Hotel D

Strasbourg isn't hurting for choice when it comes to trendy boutique properties, but Hotel D still manages to stand out. The hotel is housed in a five-floor brown-brick building with wrought-iron Juliet balconies and gabled roof windows -- it's a quaint and classic facade. Inside, though, the look is impeccably contemporary, with an undeniably sexy vibe. The lobby is strikingly colorful, with hot-pink walls and reception desk, tartan-print sofas, and parquet wood floors. The lobby lounge, with dark-pink floral-print walls and soft dark-gray armchairs, is an inviting spot for lingering with newspapers, books, or laptops. More color is on vivid display in the breakfast room, with its red walls, orange checkerboard-print floors, and chairs in red, pink, violet, and yellow, and the basement relaxation area features multicolored tiles. With only 37 rooms, Hotel D has a hip and intimate atmosphere that unsurprisingly mainly draws couples, though a few business travelers pass through as well.

The Hotel D is in the Neustadt quarter of the Tribunal District, across the street from the Tribunal de Grande Instance building. The area is a quiet and mainly residential. Many attractions are within walking distance, though, and public transportation is nearby -- the Pont du Pierre bus stop is a three-minute walk, and both the Ancienne Synagogue/Les Halles and Broglie tram stops are within a seven-minute walk of the hotel. Self-service city bikes are also nearby. The Strasbourg-Ville train station is a five-minute drive or about a 10-minute walk. Place Broglie Square, with the Strasbourg Opera House City Hall, Hotel des Deux-Ponts (Governor's Palace), and Hotel de Klinglin, are about a five-minute walk from the hotel. The Place des Halles shopping center and Place Kleber central square are a seven-minute walk. It's 10 minutes on foot to Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg, the 15th-century timber-framed Kammerzell House, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Palais Rohan, the former residence of the prince-bishops and cardinals of the House of Rohan. Expect a 10-minute drive or 15-minute walk to La Petite France, with its channels and 16th- and 17th-century half-timbered buildings. Strasbourg Airport is about a 15-minute drive from the Hotel D. 

The Hotel D's 37 rooms and suites are housed in a five-story building, with the elevator stopping one floor from the top. Rooms have a stylish, sleek look, with contemporary furnishings, modern art, and all-white bedding. Some rooms are done in a turquoise-and-gray color palette, with orange providing another dash of color. Other rooms feature splashes of yellow, and shades of brown. Furniture has dark brown veneer surfaces and sharp, clean lines, while vintage twists -- like desk chairs in some rooms -- give rooms just a touch of funky appeal. Small details like carved headboards in some rooms only further the ambience, as do variable decorative elements like lattice screens and gabled ceilings. Rooms range from 160 square feet (15 square meters) to 484 square feet (45 square meters) in size, so some can be compact. Rooms all come with desks, safes, minibars, Nespresso machines, free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs with satellite and English-language channels. Some rooms and suites have balconies and sofas. The chic bathrooms are done in white and gray, and include lighted magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, sleek fixtures, and premium bath products. The glass-walled showers have showerheads mounted at waist height, as well as rainfall showerheads overhead. Some rooms have bathtubs, but not all. 

For a small hotel, Hotel D packs in some nice amenities, though the lack of a restaurant for lunch or dinner is a bit disappointing. The hotel has a sleek wellness area with a sauna, relaxation room with heated loungers, and massage and beauty treatments (for a fee). Details like recessed lighting and black mosaic tiling make the space an alluring place to unwind after a day touring the city. The small fitness center includes a recumbent bike, elliptical machine, treadmill, free weights, and a plyometric ball. Each piece of equipment has a TV and iPod dock. The breakfast buffet comes with a hefty fee, and includes scrambled eggs, Alsatian sausage, local cheeses and meats, plus fruits and pastries -- guests might fare better at a nearby cafe or patisserie for a less pricey meal. The hotel also has a 24-hour front desk, business corner, tourist assistance, and parking (for a fee). Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.