Maison Heler Metz, Curio Collection by Hilton

Maison Heler Metz sits in Metz’s Amphithéâtre district, within easy reach of the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the train station, and the city centre. The hotel is arranged as a striking Philippe Starck project: a nine-storey monolith topped by a house-like structure, with the atmosphere of a design piece that happens to be lived in. Inside are 104 rooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, a rooftop and terrace, a garden, fitness facilities, and modular event space. The mood is polished but a little off-centre, with enough warmth for a work trip and enough character to make a weekend feel less generic.