Hotel du Nord

Tucked away on the tiny (and surprisingly quiet) rue Albert Thomas just north of République, the Hotel du Nord is an enchanting little guesthouse, its exterior crawling with ivy and lined with flowers. But things are even more charming inside.

Quick read

Pros: Funky, colorful rooms. Great value. Convenient République location. Free bikes.

Cons: No elevator. Limited reception hours.

Rooms

The Hotel du Nord’s 24 rooms are each artfully decorated with a bit of flair that combines colorful fabrics (we spied bright striped drapes and a bold green velour bedspread in one room) with a mix of antique and flea-market furnishings. The result is attractive and fun. Rooms on the first two floors have wooden ceiling beams, and many have stone walls (hung with original paintings).

All rooms are non-smoking and equipped with a flat-screen TV and telephone. Wi-Fi is free and accessible throughout the hotel. Bathrooms are tiled and most are equipped with a shower, although bathtubs are available (ask ahead).

The hotel’s smaller (and cheaper) rooms face the courtyard, which would also be a bit quieter at night. However, we really liked the rooms facing the rue Albert Thomas, all of which are equipped with double-paned windows (most of which open to flower boxes).

Hotel

The downstairs lobby, with its hodgepodge of furniture, framed prints, low lights, terracotta tiles and stone walls, has no shortage of charm or personality. We clicked our camera like crazy—after all, it seemed like the lobby had just been styled for a photo shoot.

The Hotel du Nord is something between a one-star hotel and a pension. The reception closes before midnight, although guests are free to come and go with their own key. Still, don’t arrive expecting to call on the friendly management (or the extra-friendly canine, Pluto) for room service during the night.

One notable extra: The Hotel du Nord offers guests free use of bicycles, which are parked just outside the front door.

Breakfast is available for €7.50. The hotel does have a small elevator.

Location

The hotel is located on the narrow rue Albert Thomas, around the corner from the busier Boulevard de Magenta, and a three-minute walk to the very busy Place de la République, which is a major transit hub. Choosing a hotel near République, for the most part, will be convenient, given the Metro lines, the convergence of big boulevards, and all of the nearby restaurants and shops.

From here you can easily walk south into the Marais or westward along the Grands Boulevards. There are some sketchy characters hanging around the area at night, but it’s also so busy that you’ll rarely be alone in the streets.

Metro: The Hotel du Nord is located a few minutes walk north of the République Metro station (lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11), and around the corner from the Jacques Bonsergent stop (line 5).