Hotel L’Antoine
12 Rue de Charonne, Paris, 75011, France
Why We Like It
Sophisticated design at a fabulous price always makes us smile. Add a super cool neighborhood with chic boutiques, great cafés and lively nightlife, and you’ve got all the things that make Paris, well…Paris.
Fodor's Expert Review
Fashion-turned-hotel interior designer Christian Lacroix scores high marks for this chic, reasonably priced, and welcoming hotel that reflects the spirit of the neighborhood—once Paris’s artisans’ quarter. Close but not too close to lively Bastille’s clubs, cafés, and bars, rue de Charonne, where Hôtel L’Antoine (housed in a former convent) is set, is one of Paris’s hidden hipster gems, a neighborhood still relatively undiscovered by tourists.
You Should Know Some people say the neighborhood is for a younger crowd. While this is true, we don’t believe there’s a cutoff age when it comes to youth. However, if you’re looking for a quiet, upscale neighborhood, this is probably not for you.
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Room
Hats off to M. Lacroix, who channeled his natural exuberance into a smart toned-down scheme in 38 unique rooms. In a nod to this historic woodworkers’ quartier, Lacroix tapped local artisan Rémi Perret for some of the furnishings, made with recycled materials, along with flea market finds. Splashes of color in luxe textiles add the kind of sensuous beauty we’ve come to expect from M. Lacroix.
Tip Room sizes vary greatly here, so if you want to insure a more spacious room be sure to request that over the phone or in an email (room 15 is a good bet).
Bathroom
As Paris bathrooms go, these too are on the smaller side (larger in the suites) but well designed and sparkling clean, with top-of-the-line fixtures, spacious showers and robes and slippers
Lobby
The quiet, cozy lobby has easy chairs for lounging with a newspaper or magazine. Complimentary coffee, tea and pastries are served from 2 pm until 2 am.
Spa
Not a standard offering in budget hotels, the small spa has a sauna, a cold shower and a mini-fitness room.
Gym
There's a miniscule fitness room offers a treadmill and a stationary bike.
Dining
A continental buffet breakfast includes hot drinks, fresh fruit and fruit juice, pastries, croissants, bread, cold cuts and cheese. Bonus: breakfast is often included with the room price.
Drinking
A small honesty bar offers wine and spirits, soft drinks, and a few snacks from 2 p.m. till 2 a.m.
Bakeries
There are tons of great bakeries nearby starting with the Cyril Lignac empire (chocolatierie, bakery, and restaurant), on nearby Rue Paul Bert, and, our two personal favorites, Blé Sucré, facing an adorable park on the Rue Antoine Vollon and Boulangerie Bo on a charming square. Don't miss the squid-ink baguette, black as pitch and perfumed with roasted cumin. (both within a five-minute walk)
What's Nearby
Getting Around
A 5-minute walk to the Bastille metro and two major metro lines, including line one, Paris’s fastest and most central line. There’s also the Ledru-Rollin station a few minutes away. If you’re game to try Paris’s Vélib bike rental system, there’s a station only minutes from the hotel.
A residential area, the lively Rue de Charonne neighborhood is a great location for all ages, though it's been a focal point for a younger, hipper crowd for many years, and the streets around it, especially the Rue Keller, which is packed with independent designer boutiques (it was also a Paris epicenter for gay nightlife). The area is known for its vibrant café scene and there are lots of gastronomic neobistros in this area, on the Rue de Charonne itself and neighboring Rue Paul Bert. Within an easy walk of the Bastille and Marais, as well as the Canal St-Martin and République, you're also close to some of Paris's must-see places.
Restaurants
Septime, just down the street, is a foodie mecca, though it'll require persistence to get in (call at least two weeks in advance for reservations). If you can't swing it, Clamato, next door, is run by the same chef, though this restaurant specializes in seafood and the natural wines to go with. It's small outdoor terrace is nice in warm weather. Rue Paul Bert is also a big draw, especially the Bistro Paul Bert, where you'll find all the French classics in generous portions and one of the city's best cheese carts. Chez Aline, an easy walk away, on Rue de la Roquette, is a great place for inexpensive gourmet sandwiches and takeout (all within a 10-minute walk).
Bars
If you're not picky about where you imbibe, the Bastille is teeming with bars and cafés. On the Rue de Charonne, you'll be in good neighborhood company at the Pause Café as well as La Belle Equipe, both open until fairly late. For cocktails, Pasdeloup you'll find stylish, well-priced craft cocktails and a lively back room scene (all within a 5-15-minute walk). A little farther afield, Candelaria and Le Mary Celeste are two of Paris's best cocktail bars (15-minute walk away in the Marais).
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