furniture and decorations
No kettles or coffeemakers in-room
If the only thing you need from your Parisian hotel is somewhere safe and clean to rest, then Hotel Soft answers the call. This 31-room, three-pearl space has daily breakfast and cheerful, feminine rooms with floral wallpaper, pink and purple accents, and comfy beds, but even the largest room type is on the small side and wear is evident. Hotel Soft is located in the hip, Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood, brimming with restaurants and cute little galleries that offer a taste of local culture. It's an excellent value, but those who might prefer to stay in the 11th arrondissement should compare rates with the Standard Design Hotel or BLC Design Hotel.
Scene
Small hotel with clean and simple transitional style
When picturing Hotel Soft's decor, think springtime in Paris. Wallpaper throughout the hotel carries floral motifs from the stairwell to the accent walls in guest rooms. The overall theme is clean and simple transitional style. The small lobby and breakfast room have floor-to-ceiling windows that allow natural light to fill the spaces. The areas are uncluttered and the white walls make the spaces feel larger than they are. Walls are adorned with modern art and photography of the city. The breakfast room has contemporary furniture in jewel tones, however the sofas don’t look especially comfortable.This is a simple, value-oriented option that draws mostly leisure couples looking for easy metro access to popular sights.
Location
In a trendy area of the 10th arrondissement, near the Gare de l’Est Metro station
Hotel Soft sits on the Rue des Vinaigriers with a number of well-liked, global dining options immediately surrounding the hotel. The Gare de l’Est Metro station is six minutes away on foot, easily connecting you to the rest of the city. You can also catch high-speed trains to several German cities from there. The Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood is a known hipster area (in the classical French hipster sense, rather than American nouveau-hipster) that is awash in culture with galleries, bars, and restaurants. While it’s not squarely in the tourist area, Hotel Soft is a convenient city center option and the Lourve Museum is approximately 20 minutes away via metro. Both the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées are about 25 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Rooms are tiny, clean, and cheerful, if a bit worn
The rooms at Hotel Soft are two things: clean and tiny. Guests are fans of the comfortable beds, but in many cases, the rooms are not much wider than the beds themselves. Decor carries a sprin time in Paris aesthetic -- accent walls are painted in dusky pinks, purples, and neutrals and wallpaper with oversized florals punctuates the space behind the beds. Each guest room has a small desk, a flat-screen TV mounted to the wall, and an empty mini-fridge. The windows are nearly the full height of the wall, so the air conditioners are freestanding units, some of which are newer and slimmer than others. Many rooms have iPod docks and tubs in the bath, but it’s not always a given. The Triple Room sleeps three, but the third bed seems to be little more than a rollaway with a sheet and pillow.
Features
Daily breakfast available, and Wi-Fi is free
Though there is no restaurant on-site, breakfast is available every morning for a fee. Guests can choose between a buffet or continental breakfast with hot and cold beverages. There’s free Wi-Fi in guest rooms and in common areas, and there is a fee-based computer and printer in a semi-private alcove off of the breakfast room. There is luggage service, and the front desk staff can assist with tours and ticketing. Even though the hotel is just five floors, there is an elevator. However, it is small and some wheelchairs may not fit. For travelers with cars, there is a nearby parking lot that offers discounted rates for Hotel Soft guests.