A structure designed by the famed architect Auguste Perret (d. 1954)—whose mastery of the art of reinforced concrete lent so much élan to the rebuilding of war-devasted Le Havre—this hotel is handily located by the soothing waters of the Bassin de Commerce. Renovated in 2005, the light, airy rooms have contemporary furniture; the best, such as No. 63, which has a balcony, have views of the port. The bar, a sleek and soigné sanctum in teak woods and designer fabrics, is inviting. As at all hotels in Le Havre, the prices are high for the size of the rooms. Pros: modernist panache; functional; central. Cons: no restaurant; few rooms with balcony.
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