france

There’s always a new story and a new side to Paris. Whether it’s the artistic flair of Montmartre, the history of the Latin Quarter, the romance of the Eiffel Tower, or of course the chic luxury in the heart of the city… your trip to Paris is very much what you make of it.

So it’s fun for adventure seekers to go out and explore new neighborhoods that can show a fuller side to the city they already love.

Lobby at the 25 Hours Hotel Terminus Nord, Paris.

The Vibe

The 25 Hour Hotel Terminus Nord in Paris is a chic oasis in itself with lovingly eclectic designs that will elevate your stay.

Located in the 10th arrondissement, which has a strong North African and Indian presence, the design draws inspo from the neighborhood with vibrant color, patterns and textures… which juxtapose nicely with the Baron Haussman era exterior.

Many travelers are likely to enter the hotel straight from getting off the train at the Gare du Nord and the hotel is an immediately welcoming presence. Step into the wide doors and you’ll quickly be charmed by the eclectic gifts in the shop as you reach the reception area that has been stylized like a French kiosk.

There’s a cool hip bar upstairs that travelers can enjoy, as well as office working space.

Moving in for the stay, adding some clothes and prints found along my travels. Photo credit: Lauren Goldenberg

The Rooms

Particularly for Paris, this hotel felt massive with 237 spacious rooms. The decor continues its North African/Indian theme with bold colors, bright prints, and a Bollywood-style poster hanging in my room. The bed and linens were super, super comfortable and like my stay in the 25 Hours in Florence, probably gave me one of the best nights of sleep during my trip.

My personal favorite feature of the room was definitely the open closet, with the fun lighting display that read “Applause,” giving it a cheeky star attraction vibe. Perfect for a city known as the fashion capital of the world.

It was also really cool to have my own Parisian balcony to step onto and enjoy the sunshine or have a bite of a croissant.

Like my stay at the 25 Hours Hotel in Florence, I was design-obsessed with all the other little details in the room — which appear to be a trademark of the hotel brand.

These include the fun spin on the usual tired ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs — here, you can open the book and choose a new saying like “the love birds have finally left” or, my personal fave “imagine the rolling stones stayed in the room.”

The Food

Neni is the hotel’s first-floor restaurant and, like the rest of the hotel, dishes up a cool instagrammable vibe and ambiance (with views of the iconic train station across the way). But naturally, the starring dish here is the cuisine.

If you indulge in their all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, you’ll probably come home dreaming about it. Wander through the tables and you’ll find croissants and pain du chocolat, french toast, the array of cheeses and breads, lox and eggs, cold meats, fresh fruit, dried fruit, labneh and hummus, radishes and other veggies, and so much more. Because the menu is influenced not just by French food, but also Israeli, Persian, and Moroccan fare — you’ll have more choices that you’d expect. (Just in case you have pain du chocolat overload on your trip). Although, seriously, their chocolate croissants were among the best I had at any hotel.

As for what to drink… why not have some champagne for the breakfast buffet? Ouais, s’il vous plaît. Of course, you can also opt for the orange juice… and voila, you’ve got a mimosa.

While I didn’t get to try their lunch or dinner offerings, the buffet was so amazing that I’d highly suggest a stop for anyone who wanted to grab a bite before (or after) departing their train from Gare du Nord across the street.

Location

The hotel is literally opposite the iconic Gare du Nord — so this is a particularly perfect base for those who’ll be taking several train trips either while in Paris (perhaps a day trip to Brussels or the London) or even if Paris is simply a quick stop en route to your next destination.

Also, the metro is literally in front of the hotel’s entrance so making your way  around the city will be a snap.

Since it’s located in the 10th arrondissement, the hotel is also ideal for travelers who perhaps want to stay away from more tourist-centric spots and are curious about other neighborhoods. One thing to keep in mind is that although the Gare du Nord itself is iconic and the busiest train station in Europe, it’s probably not the spot where you’re likely to be hanging out late at night.

But Montemarte is nearby, as is the trendy Canal-Saint Martin.

About 25 Hours Hotels

A stay with the German-based 25 Hours Hotel Group is ideal for anyone with a fun, hipster spirit — or the traveler who doesn’t want to stay in cookie-cutter establishments… yet enjoys being loyal to a brand that they already know.

Each hotel has a quirky cool vibe and design that are unique to the spirit of the city’s location, or (particularly in the Paris outpost) the neighborhood as well.

Check out my recap for the 25 Hours Hotel in Florence. Or check out the 25 Hours Hotel site for more destinations.