Five of My Favorite Left Bank Hotels

I take pride in recommending venues I’ve experienced. While I don’t often stay in hotels in Paris, I’ve stayed at these and highly recommend them. All are in my preferred left bank neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and walking distance to major tourist attractions.

Hotel Pont Royal *****│ 5-7 Rue Montalembert, 75007

The Hotel Pont Royal is a literary hotel. That is to say, its decor is inspired by and pays tribute to the many well-known authors who frequented the basement bar in the 1940s, including Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.

This hotel makes my list of top five because the service is OUTSTANDING. The front desk staff is wonderful and goes out of its way to be accommodating. For example, I booked my first stay at the hotel over the phone. I inquired about the size of the room, noting that I was bringing my niece for her very first trip to Paris. Upon hearing the reason for my inquiry, I was granted a complimentary upgrade from a deluxe room to a junior suite with breakfast included. I thought the gesture was so kind and thoughtful. We had a two-room suite with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Our beautiful accommodations at the Hotel Pont Royal contributed to an absolutely wonderful week that neither my niece nor I will ever forget.

On another occasion, a close friend needed to ditch her suitcase for a few hours before heading back to London. I popped into the hotel and asked the front desk staff if they would keep her bag for the afternoon – even though we were not guests of the hotel. The response: “Yes, of course.” Yet again, the friendly staff at the Hotel Pont Royal did not disappoint.

Thus, I have recommended this hotel to many friends, all of whom have had similarly wonderful experiences – outstanding service, beautiful rooms, and great views of the Eiffel Tower.

K+K Hotel Cayre ****│ 4 Boulevard Raspail, 75007

Believe it or not, about two years ago, I arrived in Paris for a one-week stay without a hotel reservation. I booked the flight last minute and was simply too busy to find a hotel. Upon landing at Charles de Gaulle, I started looking up hotels and calling around for availability. Eventually, my quest led me to the K+K Hotel Cayre. I was slightly put off by the mid-century decor. When in France, I like to stay at venues with traditional French decor – that means elaborate molding, sumptuous draperies, parquet floors, and Louis-style furniture. The K+K Hotel Cayre has a decisively modern vibe.

When I called, the hotel manager picked up and completely won me over. Not only would he give me a better rate than I had seen online, but he also offered a complimentary upgrade and the daily breakfast buffet. Things got even better when I arrived to check in. The manager had reflected on our conversation and upgraded my room to an even higher level. He reasoned that since I was staying a week, I should be in a more spacious room. Needless to say, I was thrilled.

Everything about the hotel was fabulous. The staff was absolutely wonderful and the location was PERFECT – just off the intersection of rue du Bac and boulevard St. Germain. The daily breakfast buffet offered a wide variety of delicious breakfast items. I had very convenient access to two of my favorite bus lines, a cash station, a Monoprix, a pharmacy, a Biguine hair salon for blow-outs, and – best of all – the Barthélémy cheese shop across the street. Plus, other guests were super friendly and the bar had a great vibe at night.

Hotel d’Aubusson *****│ 33 Rue Dauphine, 75006

I absolutely love the Hotel d’Aubusson. I’ve stayed here many times and have encouraged friends and family to do the same, including my parents. This hotel is the epitome of understated elegance. It has a warm and welcoming environment and every comfort imaginable.

There’s nothing nicer than returning to your hotel after a busy day of touring the city and sinking into a beautifully made bed or relaxing to live music in the lounge. One of the best features of Hotel d’Aubusson is Café Laurent. It’s the perfect spot for smooth jazz and stylish cocktails. My evenings at Café Laurent are quite a stretch from my college days in underground jazz clubs which are still scattered throughout the neighborhood. Equally delightful to cocktails in the jazz club is a cup of tea along side the cozy wood-burning fireplace.

Needless to say, the staff is superb. Whether it’s dinner reservation, last minute concert tickets, or chasing down a suitcase left in a taxi, they do a fantastic job of ensuring guests have a great time in Paris. The only drawback to this hotel is the location. Over the years, this part of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood has become quite congested. It can be difficult to navigate the crowded streets or find a taxi. That said, it’s literally in the center of the Paris – just steps away from the Louvre, Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint Louis.

Hotel Récamier ****│ 3 bis Place Saint-Sulpice, 75006

Truth be told, I haven’t stayed at Hotel Récamier since it was completely renovated a few years ago. But, I’m recommending it because it still has everything I loved about it – namely, a fabulous location on place Saint Sulpice and incredibly friendly and accommodating staff. It is extremely close to the Luxembourg Garden, which I adore. And, the decor was done by famed designer Jean Louis Deniot.

Hotel Récamier is named after Jeanne Françoise Julie Adélaïde Récamier, known as Juliette. She was a French socialite and icon of neoclassicism whose salon drew people from the leading literary and political circles of early 19th-century Paris. You may recognize the name because she is the subject of the iconic painting by Jacques-Louis David, which hangs in the Louvre.

I stopped in last year to tour the hotel and see the newly updated spaces. As I anticipated, the hotel was beautiful, discrete, and quiet. The staff was excellent, gave me a brief tour, and offered a complimentary cup of tea, which by the way is offered to guests every evening. If you enjoy the intimacy of boutique hotel, I am confident you will love Hotel Récamier.

Hotel de Saint Germain **│ 50 Rue du Four, 75006

I’m calling Hotel de Saint Germain the deal of the century. I spent two consecutive weeks in Paris last summer touring museums, going to special events, and shopping for my Chicago apartment renovation. Because I was spending a small fortune on home furnishings, I wanted to economize on my hotel. My room was approximately $100 per night in June!

At the end of the day, the thing that matters most to me is cleanliness. The Hotel de Saint Germain – not to be confused with Hotel Saint Germain des Prés – was impeccable. It had been closed and totally renovated during the pandemic. It reopened less than a year before my arrival and everything looked brand new. My stay there could not have been nicer – it was exactly what I needed – a small clean room, quality white linens, a brand new bathroom, and a desk. Even better, my top floor room had a small balcony overlooking le carrefour de la Croix Rouge to the left and Le Bon Marché to the right. Breakfast was offered for an additional fee, but I didn’t partake – as one of my favorite cafés, Aux Sauvignon, was just down the street and the weather was spectacular for outdoor dining. The staff was incredibly helpful and very willing to accommodate every request.

The Hotel de Saint Germain was great, and I would highly recommend it to anyone on a budget who wants a very clean and comfortable room in the heart of Paris…c’est absolutement parfait!