This Review of Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris, MGallery by Sofitel is from our last night in Paris, after stays at the Shangri-La Paris, Le Meurice, and Hotel Le Bristol Paris. We'd been visiting with friends just outside Paris, and just had a quick overnight before taking the Thalys train to Brussels, where we stayed at the Hotel Amigo.
For those who enjoy smaller boutique hotels and may not have the budget yet for a stay at an Aman Resort, MGallery by Sofitel could be a worthwhile brand to explore. Sofitel describes its MGallery hotels as “dedicated to lovers of life, literature and culture” and notes that many of the MGallery properties have hosted iconic poets and authors or historical figures.
In the case of the MGallery Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris, the hotel was renovated in 2015, but dates back to the late 18th century, when it was a hunting lodge, then later a convent, before becoming a hotel in the mid 19th century. Relics of its prior incarnations include the stained glass windows that you'll see if you take the stairs.
TravelSort Clients enjoy Sofitel Step Program Benefits:
- Breakfast buffet for 2 in-room guests
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- No walk policy (if the hotel is oversold, other non-Sofitel Step Program guests may be accommodated at other hotels, but Sofitel Step Program guests are guaranteed to stay at the hotel they booked)
Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris Location, Lobby and Check-In
Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris is located at 38 Rue de L'Echiquier, just a 3-5 minute walk from Metro Station Bonne Nouvelle (lines 8 and 9) and about a 7 minute walk from Metro Strasbourg St. Denis (line 4). While “Opera” is in the hotel's name, note that the Opera Garnier is a good 20 minute walk from the hotel, and the Louvre is about a 25 minute walk.
We checked into the hotel in the early evening, and there was just one associate at the desk, who was friendly and soon issued our room key. Unfortunately the first room key he gave us didn't work, but the 2nd one worked fine throughout the rest of our stay.
Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris Superior Room
Entry level Classic Rooms have 1 Queen bed and are just 194 square feet, so we instead reserved a Superior Room with 2 single beds (215 square feet). These are pushed together German style, so wouldn't be the best choice if you're staying with a friend or colleague, but they were fine for my son and me.
The bathroom was very small and contains a toilet, sink and shower. That said, I did appreciate the rain shower head and Clarins shampoo, conditioner and body wash, which were in dispensers in the shower.
Coffee drinkers will be disappointed that there is no coffee maker (just instant espresso powder) in Classic and Superior Rooms (Deluxe Rooms and Suites do have Illy espresso machines) but since I drink tea at night, I was happy to see Dammann Freres tea sachets and a hot water kettle.
Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris Breakfast Buffet
Those booking the hotel with TravelSort enjoy Sofitel Step benefits, which include a complimentary breakfast buffet for two daily. This is served in Le Bar 38, which is bathed in natural light thanks to the atrium ceiling.
The buffet included juices, fresh fruits, a couple kinds of fruit yogurt, hot buffet items such as scrambled eggs, cheeses, smoked salmon, bread and pastries. While nothing in particular was memorable, it was a solid breakfast offering and useful for those who are in a hurry, as you can just help yourself.
The Verdict
The Hotel L'Echiquier Opera Paris, as a 4-star hotel, is a good choice if you don't mind its very small rooms of 215-237 square feet, or if you're in Paris as a solo traveler or have a very brief overnight stay, as we did. For a non-luxury property it has some nice touches, such as the Clarins bath products, Dammann Freres tea, and a good selection of cheeses and fresh fruits for the breakfast buffet. And booked with Sofitel Step benefits, breakfast for two is complimentary.
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