Distinguished by its location on the island of Saint Louis (cradle of Paris civilisation and, crucially, home to Berthillon ice-cream parlour), this intimate 30-room building is a converted jeu de paume hall, i.e. a 17th-century tennis court. Apart from the address, its major attractions are the calm atmosphere and a pair of beautiful apartments – highly recommended for living the Parisian dream. Bedrooms are plain and comfortable, rather than sexy enough to be retreated to for the classic dirty weekend, but the historic qualities of the hotel as a whole more than make up for that. The owners have introduced modern features while preserving as much of the original structure as possible, so you get a view of the 17th-century timber roof from the glass lift. There’s a music room with a piano (extra kudos if your midnight recital is of Chopin nocturnes, rather than Chopsticks), and a small sauna and spa area, offering seawater treatments.