Hotel Dress Code Paris Review (9eme)

In summer 2022, I spent a week at the Ritz Paris pastry school.  Because I would be in class from 9:00-3:00 every day, I knew that I wanted to stay near the Ritz to make my commute as easy as possible.  I also didn’t want to overly splurge on a hotel in Paris because I would just be sleeping there.  Cue all the research.  Enter Hotel Dress Code.  

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links for tours and products I love at no additional cost to you.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

When planning trips, I consume so many different pieces of research that it becomes hard to talk about my process.  I can’t even tell you how I found Hotel Dress Code in Paris; I just stumbled upon it, crossed my fingers, and hoped it would live up to my expectations, if not merely fulfill what I needed it to be.  

We returned in November 2022 on a trip with my mom and in March 2023 for a trip with my husband’s parents. It was absolutely lovely and it certainly occupies a place on our list of Paris hotel recommendations. We came back in July 2023 when I took another pastry class for a week in Paris. Altogether, we’ve spent over 20 nights in the last year at Hotel Dress Code 

Getting to Hotel Dress Code in Paris

If you’ve been reading here for awhile, you know that my favorite flight is the direct flight from DFW-CDG.  One thing that I was a bit skeptical about this summer was that American moved the flight time.  The summer flight to Paris departs Dallas around 9:25pm and arrives in Paris at 1:25pm.  I didn’t know if I would like that.  Arriving early makes it easy to hit the ground running.  I was particularly nervous because we would arrive on Sunday, and I would start class on Monday morning.    

The flight ended up being perfectly fine.  Tom thinks its perfect because you don’t have to worry about getting an early check-in for your hotel.  Upon arriving at CDG, we picked up our bags and made our way to the CDG train station.  We boarded the RER B to Châtelet les Halles.  (It was quite crowded compared to the morning trains that we’ve taken.)  At Châtelet, we transferred to the RER A and took a short ride to Auber.  From Auber, Hotel Dress Code was less than a 5 minute walk through a few quiet streets.  Hotel Dress Code is also conveniently located near the Madeleine and Opera metro stops.           

Pro Tip:  I find it helpful to always check public transportation options on both Google Maps and Rome2Rio.  In most cases, public transport from CDG will take the same amount of time as private car service.  It just depends if you want to schlep your luggage through the metro.  

Hotel Dress Code Paris exterior

Check In at Hotel Dress Code

We arrived at our hotel around 3:00pm, so check in was very easy.  The staff were very warm and accommodating.  After explaining everything about the hotel and its offerings, they offered to escort us to our room.  There is a small elevator, in addition to stairs.  We opted for the elevator with our luggage and stairs for the rest of our stay.    

Hotel Dress Code is a small boutique hotel.  There are only 33 rooms; you need to book the room that you want.  Like most boutique hotels, it offers 5 categories of rooms.  This is the time to be honest with yourself about what kind of traveler you are and what you need from your hotel room, especially if this is your first trip to Paris or Europe.  Paris hotel rooms are SMALL compared to US hotel rooms, even at places like the Hyatt Regency Paris.  (We have been spoiled by the rooms at the Park Hyatt Paris and Hotel du Louvre.)

I usually do NOT book the smallest room available because I hate feeling claustrophobic.  For 3 of the 4 stays, I booked a medium room, which is called a superior room at Hotel Dress Code.  This room was sufficient for me and my husband, but it did require us to completely unpack and be strategic about how we stored everything.  It was the first time we used packing cubes, and I will say that they absolutely made a difference in staying organized.  (In addition to our luggage, we brought our wine suitcase because we took a trip to Alsace after my pastry class.)  You can tell by the photos that I struggled to get a photo of the full size of the room.  I should have brought an ultra-wide lens.

On our fourth stay, I booked a standard room. This is a small room, and it was definitely small. It was well-designed, and we were able to make it work, but you should know that it is small. We were very excited to have a small balcony overlooking the interior courtyard with this room.   

