Hôtel Le Clément

This lovely little hotel has been in the same family for over 100 years and Madame Charrade is an excellent hotelier. Step into an inviting sitting area off the breakfast room, with fireplace, gleaming wood panelling and bookshelves. From the higher floors, the view across the St Germain marketplace to the towers of St Sulpice church is super.

These rooms at the top have loads of character with their sloping ceilings, though little space and thin walls, and access is by narrow stairwell or even narrower lift! Back rooms have no view, of course, except over the pretty planting at the bottom of one of the lightwells (the hotel occupies two connecting buildings), but peace is guaranteed.

Madame’s decorative style is southern cottage: small spriggy or floral prints, harmonious fabrics and good colour combinations. Step out to fabulous shops and some iconic cafés such as Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore – pure Paris.