Our friends are planning their first trip to Paris, early 30's with 2 kids, and are looking for a very nice "Boutique Hotel" , nothing large or pretentious. We usually stay at Esprit de Saint Germain in the 6th, but I think they would like a larger room, and maybe a bit nicer.

They can spend up to approx 500-600 euros a nite if need be. The 6th would probably be ideal but open to suggestions. They were recommended George V or Four Seasons, but for my tastes its a little pretentious, especially with kids, but maybe Im wrong, or my stay there was an exception.
Any ideas? Someone recommended the Costes, but we've just been to the bar, but did see kids in the Hotel. Trying to make their first stay a memorable one.

How about the Pershing Hall on rue Pierre Charron?
www.pershinghall.com

Or for something really different, there is always the Kube, behind Gare du Nord.
www.kubehotel.com

Here is an interesting site that lists many of the boutique hotels in Paris. The nice part is that it also give you a sense of price. And when you search you can actually sort by boutique hotels which is handy.

It is a fun site to just sit and droll over too since many of the places can be kind of $$

http://www.splendia.com/

You still might advise them to pay close attention to location since some the hotels aren't necessarily central, if that is important to them. Lots of our friends with small kids (which I am guessing their children are given the age of the parents?) prefer to stay in the 16th where there are nice big sidewalks and it is generally less congested than the center of the Latin Quarter for instance. But it is personal choice of course.

Have you checked the Hôtel Villa Saint Germain on rue Jacob in the 6th with 31 rooms, or Hôtel d'Angleterre, also on rue Jacob, with 27 rooms? There is also Relais Christine on Rue Christine in the 6th with 34 rooms and 17 suites. All are recommended by Patricia Wells.

I like the Relais St Germain in the 6th by Odeon.
Friends were staying there and I had time before dinner in the restaurant to enjoy their room and use the computer in the lounge.

I like Hotel D'Aubusson in the 6th, and prefer it by a lot to Relais Christine, whose rooms vary tremendously in size and quality. Hotel D'Aubusson is very small and has a few categories of connecting rooms, as well as a loft apartment. It's a beautiful hotel with great service and a resident jazz trio. We've stayed there very happily quite a few times; most recently last April.

I think the D'Aubusson would be a good choice for your friends. The room with a loft is real nice, the kids will enjoy staying at the loft, however, the bathroom is on the small side. I love the D'Aubusson because of the location and the staff are very helful and friendly.

Hotel Le Six--in the 6th--is a wonderful hotel!
Safe Travels

I would ask in advance before booking if the hotel is kid friendly. Not all "boutique" hotels are. I was about to add a suggestion and decided not to when I saw kids. Not being a jerk. Just saying.

I would have doubts about most of the places in Saint Germain des Prés, in terms of kids.

Thank you for the recommendations:
1. I have heard bad reviews of the Pershing Hall, so thats iffy
2. Been to the D'Abusson and Christine before, but they are looking for something with more of a "wow" factor and these two do not really have that, plus the last time we were there, they were a little dated.
3. Saw the splendia site, but nothing new, but Thank you for the site anyway.
Still looking, and still waiting for someone that has stayed at the Costes to see what they thought. They will be staying approx 10 days, so a nice hotel makes a difference for them.

If your friends are willing to stay out of the city center, I would try Jay's in the 16e. It is a wonderful hotel, excellent service with the "wow" factor without being pretentious. If they want to be closer in, then I would highly recommend the Hotel Lutetia in the 6e. Since we have never tavelled with children, I can't comment on the child-friendliness of either.

If they are staying 10 days have they considred an apt? For that amount of money they should be able to get one with Wow factor.

There is a new hotel in the 9th (one of my favourite arrondissement in Paris) very nice, the Joyce Hotel, http://www.hotelsearch.com/joycehotelparis/index.html.
I have never stayed in hotel Costes.

Also in the 9th is the hotel Amour which might work for them, 'boutiquey' without being pretentious and with its tongue (do hotel's have tongues?) firmly in its cheek.

I've only stayed in a double there, but I think they have duplex rooms, which may be able to accommodate the whole family. I can't imagine them having any issues with kids. The room that I stayed in looked as though at might have been decorated by one, in a semi good way.

Each of the rooms is different, so they could probably even choose one (or two) that fits their style more.

Further out of the centre is Mama Shelter (in the 20th) which positively welcomes children. I took my son there for the first time at four months and we've back twice since. Although further away from the major sights, the area is great for kids with lots of shops, play areas and semi-pedestrianised streets for them to run around in, and the area is a lot less hectic than some of the central arrondissements.

I love this hotel, but the design isn't to everyone's taste. I took my parents there and when I asked them if they liked it, my father said "Well, I can see why you like it". He did however love the food, bar, terrace and its proximity to a great bookshop and Pere Lachaise.

I second the Mama Shelter.

The Hotel Keppler is getting very good reviews and worth a look. www.hotelkeppler.fr

How about the Hotel Plaza Athenee. I'm surprised you didn't like the D'Aubusson.

The Pavillion de la Reine is on Place des Vosges and could be good with kids.