36 Rue du Dragon, 75006 Paris

Hotel du Dragon

Name: Hotel du Dragon
Address: 36 Rue du Dragon, Paris, 75006, FR
Rating: 4

Hotel 2-star in Paris

Presentation

The Hôtel du Dragon has occupied, since 1924, a building erected at the end of the 17th century, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. You enter through a rather discreet door for the neighborhood, and that is perhaps what strikes you first: nothing here tries to impose itself.

At the front desk, a family team welcomes travelers with a sincerity that never feels forced. You can sense that the hotel still belongs to those who run it, generation after generation. Interactions are simple.

The 26 rooms are spread over six floors, each decorated differently by the hotel itself. Double glazing on the windows, shower or bathtub, hair dryer, television: the amenities remain modest. You sleep well here, in a setting that has kept its character rather than being smoothed out by a standardized renovation.

One detail to know before booking: the hotel does not have an elevator. The floors must be climbed on foot, via a staircase that has the charm of the old days but does require a little effort with luggage. For a peaceful stay, it is best to request a room on the lower floors if you are not traveling light.

In the morning, breakfast is served downstairs, in a room where the homemade jams and regional products are given the time they deserve. In fine weather, it moves to the inner courtyard, sheltered from street noise.

On the ground floor as well, one room has been designed to accommodate a person with reduced mobility, an attention that is not so common in the old buildings of the neighborhood.

At the end of the day, the piano lounge becomes the evening gathering spot. People settle in there for a drink before heading back out to dinner in one of the nearby bistros.

As for facilities, the hotel does not overdo it: no spa, no gym, no restaurant attached to the property. This two-star hotel relies on its location and welcome rather than on a long list of services, and that is felt especially in the single rooms, which are more compact than average for the neighborhood, the fair price of a 17th-century building that was not redesigned for the occasion.

Place Saint-Sulpice is just a short walk away, as are Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, only two minutes away. The Seine and the Luxembourg Gardens can be reached in a ten-minute walk. The Saint-Germain-des-Prés metro station takes you directly to the Louvre or the Champs-Élysées.

For parking, you will need to rely on the nearby covered public parking lots, as the hotel has no private parking.

One last tip for those arriving late in the afternoon: ask for a courtyard-facing room rather than one facing Rue du Dragon; it is much quieter there once night falls.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

The street is very quiet in the evening; you can barely hear the neighborhood’s bustle from the room.
Staff available from the moment of arrival, and a good bistro recommendation for the evening.
Simple breakfast, homemade jams and decent bread, served in a small room downstairs.
Room on the third floor rather small but clean, comfortable bedding for two nights.
No elevator, plan to carry your luggage on foot up to the top floor.
Two minutes’ walk from Café de Flore, Saint-Sulpice stop right across the street.