Rumble in the 11th -- which hotel will reign supreme?

Must it be the 11th Arrondissement?

I would prefer, yes.

However, I have open ears if you have a suggestion?

-- Mike Beebe

What sort of "list" contains Les Deux Girafes and an Ibis?

What are you really looking for?

What sort of "list" contains Les Deux Girafes and an Ibis?
What are you really looking for?

An affordable hotel in the 11th that's not a roach trap.

-- Mike Beebe

Are these prices for 5 nights or for 1 night?

The Ibis is overpriced for what you get if it costs more than the Hotel Marais Bastille if you are referring to the Hotel Marais Bastille that I know. The HMB that I know is not on a canal -- it is on Blvd Richard Lenoir and the canal is underground there. So, I guess it is on the canal but you cannot see the canal. When in Paris (which is generally 2 or 3 times per year for at least a week each time and usually 3 weeks or more) I stay near the Bastille metro station on the eastern edge of Le Marais and i have a fondness for that general area so I would choose the HMB followed by Hotel Exquis.

Are these prices for 5 nights or for 1 night?

Luckily 5 -- I wish I was that rich!

-- Mike Beebe

I've never been to any of these but I vote for the one near the cat cafe. Ryan Trahan (I visited 50 states in 50days) looks for Joyride candy in every state: we visit cat places-so far in Edinburgh, Paris, and Vienna. I will say that if it's the one we visited in Paris, it was our least favorite-the cats were not as numerous or as available as in the other two cafes. We have also visited the cat museum in Dubrovnik and the Largo Argentina Cat Sanctuary in Rome.

By the way, why do you think that Les Deux Girafes has a prime location? Asking because I do not consider it any better located than the the Hotel Marais Bastille of the Hotel Exquis, having stayed near LDG at Hotel Fabric.

My bets are on the Hotel Marais Bastille. I like the location and the photos.

I am going to Rome and Pompeii in the spring, but my heart wants to go back to Paris. Enjoy!

As someone who loves the 11th for its markets, restaurants and more local vibe, Les Deux Girafes would put you near some great eating options. The Popincourt marche is lovely. Family stayed in the Citadines close by and liked being in the area. Hotel Marais Bastille’s location would also be good. Given you mention access to amazing restaurants, you are on the right track.

You may be interested in the new Eater guide on Paris written by 11th arrondisement based Lindsay Tramuta.

If your objective is an interesting hotel in the 11th for around 200€ per night in April, I like these. However, prices can vary widely:

http://www.grand-hotel-francais.fr/ *** <200 TR

http://www.hotelmaraisdelaunayparis.com/ *** 200€

http://www.hotelfabric.com/ **** 200€ - 250€ TR

http://www.lesdeuxgirafes.com/ **** 200€ - 300€ TR

https://www.leclarkhotelparis.com/ **** 250€

I'd also see what Jay Swanson has to say about that area, he's very much about eat/drink/stay

Pastry chef and cookbook author David Lebovitz lives in the 11th. He is an excellent resource for a range of food options in the area (and elsewhere).

Are you comparing equivalent room sizes & beds? Do you have some "amazing restaurants" already in mind? Are you walkers or will you need bus/metro/cab to get you home at night?

The Ibis is overpriced.

I like the location of the Hotel Exquis, but the shower set-up in some of the rooms would be an issue for us.

Of the 4 options, I would probably choose Hotel Marais Bastille and upgrade to a superior room.

I stayed at the Hotel Marais Bastille in 2023. For the price it is a stylish, comfortable hotel with very personable staff. I would have stayed there again in 2024 but for that trip we were three and they didn't have accommodations that would suit. I am very fond of the neighborhood, in fact we based ourselves there in the 2024 trip but across the greensward at the Moxy on rue St. Sabin. Most recently we stayed on rue des Martyrs, but I am thinking that on our next Paris trip we'll revert to the Bastille. Good access to public transportation, excellent proximity to the Marais and the Seine and the Left Bank.

Stayed in the 12th near there - Hotel Pavillon Bastille which was fine but looking at these I wouldn't pass up the Hotel Marais Bastille for it at roughly the same price for an upgraded room. We mostly stayed here because we were going in and out of Gare de Lyon and it was convenient.

