First created in the 1960s with the inheritance of a family home in Marseille, New Hotel has since renovated French buildings across Paris, Marseille, and Brussels into boutique hotels.

Each of their ten hotels is charmingly unique and embellished to retain the character of the town and the era in which it was built. The group also has stylish Parisian properties in the Lafayette and Opéra areas. Le Voltaire is located in the 11th arrondissement between the picturesque Bastille and Oberkampf, a trendy and lively district known for its vibrant bars and theatres.

It’s around the corner from the Voltaire underground station on Line 9, which will take you through to the big transit station République, skim along the top of the 2nd arrondissement and straight to the heart of Champs-Elysées and the 8th arrondissement at Franklin D. Roosevelt.

From what I’ve picked up, France is quite a pet-friendly country. Many households keep pets, and Le Voltaire gladly welcomes your furry pals to stay with you.

Guest Rooms

The bathroom, while compact, was bright and clean, featuring white square tiling with black grouting all over and stainless steel hardware. Can I just say the NUXE Rêve de Miel amenities in the walk-in shower had such an intoxicating scent that I fell in love with the collection? The face and body cleansing gel is thick and honeyed, while the body lotion leaves skin deliciously soft. Truly underrated gems. NUXE is retailed globally, though that didn’t stop me from perusing every NUXE cabinet in French drugstores, checking out everything they stocked.

For anxious Asians like myself, yes, the entire hotel is air-conditioned (IYKYK).

Communal Areas

It would be tough to walk in through the library green front doors and not be taken by Le Voltaire’s lobby space. Whilst not the biggest, the marvellous play of textures and designer furniture emanates a chic French vibe in an autumn colour palette. There’s the beautiful patina of the channelled leather sofa and the playful glint of the mismatched, smoky glass pendant lights–all incredibly tasteful without trying too hard.

Tucked away behind the elevators is a cosy working area for those who need a bit more desk space than the room. A stairwell leads downstairs to the breakfast area, which has a little courtyard to sit outside in.

Thoughts

I’m always a bit wary of Parisian hotels; they’re either too small, too old, too expensive, or a combination of all three. And I’m not even talking about properties with a landmark view. So for its location and quality, Le Voltaire was very decent and comfortable to wind down in after a day of exploring.

Because it’s slightly away from the traditional tourist attractions of the 1st and 4th arrondissements, the 11th felt more low-key but still safe and ideal for discovering more laidback but equally well-preserved parts of the French scene, like the Bataclan, Opéra Bastille, Théâtre de la Bastille and more. It’s also walkable, albeit a little far, to Marais, one of my favourite areas in Paris, filled with historic backstreets, French boutiques and galleries. Perfect for burning off those extra calories after a heavy meal and shopping.

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