Hotels - Paris et/and Environs

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ESMERALDA - - Legend
4 Rue Saint Julien Le Pauvre; 75005 PARIS
Maubert-Mutualité
01.43.54.19.20
Chambres / Rooms: 15

Dans cet arrondissement : Monuments / Musées
In this arrondissement : Monuments / Museums

Tell Us about your experience at this hotel

What others have said about this hotel:

• This hotel should certainly be ranked more than one star. Although very simple it is very romantic and the view is absolutely unbelievable. Next time I am in Paris this is where I am staying.

• I have stayed here twice. In 1993 in a large room in the annex and in 1996 on the top floor of the main hotel. The view and location cannot be beat and the concierge was particularly helpful on the second visit. As a large American, however, I found the bathrooms a tight squeeze. I would return happily, however,

• This certainly deserves more than one star. I've stayed here twice. The one room I stayed in had an unbelievable view of Notre Dame out the window, as well as a decent sized bathroom. My other room was the tiny one at the top of the stairs with a loft bed. I found this hotel to be incredibly charming and the location is wonderful. It is unique which was part of the experience.

• Wonderful value and excellent location. The staff were very friendly (as were the cats).

• The Esmeralda is as charming and as funky as advertised!! We have stayed at the hotel several times and we have sent friends who have thoroughly enjoyed the hotel as well. Le petit dejeuner rivals any cafe or brasserie.in the quarti er!The price is right and the view of Notre dame is magnifique! Enjoy

• The Hotel Esmeralda is everything a tourist could ask for in a Parisian hotel. I have stayed there many times and each time was a pleasure. Ambiance, a great little breakfast area, pleasant proprietors and very friendly to family groups. The Emeralda certainly deserves more than one star.

• Not only the best view of the Notre Dame but you can wake up to it's beautiful sounding chimes. No need for a wake up call. I stayed in the top floor loft in December 1995. It was warm and cozy. I enjoyed the paintings and sculptures in this hotel created by the friendly owner, Madamoiselle Buren who will give you a tour of her collection. The experience was a 5 star.

• I'm afraid to say any nice about this hotel for fear that it will be too popular to get a room. This is the only place I stay when I'm in Paris. It is so full of character. I'm shocked it only recieved one star.

• I booked this hotel on the strength of the comments on the Net and I strongly disagree. The hotel was cramped, and walls covered with bad-taste floral wallpaper made the effect worse. Very very basic facilities. If you find poverty romantic then I suppose this is for you, but it wasn't for me.

• This hotel is in a perfect location very close to the restaurants and just across the road to Notre Dame,the Metro is within walking distance as is the boat trips on the River Seine. The owners of the hotel are very friendly and I would be more than happy to recommend it to anybody, the star rating should probably be 2 star or three star if you get the room with the view to Notre Dame

• The Esmeralda is a fantastic hotel! Although the furnishings are not up to date and the bathrooms are a bit small, this hotel is loaded with atmosphere! The proprietors were very friendly and the cats lend a homey atmosphere. Even without the extraordinary view of Notre Dame which I enjoyed (room 7, as well as room 2), the central location alone is enough to send me back. One can take the RER-B from either airport and emerge from the St Michel Metro station approximately 2 city blocks from the hotel. I will be going back to the Esmeralda again and again!

• I stayed in a very charming, but very small room with no bathroom on one of the upper floors. The room was an amazing bargain; the views were quaint; the breakfast was outstanding; and the location can't be beat. When I return in September, I'm definitely staying in this charming, friendly, truly Parisian establishment.

• I stayed in this hotel in August 1995. It is a charming hotel that deserves several stars. I was with a friend and we had a room that looked out over the plaza and out the window to our left was a view of Notre Dame. I will never forget it! Someday, I hope to go back. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I will never forget the voyage up the winding stairs. I love this hotel!

• The Esmeralda is the most gracious and delightful hotel in all of Paris. It combines magnificent medieval charm, with an extremely desirable location. We stay there when ever we are able. En regard de notre-dame says it all. The staff are delightful including the cats. Wonderful!! And we have been going to Paris for over 40 years.

• I stayed in the Hotel Esmeralda in April of 2001. All rooms were taken, and so I paid 520ff for 2 rooms with 4 beds(!), in the annex. Very funky, not for the faint-hearted (Salvador Dali has taken an atelier next door), but the views out the two french door windows onto the beautiful ancient park and church are extraordinary, and there is no experience like waking to the bells of Notre Dame. I can die now.

• This is the most romantic hotel I have ever stayed in. I felt like I was transported back 200 years into the Paris of 1800, right around the time of the revolution. The stairs were old and winding and creaked; the room was small and cozy, but this made everything so perfect! And the breakfasts was more than enough!!! Very delicious!!! When I dream of Paris, I dream also of this hotel!

• I stayed here about ten years ago and loved it. The room was a front room with an outstanding view of the Seine and Notre Dame. The room was of an adequate size with a bath about the same size. Not fancy but very quaint and a pleasant place to relax in the late evening with the view.

• In my mind, one of the most picturesque hotels in Paris. I love it and plan to stay there every time I visit!! So charming!

