Generator Paris

Generator Paris is a large design-led hostel on Place du Colonel Fabien in the 10th arrondissement, part of the Generator chain of hostels in European cities. It occupies a modern building close to the Canal Saint-Martin and the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and it combines dormitories with private rooms, a café and a bar, aiming for a social atmosphere with more style than a traditional hostel.

Accommodation includes mixed dormitories, female-only dorms and a wide range of private rooms, from doubles and twins to private rooms for groups of up to ten people. Dorms have bunk beds with personal lockers, and private rooms have their own bathrooms. The ground-floor café serves breakfast and snacks, and the bar is a place to meet other travellers. On the ninth floor, the Khayma Rooftop opens from 6pm to 10pm daily between April and September, with views across the rooftops of north-east Paris to Sacré-Cœur.

The hostel suits young travellers, groups of friends, school and university groups and solo travellers on a budget who want a lively base. Families can also use the private rooms. The area around Colonel Fabien is less polished than central Paris but has a local character, with good restaurants and bars around the Canal Saint-Martin and Belleville.

Prices are among the lowest in Paris for a design-led stay, with private rooms costing more than dorm beds. Book directly through the Generator website for the full choice of rooms and any promotions, and contact the team at [email protected] with questions. The bar can be busy in the evenings, so light sleepers should ask about quieter floors. Bring a padlock for the lockers if you are staying in a dormitory, or check what the hostel provides.

Colonel Fabien station on metro line 2 is right outside, and Louis Blanc and Jaurès, on lines 2, 5, 7 and 7bis, are within walking distance. The Canal Saint-Martin is about ten minutes' walk west, and the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, with its lake, cliffs and views, is a short walk east. Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, for the Eurostar and trains to the east of France, are about 15 minutes away on foot.