Which one is better for a short 4 night trip?? Interested in restaurants, cafes and convenience. Thanks.

The 8th is more central, located around the Champs-Elysee, but not really an area frequented by tourists for hotels in general, and not near most sites you'd want to see. The 14th is the Montparnasse area - more residential, but with the metro you can still easily get anywhere.

Here is a map and description of the arrondissements:

http://www.parisnet.net/parismap.html

Neither of these is a common tourist hotel location, but if you have to choose one of them, maybe post more of your specific interests (particularly - what do you mean by convenience, convenience to what?). Also, if there are particular hotels in each arr. that you are considering, search here for them and/or post their names and you can get more specific help.

Do you have a hotel choice for the 14th? I've done some research on the area around rue Daguerre, the cimitiere, the Tour Montparnasse, and the cafes... I think it would be more enjoyable than the 8th. There are a few 'status' restaurants in the area, and then more casual cafes, cinemas, etc. Metro Line 4 intersects the city N/S, including Gares du Nord, de l'Est and Montparnasse. Denfert-Rochereau is both a metro station and an RER station, traveling b/t CDG and Orly. I believe the Air France bus from CDG stops/picks up at Montparnasse. There is a street market on Edgar Quinet 2 days a week, and an art market on same on Sunday mornings. Rue Daguerre is a daily street market as well. Sound good?

I personally prefer the 14th, but it would be helpful to know the specific hotels/locations you are considering.

It really does depend on the location in either arrondisement--they are both large enough that it makes a very big difference in terms of convenience.

The 14th will be good for what you want in many areas, but it is a large quartier and some parts are not where many tourists find convenient or desirable. If you stay near the north end around bd Montparnasse, it should be what you want, or right around Denfert RER stop. There are other parts that would not be that convenient at all.

The 8th would be better if you want a luxury hotel or to do shopping in designer or expensive shops (such as Hermes, Vuitton, Chanel, Celine, etc.). There are some restaurants and cafes, but again more expensive. IF you are near the Arc or on the east end (near the Madeleine), it would probably be just as convenient for transportation purposes. I don't find the part north of Haussman or even just near it that convenient myself.

thanks for the info.

in the 14th, the hotel is the Villa Royale Montsouris. Does anyone know if that location is good??

That is very south of 'central' Paris... there are glowing reviews on TripAdvisor, though:
". . .Definitely stay at the Villa Royale Montsouris. The hotel is fantastically decorated in ?1001 Arabian Nights? style i.e. coloured sheets and pillows, magic lamps and carpets. Even the bathroom doors and wardrobes are in the style. Lovely opulent bathrooms. Location: Excellent. You are close to - A bus stop for the Orlybus - An RER (Citie Universitaire) station which will take you to and from Charles de Gaulle airport or the centre of Paris - A Metro station (Porte de Orleans) - a tramway will be completed in a couple of years - A park - Montsouris Park Cost: If you book on Lastminute (or similar late availability websites) you can get this hotel for as little as ?72 per room per night!Food: Breakfast - Can be expensive in the hotel so head towards Porte de Orleans Metro station for cafes, restaurants, patisseries, a supermarket, etc Evening meal - There is a good Indian restaurant around the corner from the hotel called Palais de Vandan (30 Rue Paul Fort). Try the mint lassi ? my husband raved about it. On Rue de la Tombe Issoire there is a launderette with a pizza restaurant opposite. Put on your washing and have a meal whilst you are waiting. The restaurant has excellent food that is enjoyed by many locals (a sign of a good restaurant). Make sure you know which is the bottle containing olive oil and which is the one containing wine though!. . ."

A 2nd note says breakfast was 20 Euro per person (very expensive!)

It sounds like a nice hotel, but that area is really not that convenient, especially for someone who doesn't know Paris well. There aren't that many restaurants around there, or cafes. It's probably about a quarter mile to the Porte d'Orleans metro, farther to the RER and the park. It's a nice residential area, but I wouldn't recommend it for your purposes.

I, too am considering hotels in these areas. We've got a very good rate on the Melia Royal Alma in the 8th, 35 Rue Jean Goujon. We had considered an apartment in the 14th; Hotel Residence Unic St. Germain at 56 Rue du Montparnasse. We have never been to Paris and do not speak French. We would have liked to stay in the 6th, but could not find the quality we wanted for the price to please everyone. If anyone can comment on the above locations, I would greatly appreciate it.

I like to stay in the Montparnasse area. The transportation options are great, and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes (some of the most famous cafes). Also, an easy walk to the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. It's easy to take the Air France Bus from CDG to the Gare Montparnasse. I think Montparnasse is more of a Parisien "neighborhood" feel, and not so many tourists as in the 5th or 6th. I think Rue Montparnasse would be great.

My wife and I are also devotees of Montparnasse. We generally travel out of season, November and February, and often find ourselves the only non-residents. Even though the area seems away from the tourist areas, the Metro gets us most places with only one change. We try to avoid any changes in MOntparnasse-Bienvenue.