Located in the heart of Paris, in the 15th arrondissement, Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) soars 56 floors above the ground, and is just outside the doors of Gare Montparnasse, my go-to train station.

One of five main stations in Paris, thousands cross through here daily. As a rule, I've come and gone via Montparnasse but always en route to somewhere else.

The last few years — actually post-Covid — I started exploring the area, mainly because my prior favorite area to land was in the 7th on rue Cler.

Prices there have skyrocketed from a tolerable 80-100/night to an obscene 600/night. Basically, the middle ground has shifted since Covid. That, plus it wasn't fair (to me:) to not have even wandered the streets of Montparnasse — so I did.

Somewhere between the train station and my hotel, a few blocks away, the 15th arrondissement crosses over into the 14th.

The first hotel I stayed in because the rate was decent, was not worth going back to. While there, I did a walkabout, peeking in hotel lobby windows, sussing out rates and ambiance, and the streets where they lived.

I sauntered by a set of unmarked doors and thought, 'how graceful.' Walking on, there was a large picture window, with a simply sweet lobby space and I realized it must be a quiet Parisian hotel. Backing up, I took a closer look, and discovered the quiet of Hotel des Bains on rue Delambre.

Bookmarking it, I inquired the next time I went through Paris, reserved, and was enamored with it, the street and the neighborhood. It's truly a 7-10 minute walk down a tree-lined street.

The rooms are typically small but immaculate, great bathrooms, quiet, and oh so Parisian.

I dropped my bags, and took a walk down nearly parallel streets, or I should say, looking at a map, at three radiating streets off of rue Edgar Quinet. 

The first street was Odessa, the second all a-chatter with packed street-side tables serving galettes and crêpes. The third?All mine. Heading back down rue Delambre, I spotted the Auberge de Venise. The menu looked ideal, the ambiance inviting.

The dining experience? Parfait.

All in all, I found what I was after; where to comfortably be in Montparnasse.

That's the thing about Paris. I'm not big city fan. But Paris? 

Every time I go, however briefly, no matter what I do, mind, body, heart & soul are fully engaged.

(Hot Tip) If you don't know already, be sure to book directly with the hotel (phone or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for best rates. If you're last minute you could easily pay double whatever the seasonal rate is, so plan ahead.