Hotel du Commerce

The Hôtel du Commerce, a hotel-hostel hybrid with history, charm and a superb location, is one our favorites in all of Paris. Rates for the hotel’s modest rooms are a steal considering its prime Latin Quarter location off the Place Maubert, just a short stroll from Notre Dame and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Quick read

Pros: Old-school, shabby-chic atmosphere. Cheapo rates. Fantastic St. Germain location.
Cons: May be too bare-bones for some. Steep stairs, no elevator.

The hotel

Let us set the scene: The Commerce is housed in a former 13th-century convent, and it maintains a certain austerity which luxury-lovers may find akin to martyrdom. Floors are uneven, rooms are bare to the bones and bathrooms are mostly shared. But the Commerce oozes “authentic experience,” and boldly sports its shabby-chic heart on its well-worn sleeve.

Rooms

Located up a set of steep stairs (no elevator), the 32 guestrooms sing with natural light and Provençal hues of yellow and blue. Matching curtains and bedspreads are not new (read: sometimes tattered!). Most rooms are quite narrow with high ceilings, and furnished with simple wardrobes, lamps, sinks and desks. Courtyard rooms are a tad wider (ask ahead). Amenities are low on the list here: Rooms do not have air conditioning, a television or phone.

Only three rooms have both a shower and toilet in the room, and the one on the fifth floor boasts one of the coolest showers we’ve ever seen, built into the walls. (To book one of these rooms, you must call the hotel directly.) Shared bathrooms and showers are spic-and-span. Do note, though, that there is an additional €2 fee every time you shower.

Hotel facilities

Downstairs, the Commerce’s generous public spaces are outfitted with bright cherry red walls and include a library, a trendy art gallery (with original postcards for sale), a free Internet station and vending machines. There’s also a guest kitchen, an especially nice perk since the Place Maubert has an open-air market three mornings a week for picking up fresh supplies! The hotel’s friendly owner, Béatrice, is usually perched behind a large studio work desk in the reception area, and always happy to share her Paris expertise.

There is no elevator and the stairs are quite steep and uneven. We slipped while making our way up to the fifth floor, so those returning from a night of merry making (you don’t have to be a saint to stay here) should be especially careful and hold onto the skinny handrail.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, but seems to work best on the ground floor. Note that credit cards are not accepted, and rooms are not cleaned every day. Also, we wouldn’t call this place kid-friendly.