22 Rue Sainte-Croix De La Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris

Hotel de la Bretonnerie

Name: Hotel de la Bretonnerie
Address: 22 Rue Sainte-Croix De La Bretonnerie, Paris, 75004, FR
Price range: 195 EUR
Rating: 4.15

Hotel 3-star in Paris

Presentation

The Hôtel de la Bretonnerie occupies a former 17th-century private mansion at 22 rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, right in the heart of the Marais. The façade is unassuming. You could walk past without noticing it, wedged between a vintage shop and a wine bar.

From the entrance onward, the tone changes. The exposed stone, the ashlar vault, and the beams crossing the ceiling tell the building’s age better than any commemorative plaque. You go up to the floors by a staircase with character, and it is almost reassuring.

The rooms are not alike from one door to the next. Some keep their beams exposed, others hide a four-poster bed under a sloping attic ceiling; most are decorated with Toile de Jouy in shades that change depending on the floor. This variety has an acknowledged downside: the classic rooms, around 17 m², remain modest, and under the eaves, the windows shrink with the slope of the roof. In return, you get a cozy bed with a view over the Marais’s zinc rooftops, far from the millimeter-perfect rooms of the big chains.

The bathrooms, in marble or terracotta tiles, have that kind of charm you cannot order from a factory. An antique mirror here, a freestanding bathtub there, nothing really repeats itself.

In the basement, in a vaulted cellar that once had to store the house wine, breakfast is served buffet-style from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Coffee, tea, cereals, fruit salad, pastries, and a bit of cured meat make up the essentials. There is an extra charge to expect, as the hotel does not have an on-site restaurant. That is also what nudges you out onto the cafés of rue des Rosiers or the tables of the Jewish quarter just a stone’s throw away.

Outside, Place des Vosges is easily reached on foot, the Picasso Museum is even closer, and the Centre Pompidou is only a few streets away. Notre-Dame is within reach without ever really leaving the Marais.

In the evening, the neighborhood changes pace. The bars on rue Vieille-du-Temple come alive, the windows of the concept stores stay lit late, and the hotel, with its 24-hour reception, remains a calm anchor in the middle of all this bustle.

At reception, the staff know the neighborhood inside out and are happy to recommend a wine bar or a table to book.

One last tip: ask for a courtyard-facing room if you are a light sleeper; the street-facing side stays lively until late in the evening, even with double glazing.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

Really well-located hotel, just a stone’s throw from Hôtel de Ville station. We reached the Centre Pompidou on foot in less than ten minutes.
Room under the eaves, window a bit small, but nice view of the street. With the double glazing, we heard nothing at night.
Very helpful staff at reception. We were given good advice about the neighborhood without having to ask twice.
Breakfast served in an old vaulted stone cellar. Coffee, tea, yogurts, fruit salad, and good croissants, everything you need to start the day well.
Room decorated with antique furniture and exposed beams, marble bathroom. You can feel that the building has seen a lot, which makes a nice change from standard chains.
Room cleaned every day, everything was spotless. Good value for money given the location.