Hôtel Taylor

The newly tailored taylor

Previously, the Taylor was a humble neighborhood hotel, located in a small street between République, the Grands Boulevard and Château d'Eau, but it has since changed owners, and didn't stop there.

The hotel has benefited from this change of hands, for it has altered its decoration - from the common area to the rooms - and decked itself out in simple and well-designed glamour; while remaining affordable.

Mr. Vincent Ramelli is at the source of this recent change, dating from early 2008. As a great connoisseur of Paris hotels, thanks to his online-marketing company, he counts among its clients most Parisian hotels.

Inspired by all the hotels which he promoted, he is now trying his own hand at hospitality.

By investing himself personally, little by little he recreated the establishment, choosing the decoration and furniture himself.

At the foot of a recently repainted and refreshed façade, the hotel's entrance gives directly out onto the reception desk. Wood flooring and wall posters evoke the old Paris and, here and there, a few elements of the former hotel reveal how difficult it is to undergo complete transformation in the blink of an eye.

Beyond the reception, as in every self-respecting hotel, lies the common area where breakfast is served. With its large tables and country-style buffet, it has the pleasant feel of a provincial guest house.

A rather slow but practical elevator leads to the rooms.

Quiet, simple, sober and furnished in style, the 37 rooms of the Hotel Taylor are divided among single, double and double superior categories.

While the double rooms are rather compact, the double superiors are spacious but do not include a distinct sitting area. Each is furnished with a matching armoire and a small table, rather than a desk, just big enough to hold a laptop.

It is worth noting that the rooms do not include minibars or air-conditioning.

The wooden floors, gray-beige fabrics hanging from the walls, ceruse-finished furniture and simple contemporary lighting give the rooms the look of a clean and modern country house.

The bathrooms, which have not yet been redone, are clean but do not match the rooms' style.

The service matches the establishment: simple and welcoming, without added extras but with a lot of character.

The clientele

Factoring it all in, the Taylor is a rare find in this central area of Paris where most hotels are rather shabby. Worth recommending to those who want pleasant decoration, family-like service, simple comfort and affordable prices. All contained within a working-class neighborhood undergoing rapid change.