Hotel Florida Paris: A Splurge in Paris’ 8th Arrondissement
If you’re like me, you may be wary about booking expensive rooms in touristy European cities. You probably wonder what’s the point since you’ll be out and about most of the day. On the other hand, every now and then, a splurge can be a nice change of pace, especially if it’s for a special occasion. That’s why on our second visit to Paris we decided to book a room at Hotel Florida Paris.
While it was an expensive hotel, I’m glad we stayed here. Almost everything about Hotel Florida Paris was absolutely perfect, and even the one less-than-perfect thing ended up not being much of an issue. Here’s my review of this modern, yet tastefully old-fashioned hotel in Paris’ 8th arrondissement.
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Initial Impressions of Hotel Florida Paris
My first thoughts of Hotel Florida Paris were positive. The entryway leads guests under a swanky awning and through automatic sliding wooden doors. Once inside, the lobby is lit with a soft lighting coming from the check-in desk and nearby “boutique,” where they sell various things. The flooring and walls all felt modern but with a retro sheen.
While Michelle checked in, I wandered around a bit to see more of the hotel. Right past the lobby is a delightful reading room with all sorts of visually pleasing elements, including an art deco fireplace surrounded by similarly stylistic tables and chairs and an old-fashioned jukebox. I didn’t notice this when we first arrived, but major newspapers were supplied in this room each morning.
I also took a moment to notice the elevator and stairway. The stairway spiraled all the way up to the top floor and was covered in plush, marbled carpet while its walls were lined with red felt. It was just another element of Hotel Florida Paris that felt like it was taken out of the past and given a contemporary touchup. Similarly, the elevator felt like an antique with modern controls. The only thing missing was the old timey elevator operator.
Our 7th Floor Room at Hotel Florida Paris
Our room at Hotel Florida Paris was in their Classic style and was all the way up on the 7th floor. We couldn’t have asked for a better location, as our top-floor room had a stunning view looking across Paris all the way to the Eiffel Tower. You can’t beat watching the Eiffel Tower light up each night for the ultimate Parisian vibe.
This view is almost enough to make the room worthwhile by itself, but fortunately it isn’t all that our room had going for it. Besides being quiet and comfortable, our room had plenty of art deco design choices. Nearly everything featured this type of retro style, from the mini bar area to the water cups by the sink. I never tired of admiring these touches during our five days at Hotel Florida Paris.
The bathroom in our room was large and had a spacious shower with both a rain and handheld showerhead. We also had robes and slippers supplied in our bathroom.
My only complaint about our room was with the shower. The rain showerhead worked great. The handheld shower, however, actually had too much pressure. I realize that’s a bit nitpicky, but I found the handheld shower to be uncomfortable.
One other thing I liked about our room at Hotel Florida Paris was how much storage space it had. The room itself wasn’t especially big – though it was fine for just the two of us – but the room had plenty of shelf space and drawers to keep things out of the way.
Hotel Florida Paris’ Location
One of the only things I wasn’t a huge fan of was the location of Hotel Florida Paris. It wasn’t particularly bad, but it wasn’t great, either.
Hotel Florida Paris is in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, a neighborhood known more for its shopping than its cultural attractions. The 8th arrondissement is where you go if you want to buy all the chic, high end fashion Paris is known for. If you want an expensive souvenir from places like Dior, Chanel and Louis Vutton, you’ll love the shopping here.
Personally, I wasn’t a fan of all the haute couture. I’d rather stay somewhere with a lot of cultural sites, entertainment options or cafes/bars, all of which the area around Hotel Florida Paris lacked. What’s more, cafes tend to be on the pricier side in the 8th arrondissement to match the expensive shopping.
But it’s not all bad. One positive about Hotel Florida Paris’ location away from these things is that the area is pretty quiet. It was always a pleasant and peaceful walk going from the hotel to wherever it was we were heading for the day.
Still, Hotel Florida Paris isn’t that far away from things if you’re willing to walk a mile or so. The closest landmark is the neoclassical church La Madeleine just a few minutes away. The Louvre and d’Orsay Museum are both in a separate arrondissement but only about a mile away. A bit farther away is the Arc de Triomphe.
Walking isn’t a bad option if you do choose to walk to some of the farther options. We walked 1.5 miles to the Rodin Museum shortly after arriving, and it was pleasant stroll that took us through Place de la Concorde, over the Seine and along a quiet, not touristy road where we found a small boulangerie with tasty baguettes. Sometimes the nicest part of visiting a city like Paris is walks like this to discover the untouristy side of things.
And for those who can’t walk or if you have a destination that’s too far for walking, the nicest thing about Hotel Florida Paris’ location is that a metro stop is right down the road. The Madeleine station connects you to many more of Paris’ museums and monuments fairly easily.
