Where to Stay in Paris: Hotel Le Marceau Bastille

If you love meandering through the back streets of the Marais, rifling through the boutiques on the Rue de Rivoli, then the four-star Marceau Bastille could be right up your street.

Situated on the Rue Jules Cesar in the 12th arrondissement, the hotel’s closest metro station is Bastille which is served by the lines 1, 5, and 8. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the metro and close by there’s a large supermarket and variety of restaurants, cafés and bars. You’re also within walking distance to the Gare de Lyon, the Seine and Notre Dame.

The real draw for me, though, was being able to walk to the Jardin des Plantes. If you’re a keen gardener and perhaps suffer from withdrawal symptons if you don’t see a tree or a bird for more than a few days, the Jardin des Plantes is definitely the tonic you need – a perfect juxtaposition to the bustling centre of Paris. Not forgetting of course that the Canal Saint-Martin is also just a few hundred metres away from the hotel. There, the Jardin du Port de L’Arsenal is a very popular lunching spot for Parisian office workers. It offers a flowery garden, Pétanque and grassy banks that look on to the canal and the boats that line its banks.

The Marceau Bastille is impeccably clean and boasts a minimalist, modern design. The lobby is spacious and welcoming and is adorned by works of art that are exhibited at the hotel on a regular basis throughout the year. The 55 rooms are spacious and well thought out, providing a contemporary, arty feel with clean lines and soft furnishings throughout. The hotel also offers a small fitness room and spa treatments in the comfort of your own room. The breakfast buffet provides an ideal start to the day with freshly prepared food and an attentive staff.

Bref, a wonderful four-star hotel with a five-star location.

Hotel Le Marceau Bastille, 13, rue Jules César 75012 Paris. Tel. : +33(0)1 43 43 11 65