Hotel Rochechouart

"Why book?The carefree spirit of the roaring twenties lives on in this affordable and eminently fun eight-story Art Deco relic, with well-designed rooms, an elegant brasserie popular with locals, and a nightclub to keep the action going until late. Set the scenePigalle, situated at the foot of Montmartre, may have shaken off its reputation for debauchery but the neighborhood nonetheless preserves a seductive energy, a holdover from its red-light-district days. As a result, the crowd that flocks for dinner and drinks or just an intimate night, are one in the same: savvy, sharply dressed young travelers (think late-twenties to thirties) from across Europe and the U.S., interested in good design, good food, and being at the heart of the action in any city they visit. The backstory Once a late-night hot spot on the boulevard Rochechouart in the 1920s, the former incarnation of the hotel drew in traveling artists, intellectuals, and a smattering of stars. Now part of Orso, a new collection of hotels run by hospitality-industry veterans Louis and Anouk Solanet, the sultry theatrics of the era make a welcome comeback. The couple teamed up with Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay, the sought-after designers behind Festen Architecture, to revive the building’s Art Deco legacy with modern touches. Some of the finest original details were restored, from the 1930s blue mosaic floor in the soaring brasserie to the aged mirrors, marble staircase, and glass elevator. The rooms The 106 rooms were given an autumnal, woody touch with a period-appropriate color palette—dull green, bronze, chocolatey brown, ochre, dusty white and terracotta—that feels at once fresh and nostalgic. All the decorative details, from the burl wood headboards, curved armchairs or sofas, retro tiled bathrooms and alabaster suspension lamps, thoughtfully whisk guests to another time. The Sacré Coeur looms large from northern-facing room windows (and in some cases, balconies) but is accessible to all from the rooftop lounge bar. Be aware, if you don’t splurge on a suite, rooms will be compact in true Parisian style. Food and drink A destination among Parisians, the old-world brasserie on the ground-floor has plush banquettes and soaring ceilings and serves up comforting Parisian classics, from chicken liver pâté to roasted pork belly with crisp frites. The signature crêpe cake for dessert is a family recipe you’ll invariably hear guests trying to coax out of the servers. The common plan is to start the evening with cocktails in the lounge adjacent the restaurant, dine at the brasserie or have a light bite at Citrons et Huitres, the hotel’s seafood bar next door, and then kick nightlife into high gear by heading one floor underground to the Mikado, a 1920s-era nightclub that the hoteliers have revived as a speakeasy reminiscent of old opium bars with plenty of room to dance (the DJ or live musician sets the vibe) until 2 a.m.Thursday through Saturday. If the weather allows, take a drink or have lunch at the rooftop bar, which has a direct view of the Sacré Coeur.The neighborhood/areaSet just south of Montmartre on the boulevard de Rochechouart, the hotel puts guests in close proximity to a host of compelling sights and shop, such as performance venues such as La Cigale and Le Trianon; the Sacré Coeur, to the north, and the warren of cobblestone streets surrounding it; and South Pigalle in the other direction, full of top restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries and boutiques. The service Informality that leans helpful sets the tone here. If there’s something you need or want to do, the staff will help make it happen but may not be able to pull off five-star-hotel strings. Eco effort No plastic bottles of water nor tiny beauty amenities in-room. Anything left to mention? The neighborhood has evolved over the years but it remains a bustling, high-energy area with a clear late-night spirit. As such, double-paned windows can only do so much to block out the noise. If you’re a sensitive sleeper, grab the ear plugs that the hotel very thoughtfully provides in each room." - Lindsey Tramuta