Sofitel Le Faubourg, Paris

Exterior bar entrance

Paris has an overwhelming supply of great hotels, and most of them are in desirable locations with amenities and transportation within an easy reach. So how do you decide where to stay? The best way is to pick a neighborhood based on proximity to your intended activities and narrow it down from there.

Lit up at night

Usually we prefer the relaxed atmosphere of the Left Bank, but this time the Right Bank was more convenient. Sofitel Le Faubourg is in a desirable, convenient location near the Seine, major metro stops (Concorde and Madeleine) and a couple of museums we planned to visit (Musée d’Orsay and Musée Jacquemart-André).

Lobby and library

One quirk is that the street is closed to through traffic and is guarded on both ends by armed guards. As in, machine gun-toting guards. You’ll feel plenty safe, though since the American Embassy is on the end of the block and the Élysée Palace is a few blocks down.

Tiny but comfortable room

The hotel is old with typical tiny, dark rooms and narrow corridors. The service is good and the rooms are comfortable and clean. The cozy bar is a great feature; the miniscule, sparse fitness room is not. The neighborhood is tourists and soul-less luxury boutiques (Cartier, Lanvin and Hermès are at the end of the block), but the location can’t be beat for a quick in-and-out.

This Cosmo-esque cocktail was served with macarons

15 Rue Boissy d’Anglas 75008 Paris, France