Review of Le Senat, by Jamie Dunford Wood

Le Senat, on top of the hill of Paris's St Germain, joins a growing list of Parisian three-stars and two-stars which have received the boutique hotel makeover. What were formally often dingy walk-ups - with grumpy madams dispensing heavy brass keys to plainly decorated rooms, low wattage, baths without plugs and no air-con - have graciously been transformed. The low wattage remains, but in down lighters, while the ubiquitous prints of the Eiffel Tower have been replaced by trendy black and white photos of black jazz stars.

The facilities

The majority are following a formula, and boutique hotel Le Senat is no exception. It's how much care and attention to detail they exhibit that mark out the good ones - and here boutique hotel Le Senat scores. First, the position, on top of the hill in a quiet side street near the Luxembourg gardens, puts it a short walk from all the St Germain action, as well as close to some magnificent greenery.

While public space in this boutique hotel is limited, what there is - a small library, and a street side modern bar - invites you to linger. And for not a lot extra Le Senat has a couple of exceptional duplex rooms at the top of the boutique hotel - two with terraces, with some of the best views of Paris from Sacre Coeur to the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.

The rooms

The room sizes all over St Germain and the Latin Quarter are notoriously on the small size, boutique hotel Le Senat's rooms by and large have plenty of natural light, as well as decent heights so space is maximised. Décor is crisp and modern, with well chosen fabrics for a maximum sense of comfort. Bathrooms are in slate, or marble or some expensive modern composite, and showers have high pressure power rather than a dribble.