The Most Beautiful Rooftops in Paris to Explore This Winter

Through its architectural features (cornices, woodwork, moldings) and its chic, intimate décor (precious woods, aged brass, colorful leathers, and custom carpets by Géraldine Prieur), interior designer Pascal Allaman has recreated the atmosphere of an elegant Parisian townhouse. This refined style flows throughout the hotel: from the suites with spectacular views over Paris—the Eiffel Tower, the bell tower of Saint-Thomas d’Aquin, the winding streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés—to the spa, designed as a cocoon of softness by Batiik Studio, and the gourmet restaurant, open to the lively rhythm of the neighborhood. Every day, the worlds of politics, media, fashion, art, and literature cross paths here.

A guided stroll through this unique Paris awaits, all within 10 minutes of our luxury boutique hotel.

MONUMENTS, SQUARES & CHARMING STREETS
HISTORIC SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

A five-minute walk brings you to the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. With its mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles, its porch, nave, and choir are all worth admiring. Nearby, remnants of the medieval abbey recall the district’s centuries-old spiritual and intellectual importance.

Further along, the Church of Saint-Sulpice proudly raises its two imposing towers near the Luxembourg Gardens. Inside, don’t miss the masterpieces by Eugène Delacroix, one of the greatest Romantic painters of France.

SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRES
AND THE ARTS

Delacroix himself lived in this neighborhood to pursue his work. On the charming Place de Furstenberg, his former home and studio now house the Eugène Delacroix Museum. Paintings, sketches, and drawings offer a glimpse into the artist’s world. And just across the Seine, his greatest works can be admired at the Louvre (15 minutes away via the Pont des Arts). For Impressionist lovers, the Orsay museum is just a short walk from Hôtel Montalembert.

For contemporary art, the Rue de Seine, Rue Bonaparte, and Rue des Beaux-Arts host the city’s most prestigious galleries, such as Maeght, Jeanne Bucher Jaeger, Perrotin, Daniel Templon, and Saint-Laurent. Meanwhile, smaller galleries on Rue Saint-André-des-Arts, Rue de l’Échaudé, and Rue Mazarine invite discovery and inspiration, offering avant-garde pieces and hidden treasures for collectors.

...TREASURE HUNTING IN SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

Just steps from the hotel, antique shops showcase rare and precious finds. The famous Carré Rive Gauche has long been home to the most renowned dealers. Wander through the streets of Saints-Pères, Seine, Bonaparte, Bac, Beaune, and along Quai Voltaire to be swept away by the district’s timeless charm.

THE INTELLECTUAL SPIRIT
OF SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

The soul of 1950s–1960s Paris still lingers here. Camus, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Picasso, Hemingway, and Boris Vian once filled the cafés and jazz clubs. Today, you can still feel their presence at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots (a five-minute walk from Hôtel Montalembert) or at a jazz concert at Le Caveau de la Huchette in the nearby Latin Quarter.

Bookshops are another delight of the neighborhood—whether classic (La Mazarine, famous for rare and antique books) or specialized (Assouline, 7L, La Hune, or Delpire & Co). At nightfall, when the sun sets, the iconic L’Écume des Pages remains open until midnight (and until 9 pm on Sundays).

As a true hub of literature, Saint-Germain-des-Prés hosts a renowned book fair, and Hôtel Montalembert plays its part in the district’s cultural life. For decades, its restaurant has welcomed writers and intellectuals, and from 2008 to 2014 it co-hosted the Women’s First Novel Prize alongside the CNRS research unit Écritures de la modernité.

NIGHTLIFE
AT SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS

Saint-Germain-des-Prés has always been a vibrant district, where evenings can begin with an aperitif, continue with dinner and dancing, and stretch into the early morning hours.

Our suggestion: start with cocktails at the bar of our luxury hotel, dine at the iconic Brasserie Lipp (10 minutes away), and continue the evening at the elegant Prescription Cocktail Club or Germain Paris, known for its DJ sets in a whimsical space designed by India Mahdavi. On summer nights, nothing rivals the pleasure of a rooftop evening at Le Montana under the Parisian sky.

From these inspirations and more, our concierge is at your service to curate your perfect Saint-Germain-des-Prés experience—with Hôtel Montalembert, your intimate 5-star boutique hotel in Paris, as the starting point.