Le Ballu
Mid-century Eastern European comic-strip fantasy. Think bold colors (Prussian blue, emerald, canary yellow), wooden structures, terrazzo bathrooms, retro furniture, and globe-shaped pendant lights over a pool that looks like a 1960s Russian bathhouse. The building itself is a mix of Nouvelle-Athènes ornamental stonework and Flemish-inspired architecture.
Book your pool slot at least one week before arrival — it fills up fast, especially on weekends
Why It Matters
One of the few Paris boutique hotels at this price point with a private indoor pool. The Syldavia-from-Tintin design concept is fully committed — not just a theme but an integrated architectural vision by the owners who also designed it. Included in the Michelin Guide hotel selection and the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection.
Hôtel Le Ballu is a 5-star boutique hotel in Paris's 9th arrondissement built around a single, very specific idea: what if a hotel looked like it existed inside Tintin's fictional Balkan country of Syldavia? The architect-owners Thomas and Julia Vidalenc took two adjoining private mansions on rue Ballu and filled them with 1960s-70s Eastern European antique furniture, bottle-green-to-midnight-blue color palettes, constructivist art, and thick turquoise velvet curtains. The result is genuinely unlike anywhere else in Paris.
Where You'll Stay
8 room types available
Apartment
A proper two-room setup: separate bedroom and living room, 47 sqm total, sleeps up to 4 with a king bed plus a convertible sofa. Street-facing with Italian shower. The kitchenette here gets more use than in smaller rooms. Good for families or longer stays.
King (180x200cm) + convertible sofa · 47 sqmApartment with Terrace
The top room category. Same 47 sqm two-room apartment layout as the standard Apartment, but with a private terrace overlooking the garden. Sleeps up to 5. Garden view and Italian shower.
King (180x200cm) + convertible sofa · 47 sqmCommunicating Rooms
Two connecting rooms totaling 50 sqm for up to 6 guests. Views of both street and garden. Flexible bed configurations in both rooms. The biggest option for families or groups.
King or Twin configurations across two rooms · 50 sqm
Deluxe Twin or Double
At 25 sqm, these rooms can sleep a third guest on an extra 90cm bed. King or twin configuration available. Street or garden views. Same design DNA as the rest of the hotel.
King (180x200cm) or 2 Twin (90x200cm) + extra single · 25 sqmJunior Suite
The first category to include a freestanding bathtub, which is a big deal in a boutique hotel at this price point. Garden-facing at 29 sqm, sleeps up to 3. King or twin configuration available.
King (180x200cm) or 2 Twin (90x200cm) + extra single · 29 sqmJunior Suite with Terrace
Same 29 sqm layout and bathtub as the standard Junior Suite, but with a private terrace looking onto the street or garden. One of 5 rooms in the hotel with outdoor space.
King (180x200cm) or 2 Twin (90x200cm) + extra single · 29 sqmStandard Double
The entry-level room but still a proper Paris boutique room. Midnight-blue walls, king-size bed, large street-facing windows with thick velvet curtains, modernist light fixtures, and light parquet flooring. Superb terrazzo bathroom with Italian walk-in shower. Has a kitchenette.
King (180x200cm) · 18 sqmSuperior Twin or Double
A step up at 20 sqm, configurable as a king or two singles. Street or garden views. Same bold color palette and retro furniture concept as the standard category, with slightly more floor space.
King (180x200cm) or 2 Twin (90x200cm) · 20 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A private lounge accommodating up to 12 people for meals or work meetings. Equipped with overhead projector, flat screen, conference telephone, and flipchart.
Exclusive private use of the 8m x 2m heated indoor pool and sauna. Styled after Russian bathhouses of the 1960s with metro tiles and globe pendant lamps. One session per stay is included in the room rate.
Weekly Sunday brunch at Restaurant Le Ballu — open to both hotel guests and walk-ins. Book via Zenchef in advance.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
2 of the 35 rooms are adapted for guests with reduced mobility (PRM).
Ground-floor lounge bar serving cocktails and snacks. Locals and visitors gather here in the evenings.
All rooms include microwave, kettle, Nespresso coffee maker, fridge, and crockery. Courtesy tray with coffee and tea also provided.
Minibar with drinks and snacks in all rooms.
Landscaped inner garden courtyard used by the restaurant. Sheltered outdoor seating.
Pets accepted at €20 per night.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car parks within 5 minutes' walk at approximately €35/day.
Multiple Belib EV charging stations within 5 minutes' walk on nearby streets.
8m x 2m, open 7am to 10:45pm daily. Privatization included per stay.
BUILD YOUR LE BALLU PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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