We stayed at Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs in Paris and loved its mix of style and location. The hotel feels like stepping onto an old American voyager ship, complete with dark wood, rope details, and a subtle nautical theme that runs through the restaurant and lobby. It’s located on the Rive Gauche, a perfect base for exploring Saint-Germain or walking to the river. It’s close to Montparnasse and a short walk from Le Bon Marché and the Jardin du Luxembourg, the neighborhood surrounding Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs offers a calmer, more local feel than busier Saint-Germain or Rue du Bac.
The hotel’s 138 rooms, once part of a Holiday Inn, are now refreshed in a mid-century New York–inspired style. Designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi—whose Milanese flair earned a spot on the AD100 list—the interiors blend dark wood paneling, brass accents, wave-like molding, nautical details, vintage record players, and vinyl collections in select suites.
The lobby bar is warm and inviting, and there’s also a lower-level speakeasy called Poppy and a brasserie called Le Grands Voyageurs, led by Executive Chef Benoit Ayissi, a former sous-chef at Joël Robuchon. Full disclosure: we didn’t get to visit Poppy—it only opens a few nights a week—but we heard great things.
Mealtimes at Le Grands Voyageurs are a transatlantic journey. The menu mixes polished French classics with American touches—think oysters with cucumber-apple mignonette, cauliflower steak, salted caramel cheesecake—and hearty options like steak frites, sole meunière, and lobster rolls. We tried bright yellowtail carpaccio, tuna-tartare tacos (a luxe twist on street food), a classic bistro burger with crisp fries, and a well-executed cordon bleu. For dessert, the lemon tart leaned more toward key-lime-pie territory—a tart surprise in a good way.
The wine list is concise and thoughtful, leaning into natural wines. We particularly liked a Loire Chenin called “Chenin Méchant” (a pun on “beware dog”).
If you’re after a boutique Left Bank stay with stylish design, solid food, a lively bar scene, and less tourist buzz, Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs delivers a clear sense of place with personality and polish.
Note: Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs provided support for the reporting of this story.