Le Méridien Montparnasse Hotel Review - Sleek Left Bank Paris 4-Star Hotel and Conference Center

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Le Méridien Montparnasse Hotel Review - Sleek Left Bank Paris 4-Star Hotel and Conference Center

By Susan di Rende

The hotel tower rises 25 stories on the Left Bank of Paris

The hotel, Le Méridien Montparnasse, rises sleek and modern on the Left Bank of Paris. Located in one of the oldest parts of the city, the Méridien Montparnasse sits at the hub of this district famous for the arts and culture that have thrived there. Located across the street from the Montparnasse train station, the hotel is also a destination for the Air France airport shuttle buses, making arrivals and departures simple and leaving you more time to enjoy your stay.

The hotel lobby is high-octane and modern. Newly remodeled and abuzz with tourist, business travelers, the hotel is also a favorite stopover for airline personnel. The Méridien Montparnasse runs a smooth ship and the energy of all these people going about their business fairly crackles with excitement.

The rooms, on the other hand and oases of calm. A serious problem for many travelers to Paris is the noise. The rumble of the streets, even the vibration of the Métro subway invades the sleep of out-of-towners and they find themselves tired and cranky during the day. This Méridien Montparnasse, with its gleaming tower, rises far above the street and subterranean noise offering visitors a haven from all the wonderful chaos of Paris street life. Rising 25 stories provides the added benefit of spectacular panoramic views of the city. Make sure when booking your room that you ask about the view.

A room at the Méridien Montparnasse

The rooms themselves are quite spacious by Paris standards. All the creature comforts are taken care of. The carpets and bedding are in rich, soothing blues and purples, while the walls are light and airy. The louvered closet doors create a feel of breath and air while the wood furniture lends it a warmth. This is a big hotel that serves large numbers of people, and so the service and the amenities are standardized. But this is an excellent quality when the standards are high. It enables a traveler to relax in the knowledge that their experience will be smooth and free of problems.

The rooms feel rich and relaxing

The quality of the hotel can be seen in its attention to design, to service and to the clients’ enjoyment. The hotel is undergoing a massive redecoration this winter. The lobby, the bar, the common spaces all are being re-designed. As soon as the hotel renovations are completed, the adjacent conference center will be put through the same refurbishment. Art is interwoven at every step of the way. With over 3000 works of art decorating its walls, the hotel is proud to be a part of the Montparnasse quarter’s artistic heritage.

The Café Atlantique offers a quiet spot to repose.

This relationship with art is most strikingly seen in the hotel’s Justine Restaurant. There, the chefs design a daily buffet with an eye toward visual art elements to complement the exhibition of paintings on the wall. It is not enough for them that the food taste good. They have given themselves the challenge of creating edible art to match the style and palette of the current exhibition in the restaurant. Eating there, you become a part of the art yourself.

The buffet in the Justine Restaurant is designed to match the spirit of the art on the walls

The hotel also boasts a refined restaurant whose haute cuisine has earned it a Michelin star. Le Montparnasse ‘25 Restaurant, helmed by chef Christian Moine, is a perfect example of fine traditional French cooking. The Thirties atmosphere and Art Deco design provide the backdrop for his memorable dishes.

The Méridien Montparnasse is an important destination for business travelers. With 953 rooms and a 4,200 square meter conference center, it is one of the largest conference hotels in Europe. The main conference hall can hold 2000 people . There are 21 modular meeting rooms and 24 high-tech committee rooms. There is a 24/7 business center with computers, internet, printing and photocopying services. The lobby and other common areas are wired with free wi-fi internet access.

The hotel's macarons are magical confections and can be purchased by the box

This is one benefit for the non-business hotel travelers. Wi-fi and regular broadband internet service is hugely expensive in Europe. It can cost anywhere from 15-35 euros a night. But the Méridien Montparnasse has free wi-fi in the hotel lobby and café. This is a big plus that is not often seen when comparing rates on travel websites.

With the wi-fi, the quiet, the restaurants, the location, the ease of access from train or plane, and now the complete renovation, Le Méridien Montparnasse is a premium luxury hotel and a perfect home base for your explorations of Paris.