Mr & Mrs Smith

Kube is situated close to Gare du Nord – convenient for those who come by train.

The hotel seems to be in a pretty rough area, do not let this put you off. The Hotel is wonderful, and once you are behind the gate it is another world. I would highly recommend for dinner Chez Toinette on rue Germain Pilon, 3 metro stops down from the nearest hotel stop. The service was great, the atmosphere very French and intimate, and the food was out of this world. The bill didn’t break the bank either. We did an English-speaking walking tour around Montmartre on the Sunday, and that was a lovely way to learn a bit about the area.

Don't be put off by the fact that the area around Kube is not on the tourist trail. We loved the vibrancy of the place, and looking around the markets and shops of the Barbes area was fascinating - everything smelled of incense and spices. A world away from touristy Paris.

Don't miss the Ice Bar in the hotel either, although probably best not to start on the vodka before your slot!

The area immediately around Kube is not terribly affluent, but it is a short walk to the Gare du Nord, or even to Montmartre proper. There is a small 'quartier artisanale' just at the foot of Sacre-Coeur which is worth a visit. It is a great place to people watch. For supper we went to Gaya Rive Gauche, the Pierre Gagnaire fish restaurant. You can eat the Michelin-starred chef's food at a fraction of the signature restaurant's price, but in Paris that is still an awful lot. The bill was more than €220, for two courses each, and two bottles of wine. There is very little on the menu that isn't fish, and the staff, while charming, stumbled over translating the non-fish components of each dish. Before supper we had an aperitif at the retro-chic Montalembert, less than a minute's walk from the restaurant.