Hotel De Varenne

We loved the classy atmosphere, the beautiful, spacious, very clean rooms, and the wonderful staff. Olivier was especially friendly. Traffic made our trip take more than three hours longer than expected, but the hotel communicated with us so patiently and kindly. It was easy to walk to museums and other attractions, and public transport was nearby too. We stayed two nights to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The reception staff were extremely nice, efficient, and helpful, but the rest of the experience was mediocre. Our ground-floor bedroom smelled terrible, probably because of the sewers. The mattress was terribly hard and the pillows were very poor. Breakfast was awful: no eggs at first, and when eggs appeared the next morning they were cold, as was the coffee. We paid 257 euros a night, and the quality didn’t match the price or what I’d expect of a four-star hotel. We won’t return.

We could walk to just about everything, and this was the perfect base for Paris attractions. There’s a grocery store across the street, a pharmacy halfway down the block, and a wonderful bakery just two doors away. The large windows looked out over beautiful gardens, and our room was a great size. The staff were wonderful, especially Oliver, Kensa, and Alex. I picked the hotel based on its online photos, and it didn’t disappoint. I hope to return to this beautiful city, and I’ll definitely stay here again! Nancy and Devin Coley

A little Paris miracle, courtesy of Alexey, the night clerk at Hotel De Varenne. At 1:00 AM, we discovered that the Air B&B we’d booked, which looked great online, was actually a five-story walk-up with warped floors, uneven spiral stairs, and a rickety railing. We had two 45 lb suitcases to haul upstairs, and the stairwell lights timed out every three minutes, leaving us in the dark. We really needed help. Alexey found us a lovely room for the same price as that “bargain” Air B&B, with a modern bathroom, an elevator, daily housekeeping, and a marvelous continental breakfast. He and his colleagues also cheerfully helped with concierge needs based on their own experience, from finding an emergency dentist to locating a nearby late-night restaurant with vegan food and booking a tour. No need to comb through reviews. The hotel entrance is in a lovely courtyard set back from the street, with tables and chairs for seasonal outdoor breakfast. It has an old-world look and feel with modern conveniences, and only 26 rooms, so it never feels crowded. The staff learn your name, and the other guests are friendly too. Near the National Assembly, it’s in a normal Paris neighbourhood with friendly people and the occasional politician. The central location meant we could walk to most places in under 30 minutes. The only downside is having to go to Paris to stay there. Actually, that’s the upside! Highly recommended.