7 Et 9 Rue Malebranche, 75005 Paris

Hôtel Madeleine de Senlis

Name: Hôtel Madeleine de Senlis
Address: 7 Et 9 Rue Malebranche, Paris, 75005, FR
Rating: 4.5

Hotel 3-star with pool in Paris

Presentation

The Hôtel Madeleine de Senlis is located on Rue Malebranche, a cobbled lane that quietly winds between the Panthéon and the Jardin du Luxembourg. You push open a discreet door, almost anonymous from the sidewalk, and you step straight into a 19th-century drawing room: green velvet, patinated gilt, portraits that seem to follow the conversation with their gaze. Here, the story tells of Madeleine de Senlis, an imaginary woman of letters who supposedly welcomed Proust, George Sand, and the Comtesse de Ségur in this very room, amid literary debates and memories of Russia or Berry.

On the ground floor, this library lounge serves as the heart of the house. Breakfast is served there in the morning, a book is leafed through there in the afternoon, and a drink is lingered over there at the end of the day. The light changes with the hour, softer in the evening beneath the crystal chandeliers.

Exiting through the back, a 50-square-meter planted courtyard opens onto Parisian cobblestones. Plants climb along the walls, and a gallery overlooks the whole space with a few tables where you can sit in peace. A green blind spot, right in the 5th arrondissement, just steps from the Panthéon.

As for the rooms, the building dates from the 17th century, and it shows: exposed beams, half-timbering, flea-market finds, Jouy prints on the walls. The spaces remain modest, with a standard room measuring around ten square meters. That is common for this kind of characterful address in the heart of the Latin Quarter, but it may surprise travelers used to more space. Those looking for a true sense of breathing room will opt for the Madeleine de Senlis suite, with views of the Panthéon and the Sorbonne, or for a room facing the courtyard rather than the street.

In the morning, there are three breakfast options: the library lounge, the patio if the weather allows, or the room for those who prefer to linger under the covers. Homemade cakes, fresh fruit, cheese, pastries, and, of course, a few madeleines. This breakfast is not included in the room rate. It is an à la carte formula, which at least leaves the choice to skip the table on some mornings and go get a coffee from one of the bakeries on Rue Mouffetard, a few minutes’ walk away.

At the end of the day, head down to the basement. Beneath four stone vaults, a mineral basin evokes Roman baths, with subdued lighting. Almost total silence. Guests can book a private one-hour slot between nine in the morning and six in the evening, free of charge at reception. After six and until eight, access remains possible but becomes shared again, a detail to keep in mind for those hoping for quiet in the evening.

Around the hotel, the Latin Quarter unfolds its familiar landmarks: the Sorbonne a few meters away, the Musée de Cluny, Rue Mouffetard and its market stalls. The Jardin du Luxembourg is only two minutes away. Early in the morning, before joggers and strollers, the Médicis Fountain belongs almost entirely to those who know to pause there.

One last tip, for those arriving late: ask for a high floor, away from the elevator and the stairwell. The ground-floor rooms sometimes hear a bit more than the others.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

The staff took the time to recommend two places on the next street over, a restaurant for the evening and a café for the morning. Simple and efficient welcome, with no fuss.
The air conditioning worked well during the heatwave, which is not so common in an old building in the neighborhood. We slept properly despite the heat outside.
Breakfast with homemade cakes and fresh fruit every morning. Simple but well cared for; it didn’t feel industrial.
We booked a slot just for us at the basement pool. One quiet hour under the stone vaults, with no one else there.
Very quiet street at night, a change from hotels near Boulevard Saint-Michel. Several bakeries just a two-minute walk away for the morning.
Room small as advertised but well designed and clean. A carafe of water available downstairs, handy for filling your bottle before heading out.