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Le Ballu is a vintage Hotel 5* halfway between 60s cartoons and Eastern European architecture. You're in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, a 15-minute walk from Sacré-Cœur, in the Saint Ouen antique district. This is one of our favorite hotels in Paris.
We recommend booking your stay at Ballu via Booking.com, which often offers free cancellation. Send us a message on Instagram if you go, it would make us super happy.
We had the opportunity to visit almost every room, the spa and the restaurant. The hotel exceeded our expectations and proved to be even more seductive than on the photos.
What we loved about it:
- The professional team, poised, well-dressed (in black) and very smiling 🖤
- The excellent musical playlist, very much in keeping with the atmosphere 🎶
- The 19th-century façade, a superb contrast to the interior 🏛️
- The vintage decor, very much inspired by the restaurant 🖼️
- The green courtyard (perfect when the weather's nice) 🌿
- The wellness area evoking the ambience of the Russian baths of the 60s 🪆
- The subtle lighting on the bedroom doors 💡
- The pleasant fragrance throughout the hotel 🌸
- The absolutely pleasant, bucolic neighborhood 🌳
With his hotelier wife Julia Vidalenc, architect Thomas Vidalenc wanted to create a universe borrowing from 1960s comics and their aesthetic codes, in particular the Ottokar Sceptre, one of the adventures of Tintin, the famous Belgian reporter.
Over 5 floors, you'll find 35 opulent rooms, 5 with terraces, and 2 apartments with bold decor ranging from Prussian blue and canary yellow to emerald and wine-red. Depending on the room, you'll enjoy the following amenities: king-size bed, private bathroom with shower or terrazzo bathtub, Nespresso machine, welcome caramel, silent air conditioning and welcome products from Atelier Cologne.
Tip: ask for a room with a garden view and, if possible, away from the elevator. These are the best and quietest rooms.
In the neo-bistro atmosphere of the restaurant or in the garden, enjoy a rich sweet and savory breakfast or savor the creative cuisine of chef Michaël Riss. Room service is also available. On the map website, you'll find roasted miso ginger salmon, lemon penne or a regressive cheeseburger, all washed down with natural wines.
In the heart of the hotel, you'll find a veritable haven of well-being, with a design reminiscent of Russia in the 60s: a heated indoor pool and a small sauna. We love the subway tiling and globe-shaped hanging lamps. A 45-minute session is included in the price of your reservation. Tip: book your session at least 1 week before your arrival date.
The hotel is ideally located about 15 min walk from Sacré-Cœur and 30 min from the Louvre Museum. The Abbesses district (10 min away) is a must. It's the area of postcards and movies. There's a lightness in the air, an almost palpable carefreeness, as if time were gliding gently by. The cobbled streets wind between pastel facades, revealing at every turn a shady terrace, an intoxicatingly fragrant bakery or a confidential art gallery.
If you're looking for a restaurant, we tested Gegeor, a 5-minute walk away. The staff are very welcoming, the place is beautifully decorated and the food is delicious. Don't miss the Ravioles du Royans, white port cream and black truffle oil. Another idea: the 3V near Gare Saint-Lazare: candles everywhere, elaborate lighting, a warm welcome and a unique, tasty menu.
This blog already features over 350 romantic places in a rare collection. It could be a secret hotel, an unusual stay, or a cabin in the woods, for example. Everything is handcrafted. We travel around 4 months a year and share lots of tips. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok if you like this content and enjoy your visit.
Tip: save this page using the button below and always click on our links before booking.
Tip: save this page using the button below and always click on our links before booking.
No, but the hotel does boast a spa area with swimming pool, inspired by the Russian baths of the 1960s, with metro tiles and suspended globes. A 45-minute session is included in the price of the reservation.
Yes, the bathrooms have both walk-in showers and sublime terrazzo baths, a combination of materials including chrome, bronze, brass and bakelite.
Le Ballu has 35 rooms, including 5 with terraces, and 2 apartments.
The minimum rate at Le Ballu is €176 per night for 2 people, excluding breakfast.
Yes, and the restaurant boasts an attractive planted outdoor courtyard.
Arrival is from 3pm and departure is possible until 12 noon.
Yes, le Ballu is a great choice for a romantic getaway in Paris. Beyond its splendour, the hotel is also one of the few establishments to offer privatisation of its pool and spa.
Yes, the hotel boasts a spa area with swimming pool, inspired by the Russian baths of the 1960s, with their metro tiles and suspended globes. A 45-minute session is included in your reservation.
