The best hotels for a Paris city break

The top of the immense nine-floor Hôtel Renaissance République is people-watching heaven it looks straight onto the place de la République statue, which is increasingly becoming known as the heart of the city. Out on the terrace you can raise a toast in the evening or breakfast as the sun rises and the location is ideal – just a few strides from Canal Saint-Martin and Grands Boulevards. Inside, there’s everything a traveller would need and more: 121 cosy rooms, a bar and a design restaurant, plus a superb terrace with a 254m living wall, meeting rooms and drop-off parking.

After four years of intense renovations, The Peninsula Paris opened its doors in 2014 with the clear aim of becoming the most beautiful hotel in Europe. Everything is grand and infinitely beautiful. You will pass an imposing pair of lions on entry to the white stone building, then find yourself in an imposing grand hall: think Versailles-style gigantic ceilings, with an enormous Lasvit chandelier – then even more handmade crystal glass, sophisticated mouldings, marble and woodwork.

Ever since the hype of the Ground Control and Grand Train pop-ups, rue Ordener has become the place to be. If you fancy a stroll, tucked away on this same street in the 18th arrondissement, is the pretty Les Jardins de Montmartre. Rooms are spread over two buildings and each floor has its own theme. The warmth of the staff, the comfortable beds and proximity to the metro makes this a great choice if you're looking for a slice of bohemian Paris.

With its enormous golden dragons on the walls, lacquered furniture and Chinese wardrobes, the Buddha-Bar Hotel is the mirror image of its famous restaurant. Illuminated by a hundred cinnabar lanterns, the entrance of the hotel is like an Asian temple. In this magnificent eighteenth century mansion, which is now classified as a listed building, a labyrinth of corridors leads to the 37 rooms and 19 suites decorated by the architect François Wapler (DWA) – who also designed the interior of the Buddha-Bar Hotel Prague and Barrio Latino in Paris, earning it every one of its five stars.

Opposite Opera Garnier, sits a classic Haussmannian building which houses the recently renamed W Paris-Opéra. The latest member of the Starwood Group, the W is well known for its impeccable service. The W’s aesthetic is strong: contemporary art is everywhere, from the photography on the walls to the attractive furnishings. Yet everything manages to fuse perfectly together with the building’s original details (think ornate columns, vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows).

This hotel’s past is certainly colourful. This former brothel is hidden away from the world and keeps the Belle Epoque Pigalle of yesteryear alive – at least in spirit. Through the discreet frontage, don’t be fooled by Jacques Garcia’s Belle Epoque meets orientalist decor. It’s got a serious Arabian Nights vibe: 1895 Cordoba leather on the walls, Moorish earthenware, porcelain, copper and bric-a-brac furniture – all of it is magnificent. Once you’ve acquainted yourself with its risqué history, you can plunge into the other dazzling facilities: a bar serving delicious cocktails and the spa, complete with a swimming pool you can rent by the hour.

Forget spending an arm and a leg to stay in a stylish, central Paris hotel. Now it’s possible to find independent, ultra-trendy hotels for a fraction of the price – usually in neighbourhoods other hotel chains would never dream of. Take the Hotel du Temps, for example. Camped just opposite square Montholon, in the Poissonnière area, the hotel offers better rates than the other three star chains – but with plenty more soul.

Nestled in the confines of the 2nd arrondissement, on the discreet rue Marivaux, is a heavenly hotel, which has been neighbours with the Opéra-Comique since 1824. Staff are warm and smiley and the decor is clean without being clinical. The Rooms are decked out in pastel tones and plaid carpets, which give the place an air of refined elegance.

Between place de Clichy and Gare Saint-Lazare, in the Saint-Georges area is a hotel which will take your breath away. At the l'Hôtel Design Secret de Paris there are 29 rooms, 21 of which come with a private jacuzzi and decor that offers a surreal six-stop tour of the city. Prepare to plunge into Palais Chaillot at Trocadéro, an artist’s Montmartre workshop, a visit to the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, the musée d'Orsay or even a racy night at the Moulin Rouge – all without leaving your hotel room.

Arriving at the Grand Pigalle Hotel with its golden pineapple knocker and ascending the spiral stairs up to your room all feels like you've stepped back in time. Decoration by Dorothée Meilichzon, the hotel designer from the Experimental Group, creates an intimate atmosphere and the attention to detail is superb: plush, velvet-carpeted corridors, brass lamps, ornate fireplaces, fluffy pillows and light earthenware in the bathroom make this place a joy to stay.