Style & Character
The architect P Maidenberg has done a nice job of incorporating Parisian landmarks as iconography for the Joyce hotel. For example there is a series of inverted Eiffel towers used as décor and an Eiffel like glass roof in the breakfast room. Furniture from luxury cars are used as seats and there are French paintings around beds.
There are Windows and mirrors that reflect light intelligently and maximize space. The staircases have dynamic rugs that are indigo and lime green and the breakfast room is all icy blue with upholstered chairs and floral tiles presenting an interesting juxtaposition of color.
The room walls have artsy sketches and are mostly kept white to maximize the illusion of space. Candy color pops like a startling red lamp, Barbie pink pillows, mustard color sofa, red bedspreads etc. provide a lovely contrast. Design is undeniably one of the strongest features of the hotel!!
Hotel Joyce is a member of the Astotel Hotels group that owns several properties across Paris and the rest of the world. This particular hotel is a 3 star property.
Rooms
There are 44 rooms divided into different sub types like standard single room, standard double room, standard twin room, superior double/ twin room, connecting rooms (standard parental and a standard single room), apartment rooms and family rooms (two rooms i.e. standard parental and standard twin are joined together).
Common features include beds with premium linen, duvet, desk fitted with lamps, minibar with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages and flat screen television. Complimentary coffee/ tea trays are provided in each room and there are toiletry hampers in the bathrooms (equipped with modern fittings).
The standard single rooms are 13 sq.m while the double/ twin rooms are 17 sq.m. Connecting room’s aggregate size is 31 sq.m while the family rooms are 33 sq.m. The apartment rooms are styled like an inclusive apartment and are 36 sq.m. The superior, family and apartment rooms have bathtubs in addition to showers.
Some of the bathrooms have bathtubs with very high sides and at an advanced elevation that may make them difficult to get in/ out. Some of the room features could have been better like there is only 1 USB Charging point and the IPhone dock works only for older models but these are minor glitches. Rooms are moderately sized but in Parisian standards they are really good.
Try getting a room that doesn’t face the street if you want to avoid noise. The neighborhood has some bars and restaurants that remain open till late. There are only 3 rooms with a balcony and all of them are on the 5th floor.
Amenities & Service
There is free Wi-fi in all rooms and the hotel is completely air conditioned with double glazed windows. There is 24 hour operational help desk and a concierge service. Laundry and dry cleaning is provided (chargeable).
The hotel is serviced by an elevator which can accommodate only about two people at a time so this can be problematic if you are travelling in a group.
If there is a reduced mobility requirement then guests need to notify the hotel in advance and they will provide special facilities like roll in shower, room accessibility props etc. The hotel is wheelchair friendly and has accessible bathrooms.
This is a smoke free hotel and pets are not allowed inside. Kids up to the age of 2 can stay for free and cots and high chairs will be provided on request. The hotel has a luggage room. There is no hotel parking but there is a parking garage (Parking Trinite) at Rue Jean Baptiste that’s 3 minutes from the hotel
On checking in at Joyce Astotel you will get a card which allows you to use the amenities of all other Astotel hotels in the whole of Paris. There are 10 other Astotels scattered all over the city including Joke, 34 B, Astoria, Monte Rosa, George, Palm, Agustin, Lorette etc. On check in you will get a map showing the locations of the hotels and you can drop in for relaxation and free beverages and snacks (post 1 p.m.)
The staff are usually warm and welcoming though you might run into the occasional surly face. Samuel the night concierge deserves special mention for his helpfulness. They are quick to replenish minibar, coffee tray and toiletry supplies and will also provide information about routes, attractions etc.
Food & Drinks
Breakfast is served every day in the elegantly decked up breakfast room from 7.00 a.m. onwards. The menu is almost the same every day and you will get quiche Lorraine, veggies, fruits, cheese, breads, croissants, pastries, meats and hot beverages. The staff will even get you your customized latte/ cappuccino etc.
There is a little in-house self-service coffee bar that has open access and runs till 2 a.m. After 1 p.m. the lobby area offers free snacks and coffee to the guests. The free minibar soft drinks and free tea/ coffee trays in the room have all premium quality products; for example all the water is Evian.
This is a restaurant and bar neighborhood so you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food and nightlife. Drop into the elegant Les Canailes (fine French cuisine), Via Emilia (good Italian food) and the Pi Hour (great beer and pizza). For amazing French cheeses and wine try the L’ Affineur Affine and for sophisticated Danish cuisine go to La Petite Sirene De Copenhague (both on Rue Notre Dame).
Just a few steps from the hotel are L’Illusion, Uncino and Le Boeuf a la Mode (all on rue la Bruyere). The Pigalle area is also full of great places; One more Sushi, Pigalle Fromage Club, Wine Bar, Momoka and Albert.
There are a bunch of nice bars around; Glass (rue Fronchot), Brittany Cocktails (rue Saint Lazare), Baton Rouge (rue Notre Dame), O Sullivans and Le Boucan (Boulevard de Clinchy)
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Location & How To Reach
The Joyce Astotel is at the upper 9th arrondisment of Paris in a rather unconventional spot. The location is at the junction of the theater district and the Place St George and the stylish Pigalle area. The opera area has nice boulevards and arcades and plenty of entertainment options.
Walk for ten minutes and you can reach the Montmartre area and within 8 minutes you can reach the Moulin Rouge on Boulevard de Clinchy. The Sacre Coeur is also ten minutes away. the Musee Gustave and Musee de la Vie Romantique are near and so are a bunch of theaters like theaters Fontaine, theatre La Bruyere, theater de Paris, Le Grande Comedie, international visual theater etc.
The Galeries Lafayette Haussmann boulevard is just 8 minutes away so are the Printemps stores. Small grocery stores, cafes and conveyance stores abound in the area near the hotel so you just have to pop out and get something if you want.
The nearest metro station is the Saint George metro (green line) that’s a 5 minute walk away. The Pigalle metro station (dark blue line) is an 8 minute walk away. The hotel stands between these two metros. You can walk for about 15 minutes and you will reach the Moulin Rouge area.
The Bus Palladium on Rue Fontaine is just 5 minute walk. The hop on hop off Paris city tour bus facility is also nearby. About a km away, you will find the Gare St Lazare train and metro station. The CDG airport is 27 km away and you can take the metro from Gare St Lazare (Line E) to Magenta station and then an underground connection to Paris Nord (Gare du Nord) after which there are lots of RER train to the CDG airport. Taxis are plentiful in the area. Basically conveyance is easy if you decide to stay in the Joyce.
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29 rue la Bruyère, 75009 Paris
Phone: +33(0) 1 55 07 00 01; Email: [email protected]; Hotel Website
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.