Room 306 – Superior Room

Our superior room offered a queen bed, which was extremely comfortable with lovely linens, a small desk, and a small table.  It faced the interior of the building, so it was fairly quiet, and we were able to open our window to enjoy fresh air.  The drapes functioned well as black-out curtains, and they were gorgeous.  I loved the textile details.  The room was decorated in soft gray and pink tones with vibrant photography from fashion week.  It felt effortlessly chic with beautiful details and finishes.  We had an empty mini-fridge, an espresso machine, as well as coffee and tea service in our room.  

The white marble bathroom is quite large in comparison to the room size.  We had a nicely sized walk-in shower with a rain shower head, as well as a hand shower.  Gray accents complimented the beautiful pink tile work.  As a nice touch, the bathroom offered plush robes, which would have been nice if we had taken advantage of the hotel spa.    

Overall, we didn’t feel like we were missing anything with this hotel.  The rooms offer all the modern amenities that you would expect at 4-star hotel in Paris, yet it also offers some extra luxury (like the linens) to make your stay even more special.

Is this hotel room super girly?  Yes.  Can it be romantic?  Also, yes.           

Hotel Dress Code Paris Superior Room Review
Hotel Dress Code Paris Superior Room details
Journey of Doing - Where to Stay in Paris
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris hotel review - superior room
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris room amenities
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris superior room bathroom
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris bathroom details
You can’t see the size of the shower, but I did want to show off the pink tile work!
Journey of Doing - Click here for a non-sponsored review of the Hotel Dress Code, a 33 room boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It's perfectly located for sightseeing in Paris.

Room 402 and 502 – Superior Room with Street View

When we traveled with my mom to Paris and Alsace in November 2022, we booked superior rooms for both of us. When we returned with Tom’s parents in March 2023, we ended up with the same room on the 4th floor. This room felt a little bit smaller than our previous room, and the bathroom was quite a bit smaller. There was not a traditional wardrobe for storage, so we had to be a little more strategic with our unpacking.

Our room was on a higher floor and had a small juliet balcony overlooking rue de Caumartin. The view was especially lovely and we didn’t hear much street noise at all.

It is really important to note that this hotel often sells out, so if you are going to be unhappy with a small room, you should book the larger sizes. I love that no two rooms are exactly the same. They have a lot of character and are well designed, but they are definitely small by US standards.

Journey of Doing - Journey of Doing - Click here for a non-sponsored review of the Hotel Dress Code, a 33 room boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It's perfectly located for sightseeing in Paris.
Journey of Doing - Journey of Doing - Click here for a non-sponsored review of the Hotel Dress Code, a 33 room boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It's perfectly located for sightseeing in Paris.
Journey of Doing - Journey of Doing - Click here for a non-sponsored review of the Hotel Dress Code, a 33 room boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It's perfectly located for sightseeing in Paris.
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris superior bathroom
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris bathroom review

Room 305 – Standard Room with Interior Balcony

In July 2023, we spent 10 nights at Hotel Dress Code, and our visit included Bastille Day (July 14). I booked a standard room, which is considered to be a small room. It is definitely small, topping out at 150 square feet. However, it is well designed with plenty of plugs, a small desk, a refrigerator, and a nice bathroom. This particular room also offered a small balcony with a table and two chairs.

This room had a completely different color scheme than our 3 previous rooms at Hotel Dress Code. It was a black and white theme. That definitely helped with making the room feel bigger. We utilized packing cubes to store things under the bed, and we were able to put our suitcases on the shelves above the small closet area.

The bathroom products are still Sothy’s, and they have discontinued the use of single use products. Many of the hotels we’ve stayed at in France have included Sothy’s bath amenities, including the spa at Chateau d’Audrieu in Normandy and Hotel du Louvre in Paris.

Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris standard room
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code Paris small room
Journey of Doing - Hotel Dress Code room tour

Hotel Dress Code Amenities

The ground floor of Hotel Dress Code is where breakfast is served, offers space to work during the day, and houses an honor bar in the evenings.  Because we aren’t breakfast people, we didn’t book a room rate that included breakfast, but you can always add it to your reservation.  The hotel staff did not attempt to upsell up on this.  On our final day in Paris, I had class until 3:00 and we had to catch a 4:30 train to the Alsace.  Tom was able to check out, store our bags, and spend the afternoon working on the ground floor.  The hotel was very kind and accommodating with this request.            

