Small Bathrooms . . . Otherwise Few & Far Between .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Hotel de Notre Dame, ParisThe four-star Hotel de Notre Dame is a small & picturesque 'boutique' hotel located in the very heart of Paris. Its location is quite simply superb. Although set in a quiet and attractive side-street, it is little more than a stone's throw from the Seine, and is situated right on the fringe of the vibrant Latin quarter. Some rooms have views above the rooftops to the Notre Dame, and the bells of the cathedral can be heard tolling across the river. I've stayed at this delightful little hotel three times now, and unless that proverbial ship comes in, enabling me to stay at the George V, I doubt I'd ever consider staying anywhere else in Paris ever again.
The entrance to the hotel is burgundy in colour and somewhat unprepossessing in appearance; in fact, it rather resembles an old, converted shop-front. Inside, however, the hotel lobby is beautifully decorated, with heavy, antique furnishings, and large tapestries gracing the walls. To the side, there is a small and attractive dining area with exposed beams and a bar. The hotel seems to have been redecorated in a slightly protracted sequence, and this is particularly evident in the rooms, which exhibit a slightly jumbled array of decorative styles. Some of the rooms are absolutely exquisite, whereas the décor in others is becoming a little dated. One room I stayed in had a rather risqué oil painting on the wall above the bed, depicting a corpulent nude in a particularly indiscreet pose…
The hotel does feel a little cramped and crooked throughout, although in my opinion this really only lends to its charm. There are a number of winding stairs and corridors leading off in various directions. Several of the rooms are quite cosy (read: small) but not uncomfortably so. Slanted ceilings and exposed beams are in evidence throughout. In short, each and every room presents its own surprise, and there is nothing formulaic or contrived to be found in any of them. One room I stayed in had a little attic window with a view across to the Notre Dame, and a small table and chairs in front of it. We sat at the little table to breakfast most mornings, and I can't imagine a lovelier setting to enjoy a morning croissant and café au lait, than amidst the rooftops of Paris with the cooing of pigeons and the view across to the cathedral.
Each of the hotel's 34 rooms has its own bathroom, some of which, once again, are a little on the small side. Several have either a bath or a shower, but not both. It's definitely worth establishing both the dimensions of the room and the facilities available in the bathroom when booking. The rooms are equipped with all the usual 4-star amenities: cable television (with, incidentally, a very good selection of English channels), a mini-bar, safe, hair-dryer and direct-dial telephone. Breakfast costs an additional 7 Euros, and as said, can be taken in the rooms. In the case of this hotel, I rather consider the fact that breakfast is not included an advantage, as there are so many delightful cafes nearby, and it's nice not to feel compelled to breakfast at the hotel every day. Finally, the hotel's rooms are all immaculately clean and well presented, with fresh flowers in vases, and fresh fruit in bowls.
As to the staff at this hotel, I've always found them to be extremely courteous and helpful, although (perhaps thankfully!) not effusively so. One thing I would mention, however, is that on one of my earlier visits a couple of them did not speak English, something that could pose problems for non-French speakers… There is generally a relaxed feel about the hotel, which I particularly appreciate. This extends to the reception staff, who are not heavily starched and formal, and may well be found slumped in their seat, reading a newspaper and enjoying a coffee as you enter the lobby. There isn't that depressing sense of having to be quiet and dignified and on your best behaviour that characterises a lot of smaller French hotels in this price bracket.
The Hotel de Notre Dame is within a brief stroll of the Museum of Natural History, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Cluny Museum, the Sorbonne and the Panthéon; and is set amidst an entrancing maze of narrow streets, with countless cafes, bars, restaurants and patisseries in its near vicinity. It is almost directly opposite the Ile Saint Louis and the Seine embankment with its row of book stalls, and a brief walk away from the Shakespeare & Co. bookshop and the miscellaneous treasures of the legendary Latin quarter. Both the St Germain and St Michel boulevards are just around the corner...
Please note that the Hotel de Notre Dame is situated on the Rue Maitre Albert, and is not to be confused with a number of other, similarly named hotels (such the Hotel Le Notre Dame) in the same general vicinity. The hotel is a short distance from the St. Michel Notre Dame train station (train direct to/from CDG airport), and a 2-minute walk from the nearest Metro. Having said that, the location is so convenient, I've generally found myself walking everywhere!
Double & Twin rooms range between £90-£130 per night. The hotel reception is open 24 hours a day.
