55 rue Monge, 75005 Paris

Hotel Monge

Name: Hotel Monge
Address: 55 rue Monge, Paris, 75005, FR
Rating: 4.7

Hotel 4-star with spa in Paris

Presentation

Hôtel Monge slips in between the Jardin des Plantes and the Panthéon, in the 5th arrondissement, just a stone’s throw from the Arènes de Lutèce. Nothing ostentatious on the façade. This house was built in 1876, the residence of a wealthy family that welcomed artists and writers from the Left Bank here. It was not until 2016 that a complete renovation transformed it into a 30-room boutique hotel, without erasing what gave it its character.

Push open the door, and the sitting rooms flow one after another. Ceiling moldings, a herringbone parquet floor that creaks softly underfoot, a marble fireplace still in working order. The owners also own Hôtel Fabric, in the 11th, all steel and raw concrete. Here, they took the exact opposite approach: Pierre Frey velvet, Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture, tropical wallpapers printed at Deyrolle, the naturalist house founded in 1831. Butterflies, fauna, and flora are repeated on the walls. A discreet nod to the Jardin des Plantes, just opposite.

As you go up the floors, the rooms continue the same story. Books everywhere, lithographs, travel souvenirs that give the impression of an owner who has just returned from an expedition. Some overlook the Arènes de Lutèce or the rooftops of Paris. It is worth asking for this when booking. The rooms remain in a rather compact Parisian format, closer to a townhouse than to an international standard, but the walk-in showers and L'Occitane products quickly make you forget the square footage. The neighborhood is not quiet, Line 7 of the metro runs underneath, but the triple-glazed windows filter out most of the noise. What remains is above all Paris continuing to live outside.

On the ground floor, breakfast is served between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Homemade pain au chocolat, generous buffet, and the option to have it served in your room for late risers. All day long, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and madeleines are available. In the evening, the honesty bar takes over. Help yourself to wine, champagne, or an apéritif, without ever crossing paths with a server counting the glasses.

In the basement, a eucalyptus-scented hammam awaits, available for private booking and offered to all guests. A massage room completes the setup, by reservation.

Outside, everything is within walking distance. Rue Mouffetard and its market stalls, Place de la Contrescarpe, the Sorbonne, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame on the other side of the Seine, the Jardin du Luxembourg for those who want to sit for a while.

One last tip: ask to reserve the hammam as soon as you arrive, the evening slots go quickly.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

The room was almost right above metro line 7, so we expected noise. In the end, we could barely hear anything at night. Notre-Dame is just a few minutes’ walk away, with a bus stop right opposite.
The room was rather small, so don’t expect a loft. The air conditioning works well and the elevator is fast, which makes all the difference after a day of walking around Paris.
The front desk took the time to explain the best route to the Louvre without us asking for much. Attentive service from the beginning to the end of the stay.
The breakfast buffet was complete, with eggs, salmon, cheeses, and fresh fruit. You leave full until evening without needing to snack along the way.
Only three rooms have a real bathtub; the others have walk-in showers. We learned that on arrival, so ask when booking if it matters to you.
Hammam in the basement, small but effective after a day of roaming around Paris. Massage booked on site, one of the best we’ve had while traveling.