Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais

Named for the 18th-century playwright (he wrote The Marriage of Figaro) and revolutionary who did some of his best work up the street—now one of the main shopping drags of the Marais—this 19-room retreat incorporates plenty of historical charm. Archival fabrics cover walls, and the rooms have exposed beams and real antiques. Granted, even the top-rung rooms are cozy to the point of tiny—more so than other hotels on this list. And those facing the street may prove noisy. But there is sweetness and light, from the tinkling little chandeliers to the patient staff.