Le Citizen Hotel in Paris

written by robin

I first became aware of Le Citizen Hotel in Paris when I was writing a monthly column for a Paris-themed website. I had received a press release announcing its opening as the first eco-friendly boutique hotel of its kind in the 10th arrondissement.

I was really intrigued by their concept and the ideal location; not to mention the photos were very attractive. I vowed to visit on a future trip to Paris.

As luck would have it, while organizing a research trip to Lyon, I was flying into Paris, but my Lyon-bound train wasn’t due to leave until the following day, so I decided to eat my way through the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood again. I last visited in 2010 and there’d been a ton of growth. It’s now loaded with hip coffee shops, restaurants, wine bars and boutiques.

Naturally, Le Citizen, right in the heart of the neighborhood, was the first place I thought of to spend the night and I was thrilled that they agreed to have me as an overnight guest.

LE CITIZEN HOTEL IN PARIS

The hotel itself is housed in a small building, perfectly situated along the banks of the Canal St. Martin. Most things you’d want to visit are just a stroll away and anyone who’s seen the movie Amelie would immediately recognize some the charming scenes and lovely bridges crossing the canal. The hotel is actually quite easy to spot – the logo adorns the front in huge black block lettering.

The ground floor is home to an all-purpose breakfast room/cafe/restaurant/wine bar, which is open almost all day. When I arrived late morning, it was bustling. A cozy nook on the opposite side, complete with a few comfy chairs and a small table, serves as a make-shift lobby/co-working space. Perhaps because the free wi-fi is strong.

The hotel is small, only 12 rooms, each with lovely tree-lined canal views. There’s also a tiny elevator, which is something of a rare treat in a smaller, multi-level property in Paris. The rooms have a really minimalist, scandi-themed vibe and both the staff and regulars at the cafe skews younger.

The staff are amazing really; very knowledgable, friendly and always willing to give tons of hints and tips for what to do and see in the area. Most are excited to share their favorite places to visit and assist with directions. I felt they genuinely cared and wanted you to have the best experience in their little local community. Especially, Chaim.

Rooms are bright and sparsely decorated with blond woods, white bedding and pops of accent colors in the decor, draperies, throw pillows and bathroom tiles. One of the first things I noticed in my room is the wall of floor to ceiling windows that open, offering both amazing views and fresh air. A really dreamy way to experience all the sights, sounds and buzz of the area.

My room was one of the smaller ones, but had everything I needed. Large comfortable bed, mini-bar, well-designed, and well-laid out space. Perfect for a single or couple. But they also have bigger rooms and a family room to accommodate larger parties.

My bathroom was definitely a bit cramped, but made good use of space. The hot showers and high-end toiletries were nice. They even provide slippers, shower cap, earplugs and a few odds and ends (q-tips, makeup remover pads) and in case you forget something from home.

One thing that sets Le Citizen Hotel apart is their commitment to their green philosophy. Here are some of the ways they support it:

glass bottles (instead of plastic) of both still and bubbly water in the rooms
a recycling system in place for glass, paper, plastic, steel and aluminum
shower heads, faucets and toilets that are efficient, but not wasteful
refillable toiletries instead of single use plastics
energy, electric and plumbing, retrofitted throughout
double pained windows (both for noise and energy efficiency)
all organic cotton bedding
homemade and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies are used
lights are controlled with your hotel key card, automatically turning off/on when you enter the room, which helps save on electric

LE CITIZEN HOTEL : CAFE + WINE BAR + RESTAURANT

I’m not normally one to eat breakfast at the hotel where I’m staying. Mainly because I’m there to do research, seeking out local authentic places to eat and drink to recommend to clients or create custom food-focused itineraries. So, I need to explore the area. But also because most hotel breakfasts are dreadful, bland, boring and uninspiring.

However, I’m happy to report that’s not the case at Le Citizen. I was beyond impressed with everything they have to offer.

For one, breakfasts are included with your stay. The options are amazing and endless. They can include, coffee beverages or tea, orange juice, yogurt with homemade jam, eggs served how you like with homemade bread, even pastries; Mine also included pears served in a cardamom-honey poaching liquid. It was divine. You can opt for something more substantial and decadent for a small additional cost.

Their focus is on quality, local products and homemade treats. The coffee is excellent and their latte art game is on point.

The restaurant is a destination in its own right. The food stands up all on it’s own, apart from the hotel, which is wonderful because you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to dine there. I would highly recommend visiting even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

Aside from breakfast, you can visit anytime during the day or night. They’re open continuous hours from 7am-11pm daily. This means you can pop-in for just a pastry with cappuccino, a few homemade treats (expect cookies, muffins, bread ,cakes that change daily) to go, an aperitif in the evening with tapas-style menu items, or dinner. Or all of them. The blackboard menu items are varied and are based on what’s currently available and in season.

Le Citizen supports local shops and use organic products when possible. In fact 90% of their produce is sourced locally and comes from France. They make their own jams, condiments and bread and often use compostable and/or biodegradable tableware.

THE VERDICT

I simply adored my stay at Le Citizen Hotel. And I thought the quality of food the restaurant was really top-notch. I wouldn’t hesitate to book clients here. Try to score a room on an upper floor – you’ll be rewarded with the best views.

Le Citizen Hotel in Paris is perfect for those who:

want a small boutique hotel with simple, minimalist rooms and basic amenities
have been to Paris before and wish to explore more of an authentic neighborhood further from the city center
place a huge emphasis on choosing sustainable or eco-friendly stays
are staying a short time and like the idea of choosing a hotel that can serve as a destination – so you don’t need to venture far and can also eat well right on site
guests who like every room to have a lovely view and don’t want to take a chance of having a room facing a dark alley
require good wifi connections for work
those with limited mobility in need of an elevator
want an (excellent) free breakfast and free minibar items included in the room rate