What to expect: The hotel is in the center of the lively Latin Quarter, making it popular with vacationers who also enjoy the classic Parisian decor. The hotel itself is a quiet oasis, with a winter garden-style lobby lounge furnished with comfortable sofas, palms, and sculptures. Amenity highlights: The Tour Notre-Dame has an authentic 17th-century vaulted stone cellar with a painted mural wall, where a buffet breakfast is served daily (fee). The hotel can also arrange for services such as laundry, currency exchange, and fax services.
Insider tip: There are two English-language bookstores within 3 blocks of the hotel. Shakespeare and Co., named after Sylvia Beach’s original pre-WWII bookshop, is on the Quai St-Michel facing Notre-Dame and features a maze of used classics. The Canadian-owned Abbey Bookshop on Rue de la Parcheminerie sells books in English and French, and a cup of tea with real maple syrup.