Why we picked this hotel
Many Paris hotels give you a beautiful room and little reason to stay downstairs. Here, the retractable glass-roofed restaurant, seasonal indoor bar and year-round rooftop make returning early feel like part of the trip.
Hotel description
Reached through a discreet passageway off Boulevard Poissonnière, Grands Boulevards Experimental feels surprisingly sheltered from central Paris. Dorothée Meilichzon’s interiors reinterpret the building’s late-18th-century origins with four-poster beds, patterned fabrics and playful historical references, while the restaurant gathers around a planted courtyard beneath an opening glass roof. Breakfast beneath the canopy leads naturally into a day exploring the covered passages, theatres and department stores nearby. Return for Franco-Italian cooking, cocktails at the seasonal Shell bar or an evening above the rooftops at The Shed. It is particularly well suited to travellers who want a strong food-and-drink scene built into a central but quietly tucked-away Paris stay.
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Hotel location
This is great
A hidden retreat in the heart of Paris
Tucked away behind an unassuming passage between the 2nd and 9th arrondissements, Grands Boulevards Experimental feels surprisingly secluded despite being just moments from some of Paris' liveliest streets.
One of Paris' most distinctive boutique hotels
Housed in an 18th-century building dating to just before the French Revolution, the hotel combines historic architecture with Dorothée Meilichzon's playful, romantic interiors inspired by old Paris.
Exceptional food and cocktails
The Restaurant des Grands Boulevards sits beneath a spectacular retractable glass roof and is led by acclaimed chef Giovanni Passerini. Guests can also choose between The Shell cocktail bar and The Shed rooftop bar overlooking the Paris rooftops.
Perfectly placed for exploring Paris
From here you can walk to Opéra Garnier, Palais Royal, the covered passages and countless cafés and restaurants, while several Metro stations are just a few minutes away.
Paris at its most atmospheric
Whether you're enjoying breakfast beneath the glass roof or cocktails on the rooftop at sunset, the hotel captures a quieter, more intimate side of the city.
Our take on the stay
The rooftop gets the photographs, but the glass-roofed courtyard is where the hotel’s personality really settles in.
Curated by
Eliza
What guests loved
The beautiful interior design
The hidden, peaceful location
The outstanding cocktails
The comfortable beds
The warm, attentive staff
Best for
Le Sentier • Design lovers • Couples • Food lovers • Historic Paris
Good to know
50 rooms
Room sizes: 13–32 m²
Check-in: 14:00
Check-out: 12:00
French-Italian courtyard restaurant
Year-round rooftop cocktail bar
Pets are not allowed
No on-site parking
Grands Boulevards Metro: steps away
Charles de Gaulle Airport: around 40–55 minutes by car
Amenities
Free cots available for children
Rooftop
About the destination
Paris
Paris is a city of endlessly varied neighbourhoods, where elegant boulevards, covered passages, and bustling cafés invite exploration beyond the famous landmarks. The Grands Boulevards district blends historic theatres, independent boutiques, and some of the city's liveliest dining spots, all within easy reach of the Marais and the Opéra. Grands Boulevards Experimental is perfectly placed to experience this vibrant, characterful side of Paris on foot.