Breakfast at Hotel Florida Paris
Breakfast at Hotel Florida Paris was very good each morning. It was a typical European breakfast buffet but with a definite French take on the style.
The buffet includes various pastries, breads, yogurts, jams, granola, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, and charcuterie meats and cheeses. Of course, it wasn’t just basic breads, pastries, and cheeses. It was French baguettes, rustic French boules, French desserts, French cheeses and French pastries. These maybe weren’t the best French foods we had in Paris, but average French breads, cheeses and pastries are still better than much of what we get in America. I especially enjoyed the baguettes and pastries.
Hotel Florida Paris’ breakfast also had an a la carte menu if you want something more than what the buffet offers. We didn’t order anything a la carte, but the online menu looks promising.
Apart from the food, the restaurant itself is quite nice. It felt a bit like an American diner except fancier and with a French flair. It has large windows along for you to watch what’s happening outside while eating your meal or having a drink. Like almost every restaurant in Paris, it has outdoor seating for when the weather is nice, too.
Having a Nightcap at Hotel Florida Paris
After a day of sightseeing around Paris, you may be in the mood for a nightcap before hitting the sack. Fortunately, Hotel Florida Paris has a couple options for you.
The bar at the restaurant has a pretty solid choice of cocktails, wines and beers. Prices are a bit higher than what you can find throughout Paris, but they aren’t too bad compared to other places nearby in the 8th arrondissement. If you aren’t in the mood for alcohol, they also have a variety of teas and coffees available.
Another option is the minibar back in your room. Hotel Florida Paris’ rooms have a fridge stocked with juices, sodas and beer. The beer I had wasn’t my favorite, but it was nice to be able to sit in the comfort of our bed with a drink while admiring at the Eiffel Tower’s nighttime lights.
The bar has a good happy hour in the afternoon, which can help if you want a pre-dinner drink at a slightly cheaper cost. While I’d rather be out and about exploring at this time of day, it’s a good option if you come back for a nap and wake up before your partner. Otherwise, the price isn’t discounted enough to make it worth coming back for.
Let’s Talk About the Cost…
So far, with the exception of the so-so location, everything about Hotel Florida Paris has been positive. All that good stuff comes with a literal cost, though.
There’s no getting around this fact: Hotel Florida Paris is expensive. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because you’re getting what you paid for, which is luxury. However, it is worth considering when booking your trip and planning what you want to get out of your time in Paris.
Prices fluctuate throughout the year, with the cheapest room being around $330. These lower prices come up periodically on their booking site based on the time of year. When we visited in late February, we paid around $350 for a Classic room.
Of course, it’ll cost you even more if you want a nicer room with more space. Prices can get up to nearly $600 per night during busier times of the year.
You’ll have to add the cost of breakfast to that if you plan on eating here. That’s an additional $30 per breakfast buffet. At least at the time of this writing, they offer a discounted breakfast price if you add it at the time of your booking.
Would I Stay at Hotel Florida Paris Again?
OK, so it can get expensive to stay at Hotel Florida Paris. The important question is: Is it worth it?
Hotel Florida Paris is great for a splurge, but it’s a bit too pricey for the casual visitor. Most people will be too busy enjoying Paris rather than sitting in their room at Hotel Florida Paris enough to justify the expense of staying here.
I would love to stay at Hotel Florida Paris again, but realistically, I think I would stay somewhere else if I ever go back to Paris for a third visit. That’s by no means an indictment of the hotel, because Hotel Florida Paris is great. It’s simply a matter of cost.
I also don’t think Hotel Florida Paris would be very good with kids. This trip to Paris was a special getaway without our daughter, and I think had she been with us, we wouldn’t have enjoyed this hotel nearly as much. While Hotel Florida Paris does have accommodations for children, it’s better suited for couples looking for a quiet weekend away.
All that said, I loved our stay here! I was a bit on the fence about it because of how expensive it is, but since it was a special occasion (my 40th birthday and our 10-year anniversary), I figured it was okay to spend a bit of money. Between the relaxing room, interesting art deco style, quiet location and delicious breakfast, it turned out to be well worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotel Florida Paris
Is Hotel Florida Paris child friendly?
Not especially. It does have child accommodations, but I wouldn’t spend all that money to bring a child here. The cheapest rooms (which are still pretty pricey) are too small and the larger rooms are too expensive for a casual traveler with a child. Not being closer to major attractions is another drawback to having a child here.
How much does a room at Hotel Florida Paris cost?
Hotel Florida Paris isn’t cheap. Rooms range from $330 to $600 per night depending on the room type and time of year. Despite the high cost, Hotel Florida Paris is worth it if you’re looking for a bit of a splurge during your time in Paris.
Is there parking at Hotel Florida Paris?
No, Hotel Florida Paris does not have on-site parking, but there are a couple public parking garages just a few minutes away.
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