What I Liked
- Fantastic location
- Swimming pool and spa
- Rooftop bar with great Parisian views
- Modern decorations
- Social Hour every day. Free drinks between 5pm and 6pm
- Fantastic breakfast
Some of the links on this website will earn an affiliate commission – at no extra cost to you. Without these affiliate commissions, I could not have kept this website running - I want to thank everyone that has supported me! Full details can be found at the Terms & Conditions Page
The Kimpton Paris is modern 5* hotel, with an amazing location. The hotel is right next to Paris Opera. My personal favourite location in the city! The hotel impressed me a lot. All of the décor and furnishings are in fantastic condition. There’s a rooftop bar on the 10th floor, with a terrific view of the city. There’s an uninterrupted view of the Eiffel Tower! The hotel also has a small swimming pool and Spa. It’s a great base for your visit to Paris. On a personal note, I stayed for 1 night. I enjoyed my stay. I was little disappointed with the room however, which was small. However, the hotel made up for it.
The Kimpton Paris sits right next to the Paris Opera House, which has to be one of the most central spots in the whole city.
But the real reason to read on is what happened at check-in at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris. As an IHG Platinum member, I should have walked away with an upgrade and a drinks voucher. Instead, I got neither. What I did get, once the front desk caught up, was breakfast for two thrown in. Worth €70. And what a breakfast it turned out to be.
There's also a daily Social Hour with free drinks between 5pm and 6pm, a rooftop bar on the 10th floor with an uninterrupted view of the Eiffel Tower, and a swimming pool that's genuinely rare to find in central Paris. The room itself? Small, with a view of the atrium. Honest warning: that part wasn't my favourite. The rest of the Kimpton Paris experience more than made up for it.
If you're planning your own Paris trip, a couple of things on my recommended resources page make a real difference here — a Viator tip-based walking tour of Paris for €3, and Yesim for cheap international roaming so you're not stung by data charges the moment you land. Both have saved me money on trips like this one.
If the Kimpton's small rooms put you off, it's worth knowing Paris is full of alternatives. I've pulled together a full guide to Marriott hotels in Paris so you can weigh up where to point your points before you commit.
Paris is never cheap. No dressing that up.
The Kimpton Paris sits right by the Opera House. About as central as you can get in the city.
I stayed one night at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris. The cash price came to $525.
For a modern 5* in that spot, that's a fair shout. The rooftop bar and the daily free Social Hour soften the blow nicely.
Book your stay at the Kimpton Paris here
The Kimpton Paris is part of IHG. One of the biggest hotel groups in the world, along with Marriott and Hilton. If you're a UK traveller, it's worth knowing Hilton's debit card hands you Gold status for £150 — a cheeky shortcut before you decide which chain to be loyal to.
Booking the Kimpton St Honoré Paris is simple enough. And if you search for the Kimpton St Honore Paris without the accent — like most of us do — you land on the exact same hotel. So don't worry if your keyboard won't play ball.
At $525 for the night, the Kimpton Paris is no bargain. But for a central five-star, with the rooftop bar and the free daily Social Hour folded in, it earns its keep.
Right next to the Paris Opera House, the Kimpton Paris sits about as central as it gets. This is posh-hotel territory. The InterContinental Paris is across the road, and the Park Hyatt is a two-minute walk away. The Louvre is 15 minutes on foot, the Arc de Triomphe is 3km out (10 minutes if you hop on the train), and the Eiffel Tower is 3.5km away. Frankly, it's the best base in the city. You can walk almost everywhere worth seeing.
The neighbourhood itself is the Grands Boulevards district. Classic Haussmann Paris — wide boulevards, cream stone buildings, those wrought-iron balconies you picture when you think of the city. It's a proper shopping and business quarter rather than a sleepy residential one, so it hums during the day and stays lively into the evening. I love the locality around Paris Opera, and the Kimpton Paris is right in the thick of it. Loads of bars, cafés and restaurants for all budgets. Myself and my wife found an Indian place two minutes from the hotel and paid €25 for both of us to eat dinner. The area around the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, by contrast, is much more of a tourist trap.
Some of the city's best bits are a short stroll away:
Use an eSIM in Paris
When I landed in Paris, I switched on an eSIM instead of paying my carrier's roaming rates — and saved a small fortune on data.
I got 1GB for 7 days for around $4.50. Other packages are available if you're staying longer or streaming more.
The provider is rated 4.7* from over 10,000 reviews, so I wasn't trusting my holiday data to a stranger.
Honestly, this is a no brainer. I'm a little annoyed I spent years handing my carrier money I didn't need to.
Paris is one of those cities where the best thing to do costs nothing. Walk up to Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. It's a 30-minute stroll from the Kimpton St Honoré Paris — uphill, mind, so wear proper shoes. The view back over the whole city from the steps is free, and frankly it's one of the finest in Paris.
That walk up to Sacré-Cœur tells you something about where the Kimpton St Honoré Paris sits. You're central enough that a good chunk of the city opens up on foot — no metro map required.
