Hôtel Rochechouart

"At the history-filled, art deco–inspired Hotel Rochechouart, the popular 1920s Mikado nightclub was revived in 2022. Josephine Baker, Mistinguett, and other stars frequented the iconic joint in the Roaring Twenties, as did rocker Johnny Halliday in the 1960s. The hotel’s Citrons et Huîtres seafood bar is named for a Renoir still life; the artist used to paint in a studio upstairs. Crowning the building is one of the city’s best rooftops, with a full 360-degree panorama of all the Parisian monuments. These dining and drinking establishments forge the Hotel Rochechouart’s identity as an effervescent neighborhood hub, and it’s commonly booked for film screenings and fashion shoots. The flagship for Orso Hotels, a group of seven Parisian boutique properties, the Hotel Rochechouart embraces a local ethos. For example, breakfast ingredients come from the nearby Rue des Martyrs market street, and the lobby boutique collaborates with Parisian brands Maison Labiche and October Editions. The 105 guest rooms, starting with the Classic category (150 square feet), are decorated in earth tones with dark wood furniture and vintage brass lamps. Rooms on the seventh floor have Sacré-Cœur views." - Mary Winston Nicklin

"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. The 106 rooms were given an autumnal, woody touch with 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. The old-world brasserie on the ground-floor is destination among Parisians that has plush banquettes, soaring ceilings, and comforting Parisian classics like chicken liver pâté and roasted pork belly with crisp frites." - Sandra Ramani, Lindsey Tramuta

"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

"The Pigalle neighborhood’s past comes alive in Hôtel Rochechouart, a 106-room property on the boulevard Marguerite de Rochechouart, itself a late-night destination and a 1920s hot spot for musicians, intellectuals, and artists. The hotel’s design by Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay of Festen Architecture builds off of that legacy; restored details include the blue mosaic floor in the restaurant and the glass elevator. The modern-feeling guest rooms are done up in a moody, autumnal color palette and feature Old World decorative details like burl-wood headboards, curvaceous armchairs, and alabaster suspension lamps. But the real selling point is what happens outside of the rooms. The hotel’s brasserie on the ground floor has become a favorite among Parisians for its soaring ceilings, sleek banquettes, and classic dishes (steak tartare; crème brûlée). One floor below the restaurant, Mikado Dancing is a Jazz-era nightclub that the hotel owners brought back to life as a speakeasy-dance hall; it’s open every Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. Head to the rooftop bar for lunch and views of the Sacré Coeur, so close you could almost reach out and touch it." - Julia Cosgrove, Lindsey Tramuta, Mary Winston Nicklin

"Ride up, up, up and suddenly Sacré Coeur hits you at eye level, from just blocks away. Continue turning, mouth agape, and you’ll see nearly all of the city’s famous monuments—Notre Dame to the south, the Arc de Triomphe to the west, and the city’s iconic rooftops, with their rust-colored chimneys and zinc paneling in between. While it’s not the most spacious floor plan (and this place doesn’t do standing-room-only), if you’re lucky enough to snag a seat you’ll be rewarded with a panorama almost too beautiful in-person to post on Instagram. (Almost.) Whether you want a coupe of Veuve Cliquot, a simple draft Peroni, or an inspired cocktail such as the Simple Comme Bonjour with vodka, absinthe, apricot, and thyme, there’s something for everyone. The specialty drinks change seasonally, and the minimalist wine-by-the-bottle list features both French and Italian options—marked way up, because you’re on top of the world." - Sara Lieberman