• The location of this hotel can't be beat - it has a view out over the lovely little square of St. Julien-le-Pauvre, which encloses the oldest tree in Paris, and the view of Notre Dame is not just a "view" of the cathedral- it's a reach-out-and-touch experience. Dirt cheap, walking distance from everything in the Latin Quarter & St. Germaine, with the wonderful Cluny Museum nearby and the charming Marais district just across the river. One warning: some of the rooms are divine(stone walls, beamed ceilings) and others are pretty grim: mattresses on floors, everything damp & buggy. If you don't like your room, ask to see another.

• I stayed here in May 2002 with my partner and his brother and sister-in-law (rooms 2 and 7, respectively). Unbeatabale location and atmosphere, though as one guidebook says, not for perfectionists! If you don't mind an 16th century home that's a little faded and creaky, it's a wonderful experience. Staff were very friendly and Mme. Buren a delight. The Latin Quarter is at your doorstep, as is Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and the Marais. An excellent choice, though perhaps not appropriate for seniors, given the stairs.

• Quaint, funky little old hotel on the left bank with unbeatable character, view (Notre Dame), location and prices. If you're looking for large, spacious, immaculate rooms with lots of amenities, forget it. Some of the rooms are tiny and my $25 room (in 1999) had a used bar of soap! For those not obsessed with creature comforts, this hotel is very cute and charming...you will certainly not feel like you're in a Howard Johnson which happens to be in Paris!

• I stayed at this hotel in January of 2002. The location is excellent, and the rooms are clean, comfortable and quaint. They are small, but still, this place is definitely underrated. Very Romantic hotel and location.

• We stayed in this hotel in 1999 because it had received so many positive reviews. The location is excellent, the staff are friendly and the price is very good. The views of Notre Dame can't be beat, if you are in the right part of the hotel. The one thing that concerned me is that there seemed to be only one staircase and no emergency exits. I also did not see any smoke alarms in the rooms. Perhaps it has been upgraded in the last few years but I doubt I will stay here again.

• I have been to Paris 5 times since 1983 and have always stayed at Esmeralda. I will return in November of 2002 and I will stay there again. Need I say more? 2 star, 1 star, who cares? This is not a hotel for everyone but if you are long on character (like the hotel is) you'll fall in love with it.

• During my first trip to Paris I stayed at the Hôtel Esmeralda on the recommendation of a friend. I had the most awesome view from my window on the 3rd floor -- Notre Dame cathedral! Since then I have been to Paris countless times and have stayed in several nice hotels, however, they do not come close to matching the charm and uniqueness of the Esmeralda. Merci Esmeralda pour des souvenirs jamais oubliés!

• I travel to Paris a couple of times a year and have stayed at many different places. In the late 90's I stayed in the Esmeralda after receiving a glowing recommendation from friends.I was very disappointed. Yes, there was a lovely view of the cathedral, but that didn't compensate for the marginal cleanliness and worn out carpet & furnishings. The stairway leading up to the room was shabby, too. There are many other hotels that are cleaner and better maintained for the same price.

• A great little place for an artist, feels just like Van Gogh's old room. People are great, too. Best location in PAris, and a great deal.

• Just back from a v disappointing 4 nights in Room 19 of The Esmeralda. Lived in Paris so am v familiar with old Parisian buildings, charm etc etc. The Esmeralda is making a killing offering next to nothing for 95 euros (without breakfast) per night.Staff was cold and disinterested, room/bathroom had broken taps and light fittings. The French are very very good at making their little budget hotels 'work'. The Esmeralda does not. Suggestion: Be fair to the tourist who often doesnt know any better - call it a Hostel, forget the bathroom towels and the chamber-maid and what you save on these, knock off the price of the room.

• We have stayed at the Esmeralda since our first trip to Europe in 1982. I know we've been there at least 12 times or more. It's funky, somewhat charming, in a fabulous location and the staff is great! We won't stay anywhere else although we do have friends who turn their noses up at its unique atmosphere. Ah well - their loss and yours if you miss out. The view of Notre Dame is incredible - and we even spent one night with Gene Hackman, Mikhail Barishnikov and Kurtwood Smith while they filmed a movie at the Esmeralda! What fun we've had here!!

• My then-husband and I stayed at the Esmeralda during our first visit to Paris in October 1996. I'll never forget the moment when I drew back the curtain of the window of our room: Notre Dame, bathed in gold spotlights on the left, the little park St. Julien-le-Pauve below, a full moon above. Sublime. I adored the lobby, which reminded me of something by Colette: blowsy roses losing their petals, crocheted doilies on the overstuffed chairs, ancient portraits on the walls, tattered lace curtains, a cat or two slinking by. Madame Buren was out feeding the pigeons in her stylish hat and cape. Yes, the bathroom was tiny with few amenities, the furniture mismatched, the rugs shabby, the staircase cramped. But the ambience and charm were, to me, the romantic essence of Paris. I hope to return--with another husband!

• After reading everyone else's comments I feel like I must have just gotten a bad room. I did think the room was good enough and the view was absolutely amazing...but I was afraid to even use the bathroom. It honestly looked like it hadn't been cleaned in the last hundred years. I would love to stay there again because of the location but I'm afraid of the filth. Did I just get a bad room?

• Remarks above received through April 2008.