Legend Hotel by Elegancia

A black marquis jutting out between the shops on busy Rue de Rennes (and the contemporary art hidden below it) is an immediate indicator of this hotel's design sense. Set in an iconically Parisian limestone building, the hotel defies its classic facade with artsy, bordering-on-edgy interiors. Halls are covered in dark iridescent tiles, beds are illuminated from below, and wire-caged lights hang from tree-like sculptures on a long wooden bench table in the honor bar/breakfast area. A tiny open-air patio, enclosed by ivy-covered walls, is wedged between the bar and the reception lounge, where ambient pop music plays and low green cushioned seats are accented with black-and-white pillows and throw rugs.A small elevator and wooden spiral staircase lead to the six guest floors above. The clientele here are mostly tourists and a few business guests, though the hotel especially appeals to 30-somethings from North America, France, and other parts of Europe.

The hotel is located on busy Rue de Rennes, a large boulevard in central Paris with boutiques, ice cream shops, major retailers, and cafes. The church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres is a 15-minute walk straight down Rue de Rennes, while Luxembourg Gardens are 10 minutes away on foot and Boulevard Saint-Michel -- one of the vibrant Latin Quarter's main streets -- is an 18-minute walk away. The Saint-Placide metro station (line 4) is at the end of the block and Gare Montparnasse (lines 4, 6, 12, 13, and the RER) is a 10 minutes away by foot. A car or taxi can reach Charles de Gaulle Airport in 40 minutes or Orly Airport in about 20 minutes, though both can be accessed by metro and RER trains in under an hour. 

As to be expected from a narrow building in central Paris, Legend Hotel's rooms have something of a space issue -- they start at 160 square feet. That being said, their contemporary design is chic and bold enough to at least provide a nice distraction from the space confines. Furthermore, rooms have windows that stretch nearly from the floor to the ceiling; some even have small step-out balconies. Views are either of the interior courtyard or the bustling Rue de Rennes and its classically Parisian buildings.Dark mauves and grays are offset by minimalist white mica furniture and white gauzy curtains. Textured gold doors, glowing under-bed lighting, and sculptural gold light fixtures give rooms a romantic feel. Walls coverings include moody velvet damask and zoomed-in water imagery. Twin, double, queen, or king beds come with thick mattresses, plush pillows (pillow menus are available), and duvets. Reading spotlights are set on either side of the bed. Every room comes with a minibar, flat-screen TV, safe, air-conditioning, and work desk with a sculptural metal stool. Slate-tiled bathrooms are modern but compact, with either a glass-enclosed rainfall shower or tub/shower combo and Geneva Guild bath products. Intimacy kits are available.Legend has two suites, the Dreamcatcher and Passage Secret, both with extras like coffeemakers, bathrobes, and slippers. The two suites take the sexy theme up an extra notch, with a blown-up photograph of a whispering woman in the Passage Secret (which can be converted to a meeting room) and, in Dreamcatcher, a backlit bed, white fur throw rug, and an in-room tub for two. A dreamcatcher-like sculpture in the middle of the room suggests a stripper pole.Two wheelchair-accessible rooms are available. 

Like many small hotels in Paris, there aren't many on-site features here, but the artsy breakfast room, lounge, and small terrace deserve mention and are perfectly lovely places to relax before or after a day in the city. Rooms can be booked with or without breakfast, which includes an array of quiches, baguettes, croissants, pastries, cakes, apples, oranges, jams, cheese, meats, and hard-boiled eggs. The area also has an honor bar and free newspapers. There's no room for a spa or treatment area, but in-room oil massages (for one or two people) are available. The Passage Secret room can be converted into a small meeting room and there is free Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel. Laundry and dry cleaning services are available. Pets are not allowed.