Artus Hotel

The Hotel Artus provides a super introduction to Parisian life. In Paris it doesn’t do to walk anywhere without vagabonding a little, especially in the little streets surrounding the hotel which play host to one of the last authentic street-markets. If you really did want to walk in a straight line though and ignore the flower sellers, the patisseries and the wonderful cafes you could make it to Notre Dame in 10 minutes, the Louvre in 8 (assuming you didn’t stop for views on the Pont Neuf) and, if you still had the energy the wonderful Musée d’Orsay in 11.
This is the heart of the Left Bank and with the revolutionary spirit still in the air you could of course drop out of classes at the museums, go incognito and pretend to be a local; the hotel sits on a little side-street that runs off the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the surrounding quarter plays host to all kind of impromptu jazz concerts once the flower-sellers and stall-holders have knocked off for the day.
While Rue de Buci dates from the 12th century, the owners redesigned the interior of the hotel (completed in March 2006) and it re-opened to a great fanfare of approval. The use of natural materials helps to create a look that, though chic and modern, retains a sense of familiarity and a wink to the past. Plenty of wood and leather add a touch of club atmosphere whilst the expansive use of Arabesque and Carrara marble in the bathrooms give a clean, light air. The idea in the private areas is to create space and calm while the bar and restaurant use deeper tones to try and make you linger awhile. Don’t worry, breakfast is served late here so if you need a little more time to doze than normal then go ahead and indulge!