Review: Hôtel Daguerre

When I go back to San Francisco it’s inevitable that I’ll attend a dinner party where guests Bob and Linda are in the process of planning their next trip to Europe. It is evitable that the host, forgetting our friendship, will sell me down the river, by opening his mouth, “Oh, Kirsten lives in Paris.” Now Bob and Linda want to know two things: first–and they say this with lowered eyes and their right hands over their hearts–“But the exchange rate?” Yes, Bob and Linda, I know. I’m living off eggs and tuna. How do you think I stay so thin? The second thing they (always) want to know is “What is your favorite part of Paris?” Now they’re in for a real shock. Though I spend much of my time in cafés in the 6th arrondissement, my favorite part of Paris is the 14th. Most likely, even though this will be their fifth trip to Paris, Bob and Linda don’t know where the 14th is. This is the best thing about the 14th. You won’t run into Bob and Linda at Café Daguerre. My former college roommate, Laure, lives in the 14th, so I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the neighborhood. Coffee at Café Daguerre, gelato at Amorino, pizza at Enzos, walks in Parc Montsouris, and of course, endless hours on Larue’s balcony overlooking the 14th’s pastel rooftops, while drooling over the baker boy on a cigarette break across the street. One of the most charming streets in the 14th arrondissement is rue Daguerre where you’ll find the Paris you see in black and white movies. The bread shop, the cheese shop, the wine shop, the butcher–one right after another. The ice cream store, the pizzeria, the flower shop. A record store, a pharmacy, a used- clothing store, cafés, cafés, cafés, and at the very end of the rue, Hôtel Daguerre. Hôtel Daguerre is one of the few three-star hotels on this street–the others are mostly one and two stars. Hôtel Daguerre is clean and quiet and a bargain price–the suites go for 110 euros. It’s inexpensive for a three-star, but it lacks some of the charm found in a number of the more expensive three—stars. However, at the Hôtel duc de Saint Simon, an unbelievably charming three-star hotel in the 7th, you’ll pay close to 500 euros for a suite, so….it depends on your budget. At Hôtel Daguerre, you get what you pay for. In order to enter the Hôtel Daguerre you must be buzzed through the glass doors by the concierge–this is a two-door process, so you’ll feel like you’re in a bank and very secure. The entrance floor is white and black marble, reflecting the light of the crystal chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. A Monet print (the one of the bridge with the water lilies floating below) hangs above the faux jade reception desk where Sophie, the attractive and always polite concierge, sits in a yellow sweater. Sophie hands me a white card with holes punched all over it: my key to room 101. Strange. When I place the card in the slot I fell like I’m punching a time card in the mailroom. Room 101 is a bit like a hospital room: orangey-pink, textured wall paper, busy blue carpet; a square wooden mirror hangs on the wall near the entrance, and the “kitchen size TV” rests on top of the mini bar. The minimal wood furniture is chipped and placed neatly around the room, making good use of the small space. They tell me that I can roll a third bed in here, if I want, but I don’t see where it would fit. Through the to-the floor curtains, I catch a glimpse of a small courtyard/garden. But it does not appear that one can step outside into it. However, it provides a nice view. The bathroom is sparkling white and quite large. It’s a handicap-access bathroom, equipped with appropriate bars. There are a bath and a shower. The hair dryer is old, the kind that sticks to the wall and takes a good 30 minutes to dry a full head of hair. Better to come in the summer and air dry. The following rooms are more or less versions of each other, varying in size. Some of the rooms have blue wallpaper, while some have orange-pink. Some have the busy blue bedspreads and the others have coral. Most of the wood furniture is chipped. And in all of the following room the TV set rests on top of the mini bar. Room 201: Twin bedroom. Busy blue carpet. Pink hospital-paper walls. Chipped wood furniture. Armoire to hang clothes, but there are no doors on the armoire. The bathroom is like the first, except much smaller (not handicapped equipped). Shower and bath. Room 303: Double. Blue textured paper walls. Coral bedspread that has a waxy feel to it. Matching floor length drapes. No view. Tiny bathroom. Only a shower, no bath. Room 402: Double room. Lots of light. Water stains all over wood table. Wallpaper and bedspread the same as room #303. Room 501: Single. Twin bed. The size of a walk-in closet. Orange-pink wallpaper, blue bedspread. The shower is so small I’d have to diet for a week just to make it through the plastic doors. Room 601: Suite. Nice window bringing in lots of light with a view of Paris rooftops. In the small sitting room there is a beat-up love seat and a round water-stained coffee table with an ashtray in the center, facing the mini bar. The bedroom appears to be the same as all of the others, a double bed, brown chipped furniture, papered walls. The bathroom is small. Shower, no bath. No robes and slippers here…. *All of the rooms include satellite TVs with Canal+, mini bar, safe, telephone, dial-up internet and hairdryer. In the mornings you can either take your breakfast in your room or downstairs in the breakfast room, which is surprisingly spacious for Paris. Light tiled floors and high ceilings: you’ll be more than comfortable having your morning coffee here. The continental breakfast is 10 euros and it…