College Hotel

Its Art Deco façade is as grand and elegant as can be, but from the moment you arrive at reception, flanked by bins full of comically oversized pencils, it’s clear that the Collège Hotel intends to go all the way with its back-to-school theme. Fortunately it’s handled with charm — and, lobby aside, a sense of subtlety and proportion — and the hotel’s location, in the stunning Vieux Lyon district, is just about perfect.

The public spaces are all warm, weathered comfort, with surfaces in worn wood and leather; rooms contrast starkly, in a minimalist, monochrome scheme. They’re simply furnished, but substantially more luxe than the student digs they’re meant to remind you of, with well-chosen design pieces — the version of modernism on display here is less stark and more humanistic and comfortable.

For many of us, the best thing about our school days was the abundance of social life. The Collège Hotel features plenty of spaces for guests to mingle, including a garden terrace and a number of meeting rooms and co-working spaces. Meanwhile Le Cantine serves a hearty breakfast, while Baràgones, a South American and Caribbean-inspired tapas bar, handles both drinks and dinner.