How to choose one’s palace in Paris

The City of Lights has made its way on the list of many travelers for good reasons. The French capital is home to romance, art, culture, and excellence. And nothing embodies excellence as much as these Parisian hotels. From the glamor of the Ritz to the intimacy of Maison Villeroy, find out how to pick the right hotel in Paris.

 Where to Stay in the heart of Paris ?

Ritz Paris

Located in the heart of the city on Place Vendôme, the Ritz Paris is close to a variety of cultural and shopping venues. The hotel is at the centre of a large triangle formed by the Place de la Concorde, the Opéra Garnier and the Louvre Museum, all within a 10-minute walk. For shopping, Place Vendôme is home to the most famous jewelery houses in Paris – Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, Dior, Boucheron, Chaumet, Graff and Bulgari – and is just one block from Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré where all the luxury brand boutiques are located – Hermès, Burberry, Lanvin, Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci, Roger Vivier. For a moment of gourmet pleasure, Cédric Grolet’s boutique is located on one of the arteries of Place Vendôme, rue de Castiglione, and Pierre Hermé, rue Cambon, is a 3-minute walk away.

The hotel’s 142 rooms and suites feature Belle Époque-inspired décor. Louis XV furniture is dressed in velvet and damask silk, and chandeliers hang from each ceiling, casting their warm lights on the paintings that adorn the walls. From the windows of their rooms, guests have a breathtaking view of the square.

The Ritz Paris is also unique in that its suites have been home to some of the world’s greatest personalities. The Coco Chanel suite was nothing less than the designer’s apartment for 34 years, where she brought her favorite furniture. Maria Callas, found refuge at the Ritz after her concerts. The Chopin suite pays homage to the composer who was one of the hotel’s most faithful guests, notably with the presence of a grand piano. All these suites are journeys through time and explore the taste and personality of these great figures.

On the culinary front, the Ritz Paris impresses with a series of gourmet restaurants, including the brasserie-style Bar Vendôme, the Belle Époque-themed Salon Proust, the Art Deco-style Ritz Bar, and finally the iconic Bar Hemingway. The Michelin-starred restaurants Pur’ – Jean-Francois Rouquette and Sur Mesure by Thierry Marx, just a few blocks away, are within a 3-minute walk. To complete its offering, the hotel welcomes its guests in its Ritz Club and Spa with its grandiose romantic decor and its high-end treatments and massages. The hotel also has a beautiful swimming pool in a cream-colored art deco setting combining double staircases and colonnades.

Le Meurice

A close neighbor of the Ritz Paris, and located on rue de Rivoli, between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, opposite the Tuileries gardens, is Le Meurice. Opened in 1835, it is one of the oldest palaces in the capital, and a veritable ode to French refinement.

The neoclassical building features a Louis Philippe-style interior design modernized by the contemporary touch of Philippe Starck. The 160 rooms and suites feature crystal chandeliers, engravings, portraits and paintings, damask curtains and period furniture, and marble bathrooms. Some rooms even feature handmade wallpaper. Among its iconic suites, the Belle Etoile Penthouse Suite with terrace offers a 360-degree view of the city.

Likewise, Le Meurice‘s four restaurants feature a grand décor. Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse headlines the hotel’s F&B offering with a 2-Michelin-starred menu. Le Dali Restaurant offers a Philippe Starck-designed setting, and features a seasonal French menu. Guests can also enjoy craft cocktails at Bar 228.

Le Meurice even boasts a collaboration with pastry chef Cédric Grolet at La Pâtisserie.

La Maison Valmont for Le Meurice is the hotel’s boutique and spa services, with a line of products and treatments focused on anti-aging and invigoration.

Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

Located on the Place de la Concorde, facing the National Assembly, and at the foot of the Champs-Elysées since 1758, Hôtel de Crillon is one of the oldest palaces of the City of Light, and has even been classified as a historical monument since the 1900s.

With a neoclassical façade (portico, pediment, colonnades) designed by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the building was commissioned by King Louis XV who wished to make it the offices of the French State. Today, the building has 124 rooms, suites and signature suites that feature an amalgam of classic French residential style and French Baroque decorative elements, which are more pronounced in the upper level suites, such as the Grand Premier Suite. There, guests will find the accommodation adorned with chandeliers, damask silk on the walls, wood flooring, as well as Louis XV furniture and a collection of unique paintings.

Breakfast is served at the convivial Brasserie D’Aumont, while L’Ecrin is the hotel’s Michelin-starred flagship restaurant, where guests can savor the gourmet cuisine of chef Boris Campanella. Elsewhere, Jardin d’Hiver allows guests to enjoy a selection of French pastries made by the hotel’s pastry chef Matthieu Carlin, while Bar Les Ambassadeurs invites guests to a grand Baroque setting to enjoy cocktails and fine spirits. The Cellar, is a private dining room that can host dinners accompanied by the expertise of head sommelier Xavier Thuizat.

The hotel completes its offering with Sense, A Rosewood Spa, where guests can enjoy the pool, steam room, infrared sauna, Alchemy of Sleep signature spa program, and a David Lucas hair salon.

Le Bristol Paris, Oetker Collection

Located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, one block from the Elysée and the Emmanuel Perrotin art gallery, and just minutes from the Champs-Elysées Gardens, the Petit Palais and the Place de la Concorde, Le Bristol Paris was the very first hotel in the city to be awarded the prestigious “Palace” designation.

