At Lyf Gambetta, a former 20th-century printing works has become the hotel where Paris reinvents itself.

In the 20th arrondissement of Paris, a 5,000 m² former printing works has undergone a complete makeover. Le lyf Gambetta has opened its doors and offers a radically different way of staying in Paris, more collective and more rooted in the life of the neighborhood. What you find behind the facade is surprising, and it’s easy to see why the address is already the talk of the town.

An XXL mini-workshop in a former printing works

At lyf Gambetta, traditional hotel codes are turned upside down. The address functions as a third place where travelers, neighbors and digital nomads live together, exchange ideas and improvise freely. Accommodation, coworking, catering, sports and events are naturally interwoven, without ever forcing practices.

So, as soon as you arrive, the tone is set. You can set down your laptop at Connect, the 24-hour coworking space, a haven for transient nomadic workers. When hunger strikes, you can head for Bond, a large shared kitchen equipped with chefs‘ tools, where pots and pans clash and travel tales are exchanged between strangers.

The next morning, the large gourmet breakfast buffet is served from 7am to 10am. What’s more, local shops invite you straight to the table: La Graine organic pastries, Beillevaire cheeses, Day by Day bulk products, Chérico coffees and chicories.

Sport, sauna, karaoke and green rooftop

After a work session, it’s time to relax. You can work up a sweat in the Burn gym, before letting off steam in the Detox sauna. As a result, both body and mind find their satisfaction without leaving the premises.

Want to sing without judgment with fifteen buddies or colleagues? The Sing! private karaoke room is just the thing. For a shot of nature, head for the rooftop: on the top floor, La Serre and Hang Out with their plant-covered terraces offer a rare breath of fresh air in the heart of Paris.

La Serre is a privatizable space dedicated to meetings and events, with its private rooftop and barbecue. In this way, a simple stay can also become the setting for an unexpected professional or festive event.

“Lyf Gambetta is not just a place where you sleep: it’s a little ecosystem where you live, where you meet, where you share.”

Le Bistouille, a bar open to the neighborhood

At the heart of the address, the Le Bistouille bar plays a special role. Locals drop in for a drink, and hotel guests naturally mingle. You can sip a Gallia beer, a glass of wine or the famous lyf guard cocktail, nibble on a grilled cheese or soup, and finish off with a soft We Dough cookie.

Regular events are scheduled throughout the week, including concerts, afterworks and chess tournaments. A host of board games are also available, making Le Bistouille a true neighborhood HQ, open to all.

• Bar Le Bistouille: Gallia beers, lyf guard cocktails, grilled cheese, We Dough cookies
• Coworking Connect open 24 hours a day
• Bond shared kitchen equipped with chefs’ tools
• Burn gym and Detox sauna
• Private Sing! karaoke for up to 15 people

A detached house at the bottom of the garden

At the bottom of the garden, almost hidden away, a detached house acts as a secret base for groups of friends. With a real garden, it’s ideal for a birthday party, a reunion weekend or an EVJF/EVG. It’s a place where you can cook together, sleep together and catch up on old times.

This special refuge is clearly different from conventional rooms. It offers a group intimacy rare in a Parisian hotel, while remaining connected to the collective energy of the rest of the place.

Accommodations designed to feel like home

The accommodations also play the hybrid card. The One of a Kind Plus Family room is a 31 m² studio with a fully-equipped kitchen and spacious living area. A far cry from a conventional bedroom, it gives you the feeling of being truly at home.

What’s more, the accommodation on offer is not limited to bedrooms. Apartments and detached houses complete the range, for a wide variety of uses, from solo stays to weekend getaways.

But what’s most striking is the coherence of the whole. Le lyf Gambetta captures the energy of the 20th arrondissement and transforms it into a living experience. Each space has its own logic, but they all converge on the same idea: to experience Paris from the inside, with the people who live there and those who pass through.

Address: 4, rue de la Cour des Noues – Paris 20th. Contact: +33 1 84 75 31 70. Rating: 4.5/5.

• lyf Gambetta