HotelChatter

Checking-In: We fortunately traveled somewhat light which is good because when checking into The Five, large suitcases will have a tough time of getting through the door. The lobby is about the half the size of a small conference room.

Yet the woman at reception was lovely. Cheery and perky actually. And spoke very good English. We were given the key card to our room on the top floor which was luckily accessible by an elevator. Folks staying on the lower floors can easily walk up the winding stairwell which sports a dizzying red and black carpet pattern.

Room Reaction: We aren't going to lie. Our first reaction was, "Wow, it's tiny!" This is probably one of the more spacious class of rooms at the hotel too. But we fell in love with the bright decor of the room which has been attentively decorated by the hotel's artist, Isabelle Emmerique.

Each room carries a signature piece of enamel art from Isabelle and ours was the leaf which was also repeated in a soft cloth pattern on the wall behind the suspended bed.

At night we were dazzled by the lights in the ceiling which we could control their color and frequency. Kinky. The room also sported a tiny balcony that looked out onto the backs of other buildings. A flat-screen TV, kitschy nightstand lamps and a small desk rounded out the rest of the furniture.

Amenity Madness: The room was pretty sparse with amenities. There was no mini-bar, coffee maker, or even a dresser. However, the tiny bathroom sported a large shower/tub combo (although the sink was also tiny), L'Occitane products which somehow smell better in France, and a small wardrobe closet. The bathroom's door was glass and see-through but the toilette was tucked away so you needn't worry about peeping Toms.

Internet Connect: The hotel has free WiFi. You just need to call reception for the login code and password.

Location: The hotel is situated off the Boulevard de Port Royal. The Latin Quarter, aka the Fifth Arrondissement, is typically full of students but its also a bit free of tourists. We strolled along the boulevard at night and popped into a restaurant when we got hungry.

Service: The service is top-notch at the hotel. Again, it's one of those hotels that don't just treat you like a revolving door guest. They really care and it shows.

The front desk also has cool little Five Hotel buttons in a jar that guests can take. But one clerk told us we would have to pose for their blog in order to get on. Hah. No. We took one anyways.

Walkable Eats: Aside from the restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, there are tons of little goodie shops to explore too. In the morning, we forwent breakfast at the hotel and hit up a boulangerie a block away to buy banettes and croissants for our long trip home. Yum.

Also, not to be missed the Japanese-French patisserie, Sadaharu Aoki, ten feet away from the hotel which serves up colorful chocolates, artistic desserts and wonderful jam. We bought chocolate and jam and are hoarding onto both.

Bottom Line: We paid 299 Euros for this funky room on the top floor although smaller rooms start around 149 Euros. We would definitely return to this hotel as the bed was seriously soft, the service was genuinely friendly and the location just right.