25hours Hotel Terminus Nord, Paris, France
An Eclectic Reflection of Paris’s Most Multicultural Neighbourhood
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A listed Belle Époque building transformed into one of Paris’s most expressive design hotels, directly opposite Gare du Nord.
● Interiors inspired by the cultures of the 10th arrondissement, where African, Asian, and Parisian influences coexist in bold harmony.
● NENI restaurant and Sape Bar make the hotel as much a neighbourhood gathering place as a destination for travellers.
Paris Beyond the Postcards
25hours Hotel Terminus Nord offers a different perspective on Paris. Occupying a restored historic building opposite Gare du Nord, the hotel looks beyond Haussmann elegance to celebrate one of the city’s most culturally diverse districts. Parisian architects Axel Schoenert Architectes carefully renovated the landmark while allowing its new identity to reflect the streets surrounding it. The result feels unmistakably local. Not traditionally Parisian.
Inspired by the 10th Arrondissement
The interiors embrace the neighbourhood’s remarkable cultural mix. Design agency Dreimeta collaborated with Paris-based creatives to develop a visual language inspired by nearby Little India, Château Rouge, Barbès, and the area’s African and Asian communities. Colourful murals, North African textiles, wicker lighting, patterned fabrics, street art, and specially commissioned graphics replace the restraint often associated with Parisian hotels. The references are playful. The storytelling feels genuine. Even the room numbers nod to the work of French street artist Invader.
Rooms Full of Personality
The hotel’s 237 guestrooms continue the same expressive approach. African-print textiles created with Château Rouge, handcrafted ceramic basins, colourful furnishings, Bluetooth speakers, curated photography, and complimentary urban tote bags create rooms that feel closely connected to the district outside. Larger rooms introduce balconies, while the most spacious suites feature freestanding bathtubs positioned within the sleeping area. The design remains energetic. The comfort is quietly reliable.
The Social Heart of the Hotel
Public spaces are central to the experience. NENI serves its familiar Eastern Mediterranean menu around generous sharing plates, while Sape Bar draws inspiration from the flamboyant elegance of the Congolese Sapeurs. Rich parquet floors, leather seating, bronze mosaics, vinyl records, and weekend DJ sets create an atmosphere that evolves naturally from café to cocktail bar. Elsewhere, a concept store, vintage Citroën coffee corner, lounge spaces, and even a love-letter writing station encourage guests to linger rather than simply pass through. The hotel feels alive. At almost every hour.
A Gateway to a Different Paris
Its location opposite Gare du Nord makes the hotel remarkably practical. Eurostar arrivals step directly into one of Paris’s busiest transport hubs, while the surrounding streets offer independent cafés, Sri Lankan grocery stores, Afro-Caribbean salons, Congolese fashion boutiques, galleries, and neighbourhood restaurants rarely found in traditional guidebooks. This is Paris viewed through a wider lens. More layered. More contemporary.
Why It Works
25hours Hotel Terminus Nord succeeds because it refuses to romanticise Paris. Instead, it celebrates the city as it exists today—diverse, energetic, multicultural, and constantly evolving. Through expressive interiors, neighbourhood collaborations, vibrant social spaces, and genuine local references, it creates a hotel with a strong sense of place that feels every bit as memorable as the city beyond its doors.