It's one of the under-rated perks of basing yourself at the Kimpton Paris. The hotel does the heavy lifting on location, and you just do the walking.
Paris Top Sights Half Day Walking Tour
If you'd rather have someone show you the city properly, book your spot here. It's $74 and rated 4.85* from over 3,100 reviews. You'll cover 30-plus of the big sights in one go with a guide who actually makes it fun. Half a day, no faff, and a great way to get your bearings on day one.
Paris in A Day: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame & Seine Cruise
This is the premium pick, and worth it. You can book here for $115. It's rated 4.80* from over 2,200 reviews. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and a Seine cruise all in one day. Honest warning: it's a long, tiring day on your feet. But you'll tick off the lot, and the river cruise at the end is a lovely way to rest your legs.
French Wine and Champagne Tasting in Paris
For a slower evening, grab your tickets here. It costs $87 and is rated 4.87* from over 660 reviews. You'll taste your way through French wines and champagne with someone who knows their stuff. A proper grown-up treat — and a fitting one, given you're staying two minutes from the Opera.
Browse all activities in Paris on Viator — hundreds of options beyond what I've covered here.
I had a strange experience at check-in at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris. I am an IHG Platinum member. Unfortunately, the front desk agent didn’t acknowledge this at check-in. He didn’t provide any benefits either. I should have received a room upgrade and a drinks voucher.
At the end, I asked what the benefits were as an IHG Platinum. This is when he realised my status. I expected him to give me a drinks voucher. This benefit can be very valuable at expensive hotels. At some IHG hotels, I’ve got multiple glasses of champagne with the drinks voucher.
What happened next was much better. The agent said that he would chuck in breakfast for me and my wife. This is not a normal benefit as an IHG Platinum, so I said thank you and shut my mouth. The breakfast for two people is worth €70.
The Kimpton Paris occupies one entire block. The entrance to the hotel is on the ground floor. There are also other shops on the ground floor. Directly opposite the Kimpton Paris is the Intercontinental Paris. That is also an IHG hotel. The hotel has the following facilities:
The downstairs lobby is pretty small. This isn’t surprising as there isn’t much space there. There are other shops on the same block.
There is a swimming pool and spa. I made sure to visit. The pool is pretty small. There’s also a Hammam and a sauna.
The Kimpton Paris rooftop bar is pretty spectacular. It’s on the 10th floor, and has amazing views of the city.
The hotel design was modern. Everything was in immaculate condition.
The Kimpton Paris opened its doors in 2021 as the first Kimpton-branded hotel in France, planting the group's playful American flag right in the middle of the Grands Boulevards. For IHG, that made it a statement property rather than just another flag on the map. Which, given the address, makes sense.
There are 149 rooms and suites spread across the Kimpton St Honoré Paris. Not a huge hotel by central Paris standards, and you feel that intimacy the moment you step into the lobby.
If you love an IHG five-star with serious design, the Kimpton isn't the only one. My Intercontinental Amsterdam review covers another stunner where the rooms didn't feel quite so snug.
Here's the quick version of what the Kimpton St Honoré Paris actually gives you. The hotel sits right by the Paris Opera, so you're within walking distance of a lot of the city. Inside there's a small swimming pool and spa, a gym, and a rooftop bar looking out over the rooftops. The ground-floor lobby is on the compact side and the decor is modern. And the bike hire is free, which is a lovely touch.
One small thing if you're hunting for it online. You'll often see it written as Kimpton St Honore Paris, without the accent. Same hotel. Don't let the spelling throw you off the scent.
There's one restaurant in the Kimpton Paris.
The Montecito Restaurant and Bar sits on the ground floor, and it's the heart of the place. I had breakfast here and it was one of the best I've had in a long time — the mushrooms alone were worth showing up for. It's also where the daily Social Hour runs — one of my favourite touches at the Kimpton Paris — with free drinks between 5pm and 6pm. Casual, modern, and easy. Book it for breakfast at the very least.
At check-in at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris, the agent didn’t notice that I was an IHG Platinum. As such, I didn’t get an upgrade. The room I got at the Kimpton Paris wasn’t great.
The room was on the 2nd floor, overlooking the middle of the hotel. One side of the hotel overlooks the outside. The other side overlooks the atrium at the centre of the hotel.
The room was also very small. Just about big enough for a double bed and two small side tables. At the end of the bed, there was a small sofa. A ‘chaise longue’ to use the proper term!
There was a very small circular table and a wall mounted TV. I am sitting on the sofa and typing on the table. It’s pretty uncomfortable!
The in-room tea and coffee facilities are pretty good. There’s a Krups coffee machine with pods. The tea selection is by a brand called Kusmi. Which is a pretty expensive brand.
The bathroom was also small. With a shower, rather than a bath. The toiletries were branded by Codage Paris.
The decoration was very clean and modern. All the furniture was in excellent condition.
