You’re walking down Rue de la Fidélité and if you blink, you might miss it. No massive gold-leafed gates. No doormen in top hats looking down their noses at your sneakers. That’s the thing about the Hotel Grand Amour Paris. It doesn’t try to be a palace because, frankly, it doesn't need to. It’s the cooler, slightly more rebellious younger sibling of the original Hôtel Amour in Pigalle, and since it opened its doors in the 10th Arrondissement, it has basically redefined what a "cool" Parisian hotel actually looks like.
Paris is full of hotels that feel like museums. Stiff. Quiet. A bit dusty. But this place? It’s alive. It’s messy in a curated way. André Saraiva—the graffiti artist turned nightlife mogul—and Emmanuel Delavenne didn't just want to build a place for tourists to sleep. They wanted a headquarters for the creative class.
The vibe check at Hotel Grand Amour Paris
Walking into the lobby feels less like checking into a business and more like stumbling into the living room of a very wealthy, very eccentric friend who collects 1970s erotica and vintage Pierre Paulin furniture. There’s a certain grit here that you won’t find at the Ritz. It’s intentional. The Hotel Grand Amour Paris thrives on the intersection of high fashion and street culture. You’ll see a model sipping a skinny latte next to a local scriptwriter finishing a screenplay, while a group of guys in Carhartt workwear talk shop over natural wine.
It’s authentic.
Honestly, the 10th is the perfect backdrop for this. This isn't the Paris of Emily in Paris. It’s the Paris of crowded sidewalks, incredible North African food, and the Canal Saint-Martin. The hotel reflects that energy. The courtyard is the soul of the building. Even in the winter, with the heat lamps buzzing, it’s the place to be. If you want to see who’s who in the Parisian creative scene, just sit in that courtyard for two hours with a glass of Beaujolais. You'll see.
What the rooms are actually like
Don’t expect cookie-cutter suites. Every room is different. Some are tiny—very "Parisian apartment" sized—while others, like the apartment on the top floor, feel like a sprawling loft.
The decor is... bold. We’re talking about carpets designed by Pierre Le-Tan and photography that pushes boundaries. It’s sexy. It’s a bit provocative. There are no TVs in the rooms. That’s a move. It tells you that if you’re staying at the Hotel Grand Amour Paris, you shouldn't be sitting in bed watching Netflix. You should be out. Or, you know, doing other things. The bathrooms often feature those classic Parisian tiles and Hermès products, bridging that gap between the street-style aesthetic and luxury.
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Some people find the lack of "standard" amenities annoying. No gym. No sprawling spa. If you need a treadmill to feel like you're on vacation, this isn't your spot. But if you want a room with a record player and a view of a quiet Parisian street that smells like fresh croissants from the bakery next door, you're in the right place.
Why the 10th Arrondissement matters
Location is everything. For a long time, tourists stayed in the 1st or the 8th. The "safe" choices. But the Hotel Grand Amour Paris banked on the 10th before it was fully "gentrified" in the way it is now.
- Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est: You’re literally a ten-minute walk from the major train stations. If you’re coming in on the Eurostar, you’re home before your coffee gets cold.
- The Food Scene: You are surrounded by some of the best bistros in the city. Places like Le Verre Volé or Holybelly are right there.
- The Canal: A five-minute stroll gets you to Canal Saint-Martin. It's where the locals hang out, drink wine on the edge of the water, and actually live.
The Restaurant: More than just hotel food
Most hotel restaurants are a trap. They’re overpriced and boring. The restaurant at Hotel Grand Amour Paris is the opposite. It’s actually a destination for people who live in Paris, which is the highest compliment you can pay a hotel eatery.
The menu is classic French bistro but with a modern, lighter touch. You’ve got your steak frites, sure, but the salads are actually fresh and the seafood is sourced properly. The brunch on weekends is legendary. And chaotic. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and the service is "Parisian"—which means it’s efficient but they aren’t going to fake-smile at you for twenty minutes.
The bar is where things get interesting late at night. The lighting goes down, the music goes up, and the cocktails are genuinely well-made. It’s one of the few places in the city where a tourist can actually feel like they’ve bypassed the "visitor" filter and ended up in the real scene.
What people get wrong about staying here
I’ve heard people complain that it’s "too loud" or "too hipster."
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Look.
If you want white-glove service and silence, go to the Meurice. This is a house of life. The walls are thin because it’s an old building. The courtyard is loud because people are enjoying themselves. Hotel Grand Amour Paris is a vibe-first establishment. It’s for the traveler who wants to feel the pulse of the city, not hide from it. It’s for the person who values a hand-picked vintage chair over a gold-plated faucet.
There is a sense of "if you know, you know" here. It’s not about being exclusive in a "you can’t come in" way, but rather in a "you’ll only enjoy this if you get it" way. It’s a subtle distinction, but an important one.
The André Saraiva touch
You can’t talk about this place without mentioning André. His influence is everywhere—from the "Love" motifs to the specific shade of pink used in the branding. He understood that Paris was missing a middle ground between the "budget hostel" and the "unreachable luxury hotel."
He created a brand that feels curated but lived-in. It’s the kind of place where you might see a world-famous designer smoking a cigarette by the entrance and nobody bothers them. That’s the real luxury of the Hotel Grand Amour Paris: the luxury of being left alone to be yourself.
How to do it right
If you’re planning to book, do it in advance. It’s almost always full, especially during Fashion Week.
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- Request a room over the courtyard if you want the "view," but be prepared for the noise of the restaurant below.
- Request a street-side room on a higher floor if you want it a bit quieter and want to see the rooftops.
- Don't skip the breakfast. The bread is usually spectacular.
- Walk everywhere. You’re in a prime spot to explore the Marais, which is just a 15-20 minute walk south.
The reality is that Paris is changing. The center of gravity has shifted away from the Eiffel Tower and toward the East. The Hotel Grand Amour Paris was one of the first places to plant a flag and say that this neighborhood was the future. Years later, it still feels like the most relevant place to stay if you actually care about culture.
It’s not perfect. The elevators are tiny. The staff can be a bit "cool for school" on a bad day. The lighting in the hallways is so dim you might trip over your own suitcase. But all of those things add to the character. It feels human. In a world of sanitized, corporate Marriott-clones, we need more places that have a personality, even if that personality is a bit moody.
Actionable Insights for your stay
If you decide to pull the trigger on a booking, keep these things in mind to make the most of the area. Forget the big bus tours. Instead, head out of the hotel and turn right. Keep walking until you hit the Canal. Buy a bottle of wine at Le Verre Volé (the wine shop, not just the restaurant) and sit on the locks.
Check out Holybelly 5 for a breakfast that rivals anything in New York or London if you need a break from croissants. For dinner, try to snag a table at Vivant 2, which is just around the corner and offers some of the best creative cooking in the city right now.
The Hotel Grand Amour Paris is your basecamp. Use it to explore the 10th, the 11th, and the 3rd. These are the neighborhoods where Paris is actually happening. You can always go see the Louvre for an afternoon, but come back here to sleep. You’ll feel a lot more like a Parisian and a lot less like a visitor.
Pack light, bring a good pair of walking shoes, and leave your expectations of "traditional" luxury at the door. You’re here for the atmosphere. Enjoy the chaos. It’s worth it.