Appartement Blanc

A simple 2-bedroom apartment with a touch of style – great value for money on the cool side of town

A little tattered if you look carefully, quietly stylish if you don’t. If that sentence frightens you, look elsewhere; if not, there is much to praise here, and those looking for a simple pad with an honest price on the cool side of town will be happy - you'd pay a fortune for this sort of space in a central hotel. You are in the youthful 11th, with the Place de la République at one end of the street and the Bastille at the other. Step through the big green door and you find a traditional 18th-century apartment block (smart but not grandly shiny) with a cobbled courtyard that insulates you from the noise of the street, to give that rarest of Parisian commodities: a peaceful night’s sleep.

There are two or three big comfy chairs in the sitting room, perfect for a flop before heading out on the town. There is a TV, but don’t expect satellite, a few books too (including Kierkegaard’s For Self-examination: Judge for Yourself). The CD player was having an identity crisis when we visited, but there were promises of a replacement (or therapy). The washing machine is old but still works. The biggest prize you get here is space: three rooms and a roof terrace, and no one to bother you!

Highs

• Pleasingly simple décor with an honest price tag
• A great position on the cool side of town
• Gare du Nord and Eurostar are three stops on the metro

Lows

• A few scuff marks and missing lamp shades - not for those expecting the lap of luxury, but if that doesn’t matter (and it didn’t for us), you’ll be happy
• The old showerhead has a life of its own
• The hot water runs out quickly on full power