Hotel Chopin

You can’t help being charmed by the Hotel Chopin. Located inside a 19th-century shopping arcade, the two-star hotel offers comfortable rooms at reasonable rates, but it’s the setting that’s sure to make romantics happy.

The Hotel Chopin is situated inside the “Passage du Jouffroy,” a 19th-century arcade located along the Boulevard Montmartre near the Opera shopping district. It’s quite the center of temptations—lined with picture-perfect stores selling toys, jewelry and sweets. And then halfway down, you stumble upon the Hotel Chopin.

When you step from the arcade into the hotel, a cute lobby welcomes you with a marble floor, piano and bust of the famous composer himself. Upstairs, hallways wind around a courtyard behind and above the arcade. The décor throughout is soft, peaceful and very grandmotherly.

The guest rooms reflect this, as well, and struck us as decidedly feminine. The condition of the rooms is excellent throughout. All rooms provide a TV, telephone and Wi-Fi, and fans are offered during the summer. Being tucked away inside a shopping arcade, many rooms have views of surrounding offices and apartments and are generally very quiet. Top-floor rooms are worth the climb, as they offer views of neighboring rooftops.

Rooms are equipped with private baths, many of which have been renovated with new showers or bathtubs.

Double rooms at Hotel Chopin average around €185 per night, and rates can go even lower in the off season.

Note that the four cheapest rooms have no view at all—in fact, they face a wall. These would be best for a quick overnight. If you’re staying for longer, we’d recommend the standard doubles, which are a bit more expensive.

The Chopin is a friendly and family-run place. The woman serving breakfast (a large buffet with fresh squeezed orange juice, yogurt, cereal, croissants, baguettes, coffee, and tea for €10) has been working there for many years. That’s always a good sign.

Coming and going, you can’t help but feel a little special. If you return after the passage has closed for the night, you’ll be buzzed in from the street. Late one night, we had the memorable experience of waltzing along the arcade to the hotel, completely alone. We won’t soon forget that.