The Best Hotels to Book in the Opéra District, Paris

The best hotels in Opéra serve up the Paris everyone dreams of – streetside cafes, grand stone frontages, and easy walks to the Louvre and Seine – and Chouchou is no exception. It’s an elegant charmer, with a super-chic design that evokes a certain fashion magazine nostalgia, and living spaces that go from compact to substantial as you move up through the room classes. There’s dining in the bar and a concept restaurant set up like a Parisian food market.

Even in the company of the many chic hotels in Opéra, Hotel Danou is a stylish package. Avenue de l’Opéra runs nearby, taking you directly to the Palais Garnier opera house in one direction and the Louvre in the other. Beyond the graceful, neoclassical frontage, rooms deliver compact chic, with geometric patterns and framed photos from vintage fashion shoots against a background of platinum greys. It’s a great base in a perfect Parisian location.

A fine Opéra location is just the start at this tasteful hotel near the Palais Garnier. Inside, you’ll find lots of surprises: sheet music wallpaper, a silver-grey bar, dainty balconies with views of Parisian rooftops, a guest lounge in the ancient stone vaults in the basement. Rooms are eccentric shapes, but all come with tubs and increasing floor space as you rise through the classes. It’s secreted away off Avenue de l’Opéra, on a nostalgic sidestreet of tall, stone-fronted apartment buildings.

Open shelves lined with dotted curios and bright swatches of strong colour set the scene at this appealingly intimate hotel just north of Palais Garnier. Rooms are a masterclass in the smart use of space, creating uncramped living areas out of the compact bedrooms typical in hotels this close to the Seine. The decor is modern but refreshingly upbeat – with brighter colours and more light than comes as standard in Opéra hotels.

If you’re looking for a chic, stylish stay, then book yourself into the Hôtel Gramont Opera. Rooms are a tad on the small side, yet comfortable, and each comes with a granite working desk and French artisan toiletries. Upgrade to a family suite for more space, which at 26sqm (280sqft) accommodates four guests. Enjoy a continental breakfast each morning in your room. The hotel also serves afternoon tea daily, and there’s an honesty bar for a late-night tipple.

Those with eccentric tastes will love this Opéra stalwart, the Banke Hotel. A former bank from the Belle Epoque, it’s now a five-star luxury boutique hotel brimming with character. Its grandeur is palpable – from the burgundy stone pillars to the gilded arches that support the skylight. Each guest room is uniquely designed – some with more subdued tones and others with statement walls and leopard-print throw pillows. The restaurant is also popular: dine on a menu that fuses French and Spanish flavours with wines to match.

The Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra has occupied a prime location between the Palais Garnier and the Louvre since 1861. This chic property features sophisticated guest rooms, which come with Bluetooth systems, Hermès toiletries and Sofitel signature ultra-plush bedding. Spend an indulgent day shopping at the nearby department stores, followed by a treatment at the wellness spa and dinner at the on-site restaurant, Rivage, which serves seasonal Mediterranean cuisine.

Mere steps from the Place Vendôme and the Palais Garnier, this 20-room boutique hotel is a haven of calm amid Paris’s busy streets. Designed by French hotel designer Jacques Garcia (who’s known for his quirky interiors in other hotels such as Hôtel Costes and Hôtel Odéon Saint-Germain), Maison Athénée serves up theatrics at every turn with patterned wallpaper, dramatically draped fabrics and shimmering, copper-tiled showers. Pop by the bar for a nightcap, where a moody atmosphere and red velvet chairs invite you to linger.

For those who like their accommodation on the cutting edge, the Chess Hotel is the place for you. From the polished checkered floors in the lobby to the pops of primary colours amid strong lines in the guest rooms, design runs throughout the hotel from start to finish. While the Chess doesn’t have an on-site spa and fitness centre, that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out. You’re welcome to use the spa facilities at the five-star Le Roch Hotel and Spa, which is a nine-minute walk away, and you’ll also receive access to L’Usine fitness club, a mere 250m (820ft) away.

La Maison Favart feels like a stay at a friend’s home, thanks to gallery walls and the various knick-knacks that create an inviting, almost lived-in vibe. Each of the 39 guest rooms boasts unique decor, all playful with vibrant colours, cosy furnishings and lots of light. You can escape the city bustle with a dip in the hotel’s large, super-Zen hot tub or hang out in the steam of the white-wood sauna.