Hotel Le 123 Sebastopol – Astotel

Le 123 Sebastopol is unique in its concept and design. The lobby immediately creates a cinematic realm with posters, a popcorn machine, and a marquee check-in desk. The lobby also has spot lights, red velvet curtains, and white leather chairs. The architecture of the property lends a special appeal; some hallways have exposed brick walls and there are multiple winding staircases with red carpets and painted iron railings. The overall atmosphere is polished and artistic.  

The hotel is within two minutes to the Réaumur-Sébastopol station, where both the M3 and M4 lines run. It is not necessarily central to the major tourist spots (the Louvre and the Seine are about a 30-minute walk away). The Opera is close by and the Marais district is about a 10-minute walk away. The 2nd arrondissement is best known for its galleries. The Grand Rex, the biggest movie theater still operating in Paris, will be sure to interest anyone staying at Le 123 Sebastopol, and is around the corner on Boulevard Poissonnière. For authentic souvenirs and a cafe experience, the Grands Boulevards area begins with the Grand Rex and continues down the avenue. Orly Airport is a quick 30-minute car ride away.

The rooms overall are well-decorated, clean, and fun. There are no closets with doors, but there are clothes racks that fit perfectly into the room decor and make the rooms look like on-set changing rooms. Flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and minibars come standard in all rooms. Bathrooms have either showers or tubs and are brightly lit with vanity globe bulbs. 

All of the rooms have a theme, and decor varies between the themes. On the first floor, Ennio Morricone is celebrated, who is best know for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Rooms are decorated in a musical manner, where the color scheme is monochromatic and walls are dressed with music scales. For guests’ enjoyment, his musical scores and headphones are available in each of the rooms headboards. The second floor is all about Elsa Zylberstein, who is an award winning actress. The decor here is quite feminine with velvet tufted headboards, oval vanity mirrors, and candlestick sconces. The Agnès Jaoui & Jean-Pierre Bacri rooms have dark woods and and thick red velvet curtains. The fourth floor rooms under the Danièle Thompson name have an American 80’s feel, with contemporary furniture, pops of turquoise and pink, and glass top tables. Rooms on the fifth floor are decorated like a real movie set, with director chairs, clapperboards, spotlights, and a monochromatic color scheme. And last but not least, the sixth floor evokes a masculine feeling with red leather boxing gloves and punching-bags. These rooms pay homage to Jean-Paul Belmondo, who had a brief but successful career as a boxer. 

In the basement there is a fully-equipped projection room that plays French movies throughout the day. The hotel hosts a free light buffet with soft drinks in the afternoon. There is a gym located in the basement, with a rowing machine, exercise bikes, and a weight bench with dumbbells. Unlike other Paris hotels, the hotel’s bar is spacious and sits under a pretty glass atrium. Guests can also enjoy a daily breakfast buffet in this space. Food includes eggs, hot meats, cereals, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.