That being said there was a lot going for the area - three metro lines including the 1 run right there making transportation easy. It had a bunch of diverse restaurant options and is Marais adjacent. It's really, a little more urban Paris so not exactly what some tourists are looking for but felt vibrant and little gritty. The Viaduc des Arts is a cool row of artists and maker spaces in an interesting area right under the elevated and green Coulée Verte René-Dumont on Av. Daumesnil right after it splits from Rue de Lyon I had no idea was there.

And speaking of diverse options I didn't get here but you'll be close if you're interested: Le Comptoir Général https://lecomptoirgeneral.com/en/

Discovering these things and pocket areas in Paris - like the Butte-aux-Cailles area we also did this trip - is one of the things that keeps me coming back and makes Paris one of my favorite cities.

Enjoy,
=Tod

"Are you comparing equivalent room sizes & beds?"
Excellent question especially with the quoted price of the Ibis. There is no way that it should be the second most expensive of these four hotels.

(Personally, I'd pick proximity to David Leibovitz in the hopes I'd actually get to meet him. )

Otherwise, I really have no business giving you my opinion as I haven't stayed in that area (yet) but by name alone who can resist "The Two Giraffes"? I mean, how often do you get to stay in a hotel run by giraffes? Plus, I assume, if you were very tall, this would be the slam-dunk choice, as it seems likely that ceiling height would have been considered a priority...

ok, I'll go away now, and let this get back to people who know what they're talking about giving you real advice...

Good choice on picking the 11th, have not stayed there.

The Bastille Metro area is all right.

I stay in one of 4 hotels in the 10th, depending on the price at the moment, all within walking distance of each other between Paris Nord and Est. The price range this summer, ie July, was from 72 to 153 Euro per day for a single.

And the winner is...

The consensus said Hotel Marais Bastille
My heart said Hotel Marais Bastille
My wallet said Hotel Marais Bastille

And my wife said Hotel Exquis

We debated between Exquis and Marais Bastille for two days. We watched this thread. We read reviews. We lived on both websites for what seemed like hours. Everything was in favor of Bastille: location, cost and comfort. The folks in this thread liked it, too. Why, in the end, did we choose Exquis?

It's funky.
it's quirky.
It's like a hotel Rick would choose.

We're exploring a new neighborhood in Paris after three stays on the Rue Cler; we wanted something different. The hotel looks like the Parisian version of the Pineapple Hotel in Portland, Oregon and the vibe seems fun.

I'll know if we made the right choice in 250 days.

I seriously appreciate everyone's feedback. I hope this thread will help folks in the future who're looking for expert opinions on all four hotels.

Thank you all for your words and time.

-- Mike Beebe

You’ll be staying in the neighborhood I always stay in when visiting Paris. You’ll be spoiled for choice in restaurants. You could eat in stellar fashion for a month without eating at the same place twice. If you’d like any suggestions, I’m happy to share.

What HappyToBeHere wrote is so very true. You are 1 minute away, if that, from the restaurant Confluence which does really good French/Asian fusion cuisine and quite near Restaurant Origini, an Italian restaurant currently ranked 7 of 19,842 restaurants in Paris. But fair warning, I suggested Origini to someone who went recently and mentioned afterwards that the service staff seemed overwhelmed/uncaring but did say that the food was excellent. I have not gone yet (plan to go in October) but I have heard that Waly Fay, which is near Origini serves excellent African food. You will indeed be spoiled for choice in that area.

If I were going , I would probably choose Hotel Fabric because I love the location and think it looks cool. I came here to put it on the list but see that Tocard already did.

Congratulations on making your decision and yes, read David Lebovitz's blog, buy Lindsey Tramuta's book, and check out Jay Swanson's YouTube videos.

natural wine bar Loustic - La Buvette on rue de la Folie Merincourt is great fun.

Happy / JHK / Kim:

I'm really looking forward to this trip, so your suggestions are totally appreciated.

Happy -- I'd really like to hear about those restaurants. Please feel free to post in this thread, or PM me if that works better.

Merci!

-- Mike Beebe

Mike, just sent you a PM