La Planque Hotel
PARIS, FRANCE
Double rooms from about £113
Right in the heart of the capital’s 10th arrondissement, the small quartier Goncourt still finds itself untouched so far by gentrification. Straddled by the neighbourhoods of Belleville and Canal Saint-Martin, which are filled with independent bars and cool new brasseries, this corner is characterised by an interesting mix of cultures, local bobos and in-the-know visitors. Here, designers Dorothée Delaye and Daphné Desjeux have stamped their signature retro style on a former apartment block and sweetshop by sourcing a large chunk of the furniture from local flea markets. On the ground floor, the salon’s cosy mish-mash flits from antique dressers to rattan chairs and velvet banquettes, while sepia photographs, well-thumbed novels, spools of coloured thread and other vintage treasures are jumbled together on the library shelves.
Outside lies a small terrace – a prized rarity in the city, particularly when it comes with pretty pink walls, wrought-iron café chairs and a cluster of potted plants. The original staircase, polished up to its former glory, leads to 36 rooms in shades of deep green, burgundy and grey with old-fashioned marble bureaus, rotary-dial telephones and velvet-clad headboards whose curved lines nod to Art Deco. Each space is typically Parisian in size but full of charm – ‘la planque’ is French slang for hideaway, after all. For more recommendations, see our guide to the best hotels in Paris.