25hours Terminus Nord

The vibrant, youthful 25hours hotels have been a sensation in the German-speaking world, and have steadily expanded to the west — but it’s only now, with the advent of the 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord Paris, that they’ve finally crossed the border into France. And how did they adapt? Largely by involving the locals in the design decisions. The Augsburg-based design agency, Dreimeta, engaged Visto Images, a Parisian firm, to collaborate on the hotel’s visual identity, tailoring it to its location in the 10th Arrondissement just across from the Gare du Nord — a location that, despite its convenient rail link, is on the fringes of Paris’s traditional tourist centers.

Thus the 25hours feels free to ignore Parisian hotel conventions and go all in on Asian and African styling, both in the color schemes and in the artworks. This is a group that’s known for its straightforwardly named room categories, and this being Paris you know they have to start out Small. Even so, they’re cleverly designed to make the most of their space, and by the time you’re in a Large or an Extra Large +, you’ve got plenty of room to spread out — and conveniences like smart TVs and Bluetooth speakers are universal.

Social spaces, of course, aren’t neglected either — Sape Bar serves drinks in a colorful environment, Café Corner features a vintage Citroën Acadiane mini-truck converted into an espresso bar, and Neni serves its inimitable pan-Asian cuisine in a space that feels as much like a living room as a restaurant. Rent a bike to get around the 10th, or visit the Jogging Corner to find your way on foot around the immediate neighborhood.