Comfort & Quiet Style Near the Eiffel Tower
It’s a bit of an assumption that in Paris, it’s impossible to find reasonably priced, high-quality accommodations anywhere near the Eiffel Tower. But the Hôtel Bleu de Grenelle manages to proves that wrong: it’s a comfortable, well-appointed, pleasantly decorated and friendly four-star hotel just minutes on foot from one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the city. Rates, while not exactly low, are reasonable for the capital, and the hotel often offers promotional rates for holidays and other events.
Nestled in a semi-residential area south of the tower, in the typically sleepy 15th arrondissement, the hotel might at first seem a bit too remote and far from the center. While it does require taking a metro to get to the very heart of the city, it’s in fact situated nearby several important and interesting neighborhoods, including Montparnasse and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
There are also a variety of decent restaurants, bars and shops in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, especially along Avenue de la Motte-Picquet and Boulevard de Grenelle. And while this isn’t the most visibly picturesque or “romantic” stretch of the city, it’s a convenient, safe and comfortable place to stay in western Paris. Keep reading for my full review of a recent stay there, and for my take on whether it might be a good choice for your next trip.
My Stay at the Hotel Bleu de Grenelle
I stayed in a Superior Double room with a Queen (European King)-sized bed and partial views of the Eiffel Tower. The Superior Double is the secondary tier, just above Standard double and single rooms whose amenities are a bit more basic and don’t offer Eiffel Tower views.
The Room
Bright, large and immaculately clean, the room was decorated in a tasteful, cheerful contemporary style, with an elegant but not overly loud palate of modern colors– primarily soft blues, greys and creams.
The canopied bed was fitted with a mattress that was remarkably comfortable– firm but not overly so– and fitted with high-quality linens. I slept very well and the room proved to be very quiet, despite looking out over a busy Boulevard and Metro station across the street.
{Read related: How to Choose Where to Stay in Paris?}
Mood lighting in the room was facilitated by dimmers that were initially a bit tricky to figure out, but once mastered offered a sense of calm and relaxation.
The bathroom, which was fitted with a large tiled and marbled shower, was also spotlessly clean and fitted with large, fluffy towels.
The Amenities
I found the Superior Double room to have thoughtful and useful amenities, such as USB charging points next to the bed, Nespresso machine, a complimentary bottle of spring water, an attractive divan and desk, and ample closet space for hanging clothes.
The air-conditioned room also came with a safe, flat-screen TV with a large selection of international channels, and high-speed wifi that worked very well.
In the bathroom, Green Lab beauty products in bulk lent a touch of luxury; they came in bulk rather than individually bottled formats, which is more environmentally friendly (though a potential disappointment for travelers who like to take away sample-size bottles). I personally like a hotel that chooses more ecologically sustainable options, though.
The View
The view from the room was– well, not exactly sublime. While it’s true that it offered, as advertised on the website, a “partial” view of the Eiffel Tower, the main vantage point was over the rather sooty rooftops of the La Motte-Picquet Metro station. Some might find it exciting (and worth the extra price) to book a room with such a view, but in my mind the Standard Double would probably offer better value if this is the main perk likely to draw you to the Superior class room.
The Breakfast and Overall Service
Breakfast is served from 630 am to 10am on weekdays and from 7am to 11am on weekends– good news for those travelers who hate having to rise early to take advantage of hotel breakfast.
I opted to try it the morning of check-out, and while it had received excellent reviews from fellow travelers, I was admittedly a bit underwhelmed by the offering. The menu promised a cornucopia of French-style breakfast goodies, from fresh pastries and breads to cheeses, fresh fruit, fruit salad, organic eggs and bacon.
{Related: My Review of The Hotel Thoumieux & Its Elegant Brasserie}
But when I got to the breakfast room (at 9 am, about an hour before it was scheduled to close) most of the fare was running low, and the staff seemed in no rush to refresh it. I couldn’t find any fruit salad, the cheese and bread selections were spare, and when I asked for decaf coffee I was told they didn’t have it.
To be fair, I saw staff refilling the buffet while I ate, so presumably I just came at the wrong moment. But I would expect a hotel of this calibre to keep their breakfast buffet better stocked, to offer some made-to-order options, and to have more staff around to help guests stock up on the items they want.
Staff at this hotel were generally warm and accommodating, even though they were unlikely to know I was visiting to review the property (this was not a comped stay). It was rainy and cold when I arrived, and someone at checkout offered me a coffee while I waited for my room to open, then let me leave my bags at the front desk for a couple of hours when I decided to head out for lunch first.
My Bottom Line?
While I wasn’t super impressed with the breakfast, I still genuinely enjoyed by stay at the Bleu de Grenelle. The service was generally friendly, the room was impeccably clean and well-appointed, and the bed was unusually comfortable: a major factor in whether I give a hotel my “go ahead and book” stamp of approval.
It’s well connected to many interesting areas in the city (see below) and a very convenient base for exploring western Paris and beyond.
My stay in the Superior room was very pleasant, but I suspect the Standard room category would offer better value for nearly equivalent amenities. You’re mostly paying extra for a larger room with a couple additional pieces of furniture, a slightly larger bed and possibly an Eiffel Tower view that isn’t likely to be very impressive.
However, if Queen/King sized-beds, extra luxury touches and views are important to you, you might want to select a Superior room or suite. To see more options for rooms and suites at the hotel, visit this page.
Contact Information, Getting There, Location & Booking
The Hotel Bleu de Grenelle is located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, just a few minutes southeast from the Eiffel Tower. It’s easiest to reach by taking the Metro (line 6) to the La Motte-Picquet Grenelle station; the hotel is located just across the street from the exit.
In addition to the amenities described above, the hotel has a bar/lounge with a large menu of cocktails, beers and wines; two elevators/lifts (although they are not wheelchair-friendly), complimentary water in the lounge, free wifi in all areas of the hotel, a business/conference center complete with a workspace for all guests, and complimentary baby cots/beds.
Concierge staff members offer include recommendations for restaurants, shopping, babysitting and other activities/services.
- Address: 140 Boulevard de Grenelle, 75015 Paris
- Metro: La Motte-Picquet Grenelle or Cambronne
- Tel: +33 (0)1 45 75 26 54
- Visit the official website for more info and to book a room
Nearby Sights & Attractions
There’s plenty to do in an area that lies at the junction between several interesting neighborhoods. You’re just a walk or short metro ride away from sights such as the Musée Rodin (famed for its beautiful sculpture garden), the Invalides and Army Museum (home to the tomb of Emperor Napoléon I), and the banks of the Seine (including a compelling miniature copy of Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty on the island known as the Ile aux Cygnes).
Arty, historic Montparnasse lies just to the southeast, with its historic brasseries, artists’ ateliers, cinemas and enormous boulevards. And Passy, a quiet old Parisian village just over the Seine to the west, offers an unusually calm experience of the city, but there are several small museums, pretty markets, squares and shopping streets to explore there.
