Why Paris Hilton’s Opera Left Us Completely Disappointed

In this video we check in to the Hilton Paris Opera, right by Gare Saint-Lazare, to see if an American chain hotel meets French standards, American standards, or neither. This Hilton Paris Opera review helps if you are weighing familiar comforts against the charm of a boutique hotel.

The room

The room felt very American, in a good and a less good way. We had plenty of lighting, a full-size desk, a coffee maker, a fridge, a big closet, air conditioning, and USB ports on both sides of the bed. The bathroom has a walk-in shower with a door, rain shower, washcloths and a 120/230 volt outlet. The bed was very firm, though, and some of the paintwork showed wear and tear. Our room looked out over the Saint-Lazare station.

Dining and breakfast

• The 1889 Grand Salon in the lobby is ornate and beautiful.
• We visited in August, when the hotel restaurant was closed, and we never got served at the bar. Many places in Paris close in August.
• We ended up at a seafood brasserie across the street, which was good.
• The breakfast buffet had crispy bacon, eggs and sausages, but the eggs Benedict was a real letdown.

Our verdict

We gave the building and lobby four and a half stars and the breakfast three to four stars. The room was €300 a night when we filmed. The location is very convenient for day trips to Normandy, Giverny or Versailles, as you walk straight into the train station. It works if you want US-style comforts, but for the price we would look at boutique hotels in the area.

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