The Mercure Paris Montmartre and its view over the rooftops of Paris

The Mercure hotel chain (itself part of the Accor chain) has been around for a long time. A sure bet for comfort and quality without breaking the bank, its hotels are gradually undergoing renovations to give us a new look. For the Montmartre hotel, this is now a done deal. And it's not just the decor that has changed, but also the hotel's many other assets, to appeal to both tourists and business travelers.

The Mercure Paris Montmartre is riding this new wave ofpersonalized welcome, increasingly fashionable in new hotels. The principle is very simple: instead of queuing at a counter while your little ones run around, here an employee comes to you, equipped with his digital tablet, to give you your room and explain everything you want him to explain. Modern and practical.

With this revolution in the counter principle, the hotel reception area is itself transformed. Instead of being a large, almost empty space, here you'll find a nice, big table where you can sit and study the map of Paris, ask the staff questions, jot down one last thing before your business meeting... Etc.

There are two types of room here: Superior and Privilege. Colorful without being eccentric, we love their warm, practical look, which is just as suitable for lovebirds on a weekend getaway as for two colleagues who need to sleep together.

Now let's talk about the main thing: the view. The Privilèges rooms are aptly named, as they boast a magnificent bird's-eye view of Paris... To be contemplated indefinitely, especially if you've always dreamed of romantic Paris as depicted in American films. So romantic.

Superior rooms face the street - no noise reaches the room, which is remarkably soundproofed. For those who like to look out the window, the view here is of everyday Parisian life, not just a hotel courtyard.

A small but important addition is the fitness area. It's not huge, but it's more than big enough, with several types of first-rate machines for weight training and cardio-training. The machines are well separated from each other, and the space is enlarged by a large mirror.

The bar, which we talk about in more detail in our article on the subject, is the hotel's best feature: brand new, having replaced old meeting rooms, it's very large, very cheerful, and boasts a magnificent bay window opening onto a terrace! We love the decor, with its pop-colored walls and mismatched armchairs creating a very happy atmosphere...

The terrace is a real pleasant surprise, very large, both lounge and intimate, very green and overlooking a quiet little street. As the bar is brand new, this terrace has the charm of a well-kept secret: no queues to get in, very reasonable prices, discreet clientele. It's easy to imagine bringing along a conquest (who'll undoubtedly be won over!), a whole gang of friends, or even coming on your own, as this terrace succeeds in being so airy and attractive.

A final plus for the hotel bar: it has a workspace. If you're a freelancer, or just passing through, or looking for a place to hold a small meeting, this is the place for you. The workspace offers two small meeting rooms and plenty of tables to work at, with all the accessories of an office (wifi, printer...). It also has a soundproof chair, so you can make phone calls without disturbing others.

• To be read
• Affordable hotels in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, our affordable addresses
• Family hotels in Paris and Ile-de-France, our top addresses for families with children
• Boutique-hotels in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, our good addresses for hotels on a human scale

We really like the idea, which is very contemporary and offers a more glamorous working environment than the old meeting rooms, which were too big for small groups and relatively expensive. Refreshments and hot drinks are included. Cost: 6 euros per hour and 24 euros per half-day.