I didn’t like the room all that much. It’s much smaller than I would like. It’s very unusual that I stay in a room this small. Usually I get an upgrade, or I book a family room.
The Kimpton Paris serves breakfast at the Montecito Restaurant and Bar on the ground floor. It was one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in a very long time — a genuine highlight of the Kimpton St Honoré Paris.
The buffet wasn’t massive. However, each dish was cooked to perfection. The following items were available:
I had avocado on toast, mushrooms on toast and pancakes with syrup. Each item was fabulous.
The mushrooms were especially good. Normally, hotels undercook mushrooms and they lack flavour. These mushrooms were cooked through and full of flavour.
The avocado on toast was pretty good. It came with lemon juice and pickles for extra flavour.
The pancakes were absolutely delicious. They were American style, rather than French crepes.
I should mention that the sausages and bacon looked really good too (although I didn’t eat it). The sausages had a beautiful sear of crispy fat. They also looked to be cooked with herbs for extra flavour.
I had a pot of tea. I ordered it from the waiter, rather than helping myself. It was really good. They use a French brand called Kusmi.
Breakfast at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris isn't trying to reinvent your morning, and honestly that's fine. The spread covered the basics and covered them well. Pastries, cakes and cookies if you've already given up on the diet. Cereals, fruit, toast and yoghurt if you're still clinging on.
You didn’t read the title wrong. It’s not click bait! The Kimpton Paris offers complimentary drinks between 5pm and 6pm. They call this the ‘Social Hour.’ Indeed, every Kimpton hotel offers the Social Hour. It takes place at the Montecito Restaurant and Bar on the ground floor. They offer beer, wine, hot drinks and soft drinks for free. I only stayed for one night, but I made sure to partake in social hour. It would be rude not too! I had two glasses of beer and my wife had a pot of tea. We didn’t go to town! The drinks were served with some popcorn and olives. I gave a pretty good tip. I think the waiter was surprised, as he came and spoke to us for 10 minutes after that. I should note that the hotel doesn’t advertise social hour anywhere. I think that we were the only people who knew about it. Make sure you take advantage of this when you visit!
The daily Social Hour is one of those touches that quietly wins you over. Free drinks between 5pm and 6pm, no catch and no upsell, just a glass of something on the house.
It's a small thing. But free drinks in central Paris add up fast, and it's exactly the perk that makes the Kimpton St Honoré Paris feel like better value than the room rate suggests.
The hotel has a rooftop bar on the 10th floor. It’s pretty terrific. You have a 360 degree view of Paris. Including an uninterrupted view of the Eiffel Tower.
The bar was closed on the day I was there, as there had been a lot of rain. So I wasn’t able to get a drink. I did take a walk around the terrace and took a bunch of photos.
You can see the photos in the above slideshow.
The rooftop bar is the bit of the Kimpton Paris everyone asks me about. Up on the 10th floor, with an uninterrupted view of the Eiffel Tower, it's the kind of spot that makes you forget your room is a size too small.
If you only do one thing here, make it a sunset drink. The Kimpton St Honoré Paris rooftop bar isn't huge, so get there early and claim a corner before the crowd beats you to it.
There’s a swimming pool and spa on the lower ground floor. The area is quite nice, although the facilities are definitely small in size.
The area also has a hammam and a sauna.
I went for a swim once during my stay. I stayed for about 30 minutes.
Hotels with swimming pools aren’t easy to find in the centre of Paris. So this is a genuinely impressive feature of the Kimpton Paris.
A swimming pool in central Paris is rarer than a quiet Metro carriage at rush hour, so finding one at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris is a genuine treat.
It's not built for serious lengths. But after a day pounding the pavements, slipping into the water here felt like a small miracle.
There’s a fitness centre on the lower ground floor. It’s pretty small, but has a decent range of machines. You can get a decent workout here, which is more than I expected from the Kimpton Paris.
I stayed at the Kimpton Paris for just one night, and it left a real impression. The location of the Kimpton St Honoré Paris next to the Paris Opera is the best base in the city, full stop. The breakfast at Montecito was one of the best I've had in a long time — those mushrooms alone were worth getting up for. And the rooftop bar with its uninterrupted view of the Eiffel Tower is hard to beat.
It wasn't perfect. My room was small, with a view straight onto the atrium, and the IHG Platinum benefits went missing at check-in until I asked. But the front desk made up for it with breakfast for two worth €70. And the daily Social Hour, free drinks from 5pm to 6pm, is a lovely touch that the hotel barely advertises.
So who's it for? If you want a central, modern base with a fantastic breakfast and a genuinely rare central-Paris pool, you'll love it. If a roomy suite is your priority, push for an upgrade at check-in. For me, the small room was the only blemish on a stay I'd happily repeat.
Would I go back to the Kimpton Paris? Yes. The room was small and the view was nothing to write home about. But the spot by the Opera House, the breakfast, and that free Social Hour every day make the Kimpton St Honoré Paris an easy one to recommend.