Steps from the buzziest strips in the busiest arrondissement in Paris, the location of Hôtel Dame des Arts alone would be enough to recommend it. Tucked in behind the intersection of Boulevards Saint-Germain and Saint-Michel, in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the 110-room hotel is a croissant’s-throw from iconic sites such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and Shakespeare and Company. Just like the arty Left Bank, however, this newish property is full of surprises.

The refurbished Holiday Inn stands flanked by stately mansions and cobblestone alleys dating back to Roman times, a 1950s interloper in one of the oldest parts of Paris. Instead of trying to blend in, in-demand interior architect and designer Raphael Navot has embraced a textural, contemporary scheme behind the slightly Brutalist facade, with whorls of charred and raw oak, bamboo and porcelain illuminated with soft strip lighting (most impressively at play in the striking basement gym). In the cosy rooms, gauzy curtains, padded boucle headboards and prints from a 700-piece-strong art collection in mismatched frames give a warm, cocooning feel.

The main draw, however, is outside the windows. From the higher floors, the hotel looks out over all the Paris heavy hitters – from the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur Basilica and golden dome of Les Invalides in the distance, to the crown of Notre Dame and the Panthéon nearby.

Just as romantic is the jumble of rooftops crowding in from all sides – a higgledy-piggledy scene of attic apartments and chimney stacks. The property shines brighter where it embraces this outlook – it’s worth requesting a room with a view on the higher floors, or doling out for a terrace suite (some of which have Eiffel Tower views from the balcony).

It’s this vantage point that makes the rooftop bar on the ninth floor one of the most popular in the area when it opens for summer; an open-aired space decked out with planters and lounging furniture in shades of stone and earthy green.

Desperately drink up those 360-degree views while sipping a glass of Billecart Champagne or playful cocktail like the cachaça, Campari and coconut Ipanema. One of the best perks of making your visit an overnight proposition is access without the crowds – hotel guests may take themselves up to the roof outside of opening hours to enjoy the space in peace and quiet.

Down in the lobby, the in-house restaurant flows out to the property’s second hidden gem – a lush courtyard hemmed in by stately neighbouring terraces, a popular spot for remote workers tapping away at laptops over a morning coffee.

From lunch on, slide into a blue velvet or boucle banquette inside for chef Othoniel Alvarez Castaneda’s menu. Providing a welcome counterpoint to the sea of pedestrian French bistros that typify this touristy part of Paris, Hôtel Dame des Arts gave creative freedom to the Mexican chef, who melds Latino, Japanese and French influences on a genre-bending series of plates such as a subtly Gallic take on a Caldo de Marisco seafood broth, or Brittany oysters with Mexican mirasol peppers and yuzu dressing. Both the restaurant and the rooftop have proven popular with locals, so a reservation ahead of your arrival is wise.

Where is Hôtel Dame des Arts?

Hôtel Dame des Arts at Quartier des Arts et des Lettres 4, Rue Danton, Paris. The rooftop has reopened for the summer season, from April to October. For more information or to book, visit damedesarts.com/en

Related story: The 10 best bistros to visit in Paris