Hotel de Banville

HERE'S A PLACE WITH THE EIFFEL TOWER just within its sights that's worth making tracks for. Set back in the airy 17th arrondissement, family-run Hôtel de Banville combines splashes of art deco chic with classic-contemporary interiors.

Inside, it’s all resolutely top of the range stuff following a top-to-bottom renovation: plump sofas, mellow woods, soft lamps, extravagant drapes, and old oil paintings. A sleek grand piano sits centre stage in the lobby (there's a piano bar on Tuesday nights), while an oversize silver ice bucket filled with chilled champers awaits at the bar, sheltered by a striking open-plan fireplace. What's more, staff who know the art of making you feel chez vous.

Hôtel de Banville's tranquil, airy bedrooms range from sunny to intimate. Some have dreamy creams, pastels and frothy canopies; others sport elegant striped wallpapers, deep wood furniture and smart prints. Bathrooms are worth wallowing in, with deep clawfoot baths, side-by-side basins and expensive chrome fittings.

Neighbourhood eateries

Start the day with a generous buffet-style petit déjeuner. Choose La Chambre d’Amélie, with its private balcony, and you could be breakfasting gazing over Paris rooftops to the Tour Eiffel. For the ultimate treat, nab the de Banville's top-floor Appartement de Marie, a sprawling suite with a delectable bathroom and windows framing the iconic tower, where there's enough room to throw a party.

The Ternes quarter is a true Parisian neighbourhood, with markets, parks, patisseries and pavement cafes. Staff are happy to suggest good local dining spots, where you'll feel more like a city resident than a tourist.

Having said that you’re not far from the action, and a short metro ride takes you to the capital’s blockbuster sights, museums and Latin quarter. Head in the other direction and you can bargain-hunt in the flea markets or admire the giant arch of La Défense.

© Room for Romance