Hôtel Renaissance Paris République

The building has had several lives. Before the hotel, it was office space and later an artist squat that featured renowned artists, Kouka among them; in 2018 it opened as the Renaissance Paris République, designed by the architect Eric Haour. The hotel rises over nine floors and, besides its bedrooms, has a restaurant, a spa, an interior terrace and a car park.

Interior decoration was entrusted to the architect Didier Gomez, who set out to capture the living memory of the neighbourhood; the hotel describes the result as a modern, fresh space with a distinctly artistic soul. From the lobby to the rooms, the details are meant as an invitation to travel, with wood accents from Africa, plays of shadow from Asia and copper elements from the Middle East.

Art remains the common thread. The hotel continues to champion street art through exhibitions of artists from all backgrounds, and every quarter a new artist shows paintings or other creations on its walls, so the work on display changes several times a year.

The hotel stands at 40 Rue René Boulanger in the 10th arrondissement, in the north-eastern part of the city. It is close to the Place de la République and to Le Marais, in the hotel's words one of the most intriguing neighbourhoods in Paris.

For the metro, the hotel points to République station, on lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11. Canal Saint-Martin and the Opéra Garnier are a short distance away, and of the two nearby train stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, the first is described as easily within reach.

Paris-Orly is the closest airport, about 19 km away, and Charles de Gaulle lies about 30 km away. The hotel runs no shuttle to either, but a private car with chauffeur, sedan or van, is available on request.

Families can choose between Family Rooms and the more spacious suites, which have porthole windows and views of the city. Among the suites are the Artist Studio Suite and the Skyline Suite, the more spacious of the two.

The Penthouse is set apart by its design and by a private terrace with a jacuzzi and views of Paris and of the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. The hotel suggests it for a romantic stay, an anniversary or a honeymoon, its team can decorate it for the occasion, and the terrace can also be booked for a private cocktail reception.

Restaurant Martin Paris, the hotel's restaurant, serves French food under Cheffe Mélissa Ravel, a cook with a passion for art and painting as well as gastronomy. Her cooking is homemade, based on local products from dedicated producers and meant for sharing, and the kitchen is semi-open, so diners can see her team at work. The menu changes every month to follow the seasons, with a tasting menu alongside seasonal à la carte dishes; the hotel calls the style bistronomic.

From Monday to Friday the restaurant opens from 06:30 to 10:30, from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 18:30 to 22:30. On Saturdays it serves from 07:00 to 10:30 and again from 18:30 to 22:30, and on Sundays only from 07:00 to 10:30. Breakfast is served at Restaurant Martin Paris for a fee, and tables can be booked online or by phone.

At weekends and on public holidays Martin serves an à la carte brunch of savoury dishes, sweet treats, hot drinks and fresh juices. Its afternoon tea brings homemade treats such as cookies and cakes, along with smoothies and cappuccino, and the signature cocktails come with or without alcohol.

Martin's Terrace also serves French food and keeps longer hours: 06:30 to 22:30 from Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 22:30 on Saturdays and 07:00 to 16:00 on Sundays. At Bar le Martin, mixologists make the cocktails, with snacks to prolong the evening or dinner in the restaurant as alternatives. The bar opens at 07:00 and closes at midnight, or at 01:00 from Thursday to Saturday.

The Spa by Sothys, also called Le Spa by Sothys Paris République, has a hot tub, a sauna, a sensory area and treatment rooms, with a menu of massages, facials, body scrubs and custom treatments. It opens from 14:00 to 20:00 on Mondays, from 11:00 to 20:00 from Tuesday to Friday and from 10:00 to 20:00 at weekends. According to the spa's listing, the whirlpool, sauna and steam bath can be used subject to availability and for an extra charge.

The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with treadmills, elliptical machines and exercise bikes, free weights and strength equipment. Both the spa and the fitness centre have accessible entrances.

The hotel presents itself as kid-friendly and aims to make family stays as easy as possible. Its Navigator team points families to current children's exhibitions, parks and other attractions in and around Paris, and the hotel's own suggestions range from the children's area of the Cité des sciences, 4 km away, to Disneyland Paris, about 45 km from the hotel.

The hotel lends bicycles to guests for exploring the city, and the Navigator team and concierge take bookings for sightseeing, from a Paris city tour to a day trip to the Normandy landing beaches. Room service and the front desk are available day and night, and staff speak French, English, Spanish and Arabic.