Hotel Palym
by the TopOfHotel team
Palym is the best-value boutique in the area — cheaper than citizenM, but with roomier units and far more Paris character.
Palym is the best-value boutique in the area — cheaper than citizenM, but with roomier units and far more Paris character.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Hotel Palym sits on Rue de Chalon, right alongside Gare de Lyon — a long-running 3-star boutique of 70 rooms, recently redone in warm contemporary Paris tones of brown and gold. Rooms come with wall-to-wall carpet, thick Parisian curtains, soft beds and pillows in several sizes. Standard rooms run 14 to 16 square metres and feel compact, which is normal for a Haussmann-era building; the Superior is about 4 square metres bigger and the better buy. The detail everyone talks about is the cream marble bathroom, with a rain shower and good toiletries — it feels like a 4-star stay from the bathroom alone. Wi-Fi is fast and the air-con is cold.
Food and amenities
There is no gym and no pool — the older building does not allow for them — but the small lobby bar has a nice mood. Buffet breakfast runs about $16 a person, with fresh croissants, eggs, cheese, yogurt, fruit and good coffee; some reviewers like it, others reckon it is not worth it next to the neighbourhood boulangerie. The move we would make is to walk over to Le Train Bleu, the Belle Epoque dining room inside Gare de Lyon itself — a Paris experience you should not miss.
Location and getting there
It is a 2-minute walk to Hall 1 of Gare de Lyon, where Metro lines 1 and 14 and RER A and D all meet. Line 1 runs straight to the Louvre, Châtelet and the Champs-Elysees; line 14 heads north to Saint-Lazare in 8 minutes. RER A reaches La Défense or Disneyland in 35 minutes, and RER D north with a change to line B gets you to CDG in about 55 minutes. Place de la Bastille is a 10-minute walk.
Things to know before booking
The big trade-off is facilities: no gym, no pool, because the Haussmann building has no space for them. Standard rooms are small at 14 to 16 square metres, so spring for a Superior if you want elbow room. And the breakfast splits opinion — a few guests would rather spend the money at a nearby boulangerie. If a pool and large rooms are on your must-have list, this is not your hotel.
Our take
This suits couples who want classic Paris boutique mood at a fair price, solo travellers using Paris as a TGV connection, and anyone who wants a genuinely upscale bathroom on a 3-star budget. It is not the pick for families who need a pool or generous floor space — but for character, location and value, Palym is hard to beat in this stretch by the station.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The decor leans into warm brown-and-gold Parisian classic, and reviewers single out the character — it does not feel like a chain box.
- The cream marble bathrooms come with rain showers and good toiletries; this is the part that feels a tier above the price you pay.
- It is a 2-minute walk to Gare de Lyon, with Metro lines 1 and 14 plus RER A and D all right there in the station.
- Buffet breakfast is included on some packages, or about $16 if you add it on — fresh croissants, eggs, cheese, yogurt, fruit and decent coffee.
- The front-desk staff speak good English and will happily point you to restaurants in the neighbourhood.
- There is no gym and no pool — the older Haussmann-era building simply does not have room for them.
- Standard rooms are small, around 14 to 16 square metres; the Superior is roughly 4 square metres bigger and the better value.
- Some reviewers feel the breakfast is not worth it next to the boulangeries in the neighbourhood, where you can do better for less.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Paris
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Insider Tips
- Book a Superior over a Standard — it costs about $17 more but runs 30% larger or more.
- Skip the hotel buffet one morning and have breakfast at Le Train Bleu, the Belle Epoque dining room inside Gare de Lyon — it is a Paris experience you will not forget.
- Take Metro line 1 straight from Gare de Lyon to the Louvre — 4 stops, about 10 minutes; Châtelet-Les Halles is 3 stops.