Where to Stay in Paris: Hôtel Lucien
Imagine you’re sweating your face off while roaming the streets of Paris with a heavy backpack that has been pulling at your shoulders for nearly a week now. That’s exactly where I was on the trip when I discovered Hôtel Lucien. My friends and I found out an hour earlier that our first selection in hotels didn’t have room to accommodate the three of us. So we walked. Traveling, it seems, always has a curveball or two to throw your way, and how you handle it creates the best stories in your adventures.
I saw the gilded letters of the Hôtel Lucien logo emblazoned on their enormous lobby windows as we walked by to check out another hotel. I noted that we ought to come back if our current destination didn’t work out (which it didn’t, but we did get to meet a kitten named Lize there). So we trekked back, quietly and hopefully, toward Hôtel Lucien with our backpacks bobbing behind us.
Upon entering the lobby, I was awestruck with the design. This 22 room hotel has a modern, bohemian interior with a vast array of unique art. From the taxidermy seahorses on the piano to the beaded totem figure, there is something to hold your interest in every corner of the bright and airy space.
I was shocked to discover Hôtel Lucien is listed as a 2-star establishment because the rooms there have plentiful space, a beautiful view, and one other factor that put my stay above even the ritziest of 5-star hotels at which I’ve stayed in Europe.
Air conditioning.
Yep, that’s right. I got the luxurious experience of cooling my body temperature by means other than standing in front of a breezeless open window. This also means I got to sleep without sweating for the first time during the trip. For this factor alone, I give Hôtel Lucien a 5-star rating in my mind. Two enthusiastic thumbs way, way up. Now, let’s dig into the amenities and other reasons you might want to also stay at Hôtel Lucien.
AMENITIES
Wifi
Parking
Luggage storage
Hair dryer
Shampoo + conditioner
Air conditioning
Heating
TV
Desk
24-hour front desk service
Buffet breakfast is served daily from 7am to 10am
It should be noted that their breakfast is a loose term for self-serve coffee and tea, plus some delicious mini croissants. Although small, it was the perfect way to begin the day and plan out where to stop for a larger bite to eat because I am a breakfast lover.
This chic hotel in the 2nd Arr offers single rooms, double rooms, triple rooms, deluxe double rooms, and deluxe double rooms with a balcony and city view. Be sure to specify upon booking if you have a request.
PROXIMITY TO LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Louvre Museum 1.5 km
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris 2.5 km
Sacré-Coeur 2.1 km
Porte Saint-Denis150 m
The Centre Pompidou 950 m
Musée d'Orsay 2.2 km
L'Oasis d'Aboukir 350 m
Statue de Marc Seguin 300 m
Monument a Nicolas Leblanc 350 m
Le Zénith 4.2 km
Latin Quarter 2.2 km
Chocolate Museum 5 minute walk
PROXIMITY TO TRANSPORTATION HUBS
Charles De Gaulle Airport 21 km away
Orly Airport 16 km away
Chatelet Les Halles Train Station 10 minute walk
Gare de l’Est Train Station 15 minute walk
STORY
I felt it necessary to allow the charming origin story of Hôtel Lucien to be read exactly as it was told without the bias of my retelling, so below is the story of Lucien as told by the staff themselves.
“As a young man, Lucien fell in love with Paris. He lived in the city for a while. He still does occasionally. You will find traces of his passage in his hotel. Objects, letters, books. Often simple, sophisticated sometimes. A hotel like a home, full of souvenirs. A place to build yours.
Lucien wanted his place to be located in the vibrant hearth of Paris. Twenty-two rooms, in a small and very Parisian building from the late 17th century. At the junction of the 2nd and 10th arrondissements, the place to be for artists, foodies, hipsters, in an area in the process of gentrification but still heterogeneous and full of life.
His hotel looks like a guest house. A piano, leather vintage sofas, flowers, a few tables, Italian coffee, Belgian biscuits, architecture books. At night, the living room glows when arriving from the nearby darker narrow streets. Your stories and souvenirs will [meet those of the] other guests.”
1 Rue Chenier, Paris, France
+33 1 42 33 92 32
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read about my travel adventures. I hope you find this blog helpful in your upcoming trips to Paris.
Happy travels,
Aja