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This is a special place, a true labor of love by its Algerian-born owner, Madjid Sellam. Monsieur Sellam bought it for a song in 1999, when it was a seedy house of ill repute. He has transformed it bit by bit into an authentic and welcoming place for travelers and fans of the French "chanson" alike.
The upgrading of the hotel has paralleled the gentification of the Menilmontant neighborhood, formerly a village attached to Belleville until it was annexed to Paris in 1860 by Baron Haussmann. Despite colonization by a new hip and young clientele, the neighborhood still retains a genuine village feeling, distinct and apart from the rest of Paris.
Owner Madjid himself is a devotee of the great chansonniers of the area—Maurice Chevalier, Edith Piaf, Jean Gabin and others—and his hotel is a testament to that passion. Downstairs there is a bar and restaurant full of potted plants, musical memorabilia, and portraits of the singers. It's a welcoming place, with locals dropping in often for a coffee or a chat with the gregarious owner.
The hotel is decorated in pure nostalgic style, complete with toile de jouy wallpaper and lots of furniture and objects gleaned from flea markets and antique dealers. The rooms are cheap and clean, starting at €45 for a single with shared shower and toilet in the hallway, and €59 for rooms with en suite bathrooms. The two best rooms on the top floor, named Mistinguett and Maurice Chevalier respectively, are brand new and come complete with jacuzzis, flat-screen televisions, and bright, fresh bed linens. Pricier than the other rooms, at €102 and €113 respectively, they still represent great value for money.
There is a full service restaurant downstairs, with a blackboard menu of traditional French bistrot dishes, and the plat du jour is a very reasonable €8.50. On Thursday nights there is live music.
Don't come here on your first visit to Paris. The area is not very convenient to the main tourist areas. But if you're looking for a unique experience in an authentic corner of Paris at unbeatable rates, this is the hotel for you.
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