The lobby area feels very trendy and chic.  It’s easy to imagine that this would be the perfect hotel during Paris Fashion Week.  The large windows and the use of mirrors made it feel very bright, open, and inviting.  There are screens that show clips from fashion shows, and there are several fashion-related art installations.   

Journey of Doing - Click here for a non-sponsored review of the Hotel Dress Code, a 33 room boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It's perfectly located for sightseeing in Paris.
Hotel Dress Code and Spa lobby

Spa at Hotel Dress Code

On the lower level of Hotel Dress Code, there is a spa and wellness area.  It offers a vitality pool.  It has to be booked in advance and does require an additional fee.  I took advantage of it in November, and I found it to be a little bit too cold for my preference. Maybe I would enjoy it more in the summer.

Spas are an absolute benefit in Paris, especially after a long day of sightseeing.  We typically walk 10-15 miles per day, so being able to soak and recharge our muscles is super helpful. Hotel de Seze Paris is nearby and offers a hammam, if Hotel Dress Code isn’t available or within your price range.    

Journey of Doing - Click here for a non-sponsored review of the Hotel Dress Code, a 33 room boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It's perfectly located for sightseeing in Paris.

Restaurants Near Hotel Dress Code

Technically, Hotel Dress Code is in the 9th arrondissement.  It is literally 2 blocks from Place Vendome, which is the 1st arrondissement of Paris.  It is a 5-minute walk to the Palais Garnier and Opera metro station.  While I don’t love this area for restaurants, I do have a few favorite places that I can recommend for your first evening if you are fighting jet lag or don’t want to venture too far from the hotel.        

Le Souffle Paris

Le Souffle (7 minute walk) – If you are wanting to try the classic French souffle, look no further than Le Souffle, a restaurant that specializes entirely in souffle and other French dishes.  The menu (la carte in French) offers a variety of classic and seasonal dishes.  Tom loves the soufflé bœuf bourguignon, and I really enjoyed my filet au poivre.  All of the desert souffles are amazing.  Try the Grand Marnier souffle as one of the classic French desserts. My favorite apertif is the kir vin rouge violette.  They offer two seatings for dinner reservations.  You need to make reservations in advance.    

Where to Eat near Hotel Dress Code Paris

Bistro Richelieu

Bistro Richelieu (10 minute walk) – A little further afield in the 1st arrondissement is Bistro Richelieu.  This comfortable, cozy, easy-going bistro offers a number of traditional French dishes with friendly service.  There is truly something for everyone here, including salads and burgers.  This works well for families or groups who may be difficult to please.  It is across from Palais Royal and a few blocks from the Louvre, making it the perfect place to rest after sightseeing.    

Where to Eat near Hotel Dress Code Paris
The effortlessly cozy vibes of Bistro Richelieu are complemented by the delicious onion soup, especially on a cold winter evening.

Bar Vendome and the Le Comptoir

Bar Vendome (5 minute walk) – If you are looking for a splurge in Paris or a special nightcap, I love Bar Vendome.  Located in the Ritz Paris, the Bar Vendome is an upscale dining experience.  We’ve had dinner here, but more often, we end our nights here with drinks and desserts.  They have an extensive cocktail menu, and Francois Perret is the reason I’ve started taking pastry classes in Paris.  We always sit in the glass-roof atrium with the pianist, and it’s hard to imagine a more romantic evening in Paris.  The service is flawless and friendly. 

Ritz Paris Le Comptoir (5 minute walk)If Bar Vendome isn’t your budget, you can still enjoy pastries from the Ritz Paris by visiting Le Comptoir.  This literally translates to the counter at the Ritz Paris.  This pastry shop offers both seating and pastries to go.  The selection varies according to the day, the season, and Francois Perret’s creativity.  We purchased a buche de Noel for Christmas last year when we couldn’t get a reservation at Bar Vendome, and I love to buy the hazelnut chocolate caramel cookies for our flight home.  They do close early, so if you want to pick up something sweet for dessert, you’ll want to plan accordingly!     

Restaurants near Hotel Dress Code Paris
Dinner, Drinks, and Dessert at Bar Vendome at the Ritz Paris are my favorite splurges.
Drinks and desserts at the Ritz Paris Bar Vendome

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