Recommended hotels in the South Marais (4th arrondissement) and Ile Saint-Louis

Just eight rooms, two on each floor, in a 17th-century private house on a side street in the Marais. There is no lobby, there is a small breakfast room that becomes a bar in the evening, and breakfast is brought to your room at any time you request. The suites have a kitchenette and a balcony, and some rooms have preserved original wooden beams. Robes and an umbrella await in the closet. It is very expensive, and that is the point: if you are looking for personal service and not a large complex, you will find exactly that here. The Pompidou Center is two minutes away, and I recommend a suite if you are staying more than three nights, because the kitchenette makes a big difference.

61 rooms on Rue de la Verrerie, in a maximalist design by Martin Brodnicki: paint on paint, tapestries and furniture collected in flea markets. In the basement there is an eight-meter pool under vaults, with a hand-painted fresco, alongside a hammam and jacuzzi, all reserved for guests only. The downside: The hotel restaurant and bar are a pilgrimage site for Parisians, and in the evenings it can be noisy. I recommend asking for a room on a high floor, away from the lobby.

Twelve rooms in a 17th-century manor house that sits on the Place des Vosges, and all face it. There is no reception in the usual sense: you ring a bell and they open it for you. In the basement there is a small Roman bath under vaults, and upstairs there is a tea room with a patisserie corner. The suites have a kitchenette, a free minibar and a bookshelf that has been individually selected. Note that the building is historic and therefore not wheelchair accessible, that there are almost no public areas, and that it is very expensive. I recommend booking here only if the room with a view of the square is available, because it makes all the difference.

29 rooms on Rue du Roi de Sicile, in the heart of the Jewish Quarter , designed by Philippe Starck. The three suites face the rooftops of Paris, and the rooms have Japanese toilets. The Le Confidence bar is open every evening from 3pm, but note that cocktails are not served on Sundays and Mondays. The rooms are small, as in all of the Marais. I recommend skipping the hotel breakfast and going out to one of the bakeries in the area, since you are in the best neighborhood in Paris for breakfast anyway.

A 17th-century convent turned hotel dedicated to Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), Napoleon's first wife. Bambi Sloane's design is unapologetic: leopard prints, flowers and strong colours in every corner. 24 rooms between 15 and 35 metres, some with exposed wooden beams, and there's a champagne bar open from 8am to 11pm. Note that the rooms are small and there's no room for an open suitcase, so I recommend taking one category higher if you're staying more than three nights. Place de Vosges is a five-minute walk away.

Not exactly a hotel: 21 apartments with fully equipped kitchens and a daily cleaning service that also washes your dishes. The main building is at 19 Rue de Rivoli , where the reception and a hidden bar are also located, and there is another wing with one suite on each floor. The smallest studio is 28 meters and the largest ones reach 52, which is a lot for Paris. There is no breakfast of a classic hotel, but with such a kitchen and a bakery in every corner, it is almost not lacking. For a family or a couple staying for a whole week, it is a great deal, and I recommend asking for a unit in the back wing, because Rue de Rivoli is busy.

Just twelve suites, between 40 and 95 meters, all of which overlook the Port de l'Arsenal and the boats moored there. The building was once a printing house. Each suite has a full kitchen with a dishwasher and a bean-to-cup coffee machine, and each floor has a different color scheme. There is no restaurant and the reception is small, and breakfast is served in the lounge or in the room. Note that this is not the heart of the historic Marais but its edge, and you have to like that. On the other hand, the Bastille is a five-minute walk away and the quiet here is real. I recommend the place especially for families staying for a week.

58 rooms on Rue du Temple, opposite the BHV department store and two minutes from the Hôtel de Ville. The 16th-century building was redesigned by Jean-Philippe Noel, and the lobby is deliberately dark, so those who need plenty of light won't find it here. There's a sauna and a small gym, and the inner courtyard has a vertical garden and a lit tree. The same family has run the place since the 1920s, four generations of women, and it's noticeable at reception. The cheap rooms are small, so I recommend upgrading if you're a couple with two suitcases. Attractions in the surrounding district.

34 rooms on the tiny Rue de Jarente, which leads straight onto Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine, a square surrounded by restaurants that is one of the coziest corners in the Marais. The breakfast room has a huge mosaic mirror, and the buffet costs 12 euros. Each room is decorated differently, in shades of gold, lilac or green, with a wooden floor. Pay attention to one rule: eating in the rooms is not allowed, and there is a sign that reminds you of this. The standard rooms are only 14 meters, so I recommend upgrading to a larger room, even if it means paying a little more. The Carnival Museum is five minutes away.

A 17th-century manor house on Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, with exposed wooden beams and red-carpeted staircases. 29 rooms, each different: the top category has four-poster Louis XIII-style beds and a marble bathtub. Breakfast is served in a vaulted stone cellar, with freshly squeezed orange juice, and there is also a house cat that accompanies guests to their rooms. The big drawback, and it's important to know about it in advance: there is no air conditioning, only fans, and in a heat wave it's difficult. In spring and autumn it's excellent value for money, and I recommend asking for a room facing the courtyard. The Pompidou Center is a few minutes away.

