Of all the hotels in Paris's delightful rue St-Louis-en-l'Ile, this is the most original. Whereas the others are homely, the Jeu de Paume packs a stylish punch.

As its name implies, the building was the site of a 17thC jeu de paume court, built in the days when the 'palm game', forerunner to tennis, was all the rage; when the proprietors acquired it in the 1980s, however, it was a run-down warehouse. M Prache is an architect and he wrought something of a miracle on the building, opening out the heart of it right up to the roof, exposing all the old timber construction and slinging mezzanine floors around a central well. The impression of light and transparency is reinforced by a glass-walled lift and glass balustrades around the upper floors. Stone walls and all those beams add a reasurringly rustic feel. The sitting area has the appearance of a sophisticated private apartment, with leather sofas, subtle lighting and handsome stone fireplace. Nearby, at the reception desk, the chic, laid-back staff coolly deal with the guests while a modish golden retriever called Scoop pads around.

Bedrooms are smallish, perfectly pleasant, but nothing like as exciting as the rest of the hotel.