Hotel De La Bretonnerie by Jamie Dunford Wood

Hotel de la Bretonnerie is a 17th-century building in an extremely pretty part of the Marais. It is a well-run hotel (Hotel de la Bretonnerie) of 29 rooms on four floors. Although it has a reputation as being popular with the gay fraternity who inhabit the district, it is not aimed exclusively at the gay community. Service from the young, female staff is personal (well, not that personal) and friendly, and the subterranean breakfast room is prettily decorated.

The facilities

If the great location isn't enough, this boutique hotel offers a number of other amenities. Guests traveling on business have the convenience of access to a computer, fax machine and internet point. There is a public parking lot and a buffet style breakfast served each morning. The lounge is a great place to go to read any one of the large selection of newspapers from all over the world.

The rooms
Rooms are clean, bright and simply but elegantly furnished, some with four-posters, with well chosen fabrics in earthy colours and patterned fabric wall coverings. Bathrooms are basic but clean. Pictures are lacking, which detracts a little from the character of the rooms, but this is still a good find at the budget end of the middle bracket. You should book the slightly more expensive ‘chambres de charme’ for their extra space and, in some, two windows. However, there is no air-conditioning here, so for in the few weeks of high summer you may be wise to book a courtyard room where you can open the windows without fear of street disturbances.