The Most Charming 3* Parisian Hotel (that should be a 4*)
The Left Bank of Paris will forever have my heart. It's where I lived during culinary school at Ferrandi Paris, and it is where I feel most at home in the City of Light. It's authentic, lively, and captures the French spirit of flâner, which means to wander aimlessly just for the pleasure of observing the city.
This summer when a last minute opportunity to travel to Paris arose, I knew I wanted to spend time in this area. I reached out to Hotels Paris Rive Gauche (HPRG), a hotel group with a wonderful array of properties on the left bank. Luckily, they had a room* left at Hotel des Grands Hommes, a 3 star hotel next to the Pantheon.
The gorgeous stairwell leading to the rooms
Pulling up to the hotel, jet-lagged and hungry, I received a lovely welcome in an absolutely beautiful building that exceeded my expectations. I have stayed at all kinds of hotels over the past 20 years and quite often the 3 star kind have not been very impressive. This was decidedly the complete opposite of that.
Bright, orchid-filled lobby
Hôtel des Grands Hommes is situated in an historic 18th century building that has been beautifully restored to showcase original detailed craftsmanship while having modern touches and conveniences. The small lobby was bright, beautiful, and inviting. The staff were friendly and helpful. I looked around and thought immediately that this should be a 4 star hotel, a sentiment that continued throughout my stay.
After a quick lunch of perfectly cooked steak frites at Le Relais de l'Entrecote (IYKYK), I settled into a gorgeous room that provided me with a sweeping view of the Pantheon. To enter the room, I walked through a small corridor which housed two closets, a small but beautiful marbled bathroom, and a separate WC.
Beautiful intricately carved doors led to a private WC
Marbled bathroom with lovely products and a nice bath/shower
Don't miss the exquisite detailed woodwork
The corridor leads into a nice sized room with a seating area and a king bed. The bed, by the way, was the most comfortable one I slept in the entire trip. What stands out in this room are the gorgeous exposed ceiling beams and all the elaborate carvings. This is not the boring, square, cookie cutter room you can often find in other hotels. This is a stylish, comfortable room that you want to return to at the end of the day.
Lots of natural light filtered in through the windows
Then, the pièce de résistance is without a doubt the outstanding view. The windows open to showcase beautifully kept flower boxes that enhance the stunning view of the Pantheon, making it even more breathtaking than it already is.
A room with an outstanding view is always appreciated
Plus, the location is wonderful because you are situated right where the 5th arrondissement meets the 6th. Go right out of the hotel and explore the famed Latin Quarter or go left and be strolling the Jardin de Luxembourg within two minutes and St-Germain-des-Prés in ten. Plus, when you stand at the Pantheon and look west, you glimpse the Eiffel Tower in distance.
Golden Hour in Paris in July (10 pm)
Bottom line: I would stay here again in a heartbeat, and if you are looking for a hotel in Paris that is a little easier on the pocketbook, but also will not disappoint, this absolutely is it. Stay in one of their larger rooms facing the Pantheon for a fantastic experience.
Reach out via email or set up a time talk, and I will happily book it for you at no extra cost.
*For reference, the room I stayed in was a Deluxe Pantheon Room and it was not comped - I paid for it myself.