A family-run hotel for four generations, 28 rooms on Rue Malher, a minute from Saint-Paul station. Breakfast is served in a vaulted 17th-century wine cellar, which is the nicest part of the hotel. The rooms have air conditioning that works even in heat waves, a small fridge and a kettle. The rooms on the upper floors are larger and some overlook the rooftops. Two notes before closing: the lift is tiny and can barely fit two people with a suitcase, and there isn't much storage space in the room. I recommend asking for a high floor, as the difference in size and view justifies it. Picasso Museum in six minutes.

42 rooms on Rue de la Bastille, two minutes from the square. The bathrooms have deep bathtubs, which is not a given in a three-star hotel in Paris. Breakfast costs 16 euros, includes omelettes and freshly squeezed juice, and can be taken to the room. In the building next door is the Bofinger brasserie, which opened in 1864, with its glass dome, and I think it's worth eating there at least once. Note that the rooms are small and that the area has nightlife, so I recommend asking for a room facing in. Victor Hugo's house is a six-minute walk away.

28 rooms on Rue Simon Le Franc, opposite the Pompidou Centre and three minutes from La Halle . The breakfast room is a vaulted stone cellar with an ancient well, and is served from 7am to 11pm, for 11 euros. The rooms have wooden beams, and some open onto a flower-filled courtyard, and there is also a ground-floor suite with a private terrace. Two notes before closing: the rooms and beds are not large, and the hotel is not wheelchair accessible. I recommend asking for a room facing the courtyard, as the street itself is lively in the evenings.

Only 18 rooms on Rue Caron, at the end of which opens onto Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine. The minibar is free and filled every day, soft drinks and snacks, and there are movies on the TV at no extra charge. The bathrooms have L'Occitane products, and in each room you control the air conditioning. On the other hand, it's a hotel with no lobby or bar, and the bathrooms are tiny. The twin rooms don't have room for two open suitcases, so I recommend that a couple take a double room rather than a twin. Rue Rivoli is three minutes away.

23 rooms in a late 19th-century building on the corner of Rue de Rivoli and Rue du Bourg-Tibourg. The decor is maximalist and unapologetic: printed wallpaper, photos and prints of Paris on every wall, and furniture the owners collected at flea markets. There is air conditioning, double glazing and a lift. Be aware that the rooms are small, the showers are tiny and there is almost no storage space. Notre Dame is about a 10-minute walk away. I recommend asking for a room on a high floor facing Rue Rivoli, as the view from there is really worth it.

21 rooms on Rue du Roi de Sicile, four minutes from Saint-Paul station. Breakfast is served in a vaulted stone cellar, and some rooms still have stone fireplaces. And let's be honest: the street itself is very lively at night, with bars on it, and the noise lasts until after midnight. There's no air conditioning here either, just a fan. I recommend specifically asking for a room not facing the street, and if you're a light sleeper, packing earplugs. At this price and location, with the Marais starting right outside the door, it's a fair deal.

17 rooms in a 14th-century building, right across from Saint-Paul metro station. Two historic buildings connected by a glass space that lets light into the middle of the hotel. Breakfast is organic: jams and honey from Vaucluse, cheeses from a dairy in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and gluten-free options. Some rooms have a roll-top bathtub. Note that the entrance is a modest door between two cafes and is easy to miss, and that the rooms are about 14 meters. I recommend upgrading if you are coming for more than a weekend. Île Saint-Louis is a 10-minute walk.

24 rooms on Rue de Birague, the short street that leads straight to the arch of Place de la Vosges , one minute from the square. The rooms have exposed wooden beams and modern bathrooms with rain showers, and breakfast is served in a room full of antiques. Two points before closing: there is no air conditioning, only ceiling fans, and the elevator does not reach all floors, so there will always be a section of stairs. I recommend asking for a lower floor if stairs bother you, and avoiding booking during an August heat wave. Victor Hugo's house in two minutes.

28 rooms on Rue Saint-Antoine, 100 metres from Bastille station and two minutes from Place de la Voise. Breakfast is served in a room with exposed stone and original beams. There is a reading room, luggage lockers before and after check-in, and bicycle parking in the basement. Some rooms face a quiet inner courtyard. Important warning: not all rooms have a private shower, so I recommend checking with the hotel before booking. At this price, and in this location, this is one of the most sensible deals in the district.

A small hotel on Rue du Temple, three minutes from Hôtel de Ville station, at a price that is almost non-existent in this area. There is air conditioning in every room, and free coffee and tea in the lobby throughout the day. Breakfast costs about ten euros and includes croissant, toast, cheese and juice, and if you give a day's notice you can also get a savory version. Two things to know: there is no elevator and the stairs are steep, and the rooms on the top floor are attics with sloping ceilings. I recommend asking for a room facing the courtyard, as it is really quiet there. Attractions in the surrounding district.