Review of the Hotel Esmeralda in Paris, France

The last time I was in Paris, I was traveling on a whim and sought out an inexpensive hotel that was right in the heart of everything. Enter the Hotel Esmeralda, which is conveniently located on the Left Bank in the Latin Quarter and is right across the street from Notre Dame.

I was pleasantly surprised and greatly impressed by the Hotel Esmeralda's charming otherworldliness. I could see why Emma Thompson and Terence Stamp had made repeat visits to this hotel, and why France's own Serge Gainsbourg frequented it also.

The Hotel Esmeralda was built in 1640 and the original stone walls still seem to be intact in the reception area, which I thought was quite remarkable. Comely paintings hang in the hotel lobby and the hotel is rich with history.

Guests should be forewarned in advance that there is no lift at this hotel and that they will be expected to walk up several flights of dark, winding wood stairs which I can only assume have been in use since this building was originally constructed. No one should let that put them off though -- after spending all day walking around Paris, the walks up the steep stairs do get easier with time!

All of the 19 rooms at the Hotel Esmeralda are decorated in a quirky and eccentric manner and are all completely different. I enjoyed this aspect of the hotel the most. Unlike previous visits at large chain hotels, the Hotel Esmeralda seemed to me quintessentially Parisian and was the perfect place to retire to each evening with a bottle of red wine and some fresh bread and cheese.

Hotel Esmeralda's Address: 4 rue St-Julien-le-Pauvre, 5th arrondissement
Phone number: 00 33 1 4354 1920