Hotel Amour

Instead of obsessing over a room with a view, consider booking one that exhibits top-notch art. This 20-room hotel near the red light district of Pigalle (and adjacent to increasingly hip Montmartre area) used to be one of those hourly-rates spots for the local “workers,” but now it’s… more one of the buzziest hotels in Paris. Graffiti artist Andre Emmanuel cleaned the place from top to bottom and then enlisted his artist friends to help decorate. The result is sexy, with comfortable rooms decked out in semi-erotic art. Because Emmanuel thinks visitors are supposed to be coming to this romantic city for something other than work, there’s no Wi-Fi in the rooms; no TV, either. But there are stereos with iPod connections and – in case of emergency – Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. Even if you don’t decide to stay here, keep the happening restaurant – a favorite haunt for locals – in mind.