Behind its pristine white Haussmannian façade, the hotel houses 190 rooms, suites, and signature suites. Its rooms feature a mix of Parisian residential style and Versailles style interior décor, which includes period furniture, chandeliers, patterned curtains, gilded mirror frames and artwork on the walls, among others. The hotel also has suites with private gardens, such as the Panoramic Suite, the Terrace Suite and the Terrace Suite with Outdoor Spa.

Shared among its 5 restaurants and bars, Le Bristol Paris boasts no less than 4 Michelin stars. The culinary headliner is the 3-Michelin-starred Epicure, which features the gourmet cuisine of chef Eric Frechon. The 113 Faubourg is the hotel’s other Michelin-starred outlet. Café Antonia and the Bristol Bar offer two distinct settings for drinks and snacks. One of the jewels of Le Bristol Paris, however, is the Jardin Français, a 13,000-square-metre courtyard located in the heart of the hotel.

The Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie offers 8 treatment rooms, with access to a private indoor garden, and also benefits from a Tata Harper collaboration. The pool, on the 6th floor, has a completely wooden interior that gives it the look of a ship’s deck, and is open to the city views thanks to its large windows, allowing guests to admire the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré Coeur.

La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa

Located halfway between Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, with views of the Eiffel Tower and the Pantheon, La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa stands out from the palaces of Paris by offering a much more intimate and private stay.

Once the home of the Duke of Morny, Napoleon III’s half-brother, this Haussmannian building was transformed into a hotel in 2015. Star Parisian designer Jacques Garcia was commissioned to give the hotel its new look blending Old World aesthetics with contemporary comforts. In the common areas, the Second Empire style with the use of crimson and emerald green colors, dark wood furniture and gilding, create a very elegant confidential atmosphere. In the hotel’s 40 rooms and suites, guests enjoy 19th century Parisian chic décor, with silk damask walls, period furniture with gilded details, Art Deco fixtures and Carrara marble bathrooms with Italian shower and double sinks. Each room has a dedicated butler service.

La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa features the cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Jérôme Banctel at Le Gabriel and La Pagode de Cos restaurants. The beautiful Duc de Morny library allows for a light lunch or afternoon tea. At Gaspard, the hotel’s bar, guests can enjoy cocktails and music.

The spa offers a wellness program designed by Nescens-Swiss. In addition to a 16-meter pool, hammam and fitness area, guests can enjoy the exclusive spa program in three treatment rooms.

Where to Stay near the Champs-Elysées ?

Four Seasons Hotel George V

Located on the eponymous Avenue George V which, together with the Avenue Montaigne and Avenue des Champs-Elysées, makes up the famous Golden Triangle of Paris -the most sumptuous district of the capital- the Four Seasons Hotel George V places its clients near the flagship boutiques of the greatest fashion houses and the most important landmarks of the City of Light.

Today, the 244 rooms and suites of this Art Deco building present a chic residential style, enhanced by a collection of unique art objects and paintings. However, the most beautiful asset of the hotel is certainly the stunning view of Eiffel Tower, visible from the terraces of many rooms. The hotel even has the Eiffel Tower Suite, which offers a panoramic view of the city and the eponymous tower.

The hotel has its own Michelin-starred restaurant in Le Cinq. This 3-Michelin-starred restaurant, which boasts the talents of Executive Chef Christian Le Squer, is the epitome of French gastronomy. There, guests can relish an haute gastronomique menu that is expertly paired with wines chosen by award-winning head sommelier Eric Beaumard. 

The Four Seasons Hotel George V also has two other Michelin-starred restaurants, with The George (where Chef Simone delights with the flavors of the Mediterranean) and L’Orangerie (a menu designed by Chef Alain Taudon around greens and fish).

Guests can also sit down at La Galerie to enjoy traditional French dishes or have a drink at the Bar. The hotel is also close to the legendary Fouquet’s brasserie.

Guests can enjoy services of the Pierre-Yves Rochon-designed Le Spa, which offers exclusive treatments such as Dr. Burgener’s Haute Couture treatment, and beauty treatments with Olivier Claire’s line of skin care products. The hotel also has a fitness center that overlooks a 17-meter Art Deco pool.

Bulgari Hotel Paris

On Avenue George V, at the intersection with Rue Pierre Ier de Serbie, almost opposite the Four Seasons Hotel George V, the Bulgari Hotel Paris is one of the latest additions to the Parisian hotel scene. Like the George V, it is located in the Golden Triangle, close to the flagship boutiques of the greatest luxury houses.

The hotel’s façade is the most modern of all the Parisian hotels in our collection, with its many large windows and minimalist design. For the interior, the brand called on its usual team of expert designers and architects to recreate the essence of Bulgari and its Italian spirit in the French capital. The hotel’s 76 rooms and suites are cozy and spacious with soft and warm colors like beige, camel, orange and coffee, parquet floors, lacquered walls and leather furniture. The bathrooms, in large stone tiles, feature the brand’s signature Serpenti Constellation pattern on polished glass frescoes. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the rooms in light and offer views of the neighborhood. The jewel in the hotel’s crown is certainly its two-story, 400-square-meter Penthouse suite, which offers a panoramic view of Paris and its monuments (Eiffel Tower, Petit Palais and Sacré Coeur) and opens onto a 600-square-meter Provençal terrace-garden, where oaks, syringes, magnolias, red currants, pear and apple trees grow.

The hotel is home to Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, helmed by the 3-Michelin-starred Executive Chef, and the Bulgari Bar, with its copper and marble counter. The Lounge, meanwhile, with its varnished wood walls, coffered ceiling and distressed leather sofas, is the perfect place to sit and enjoy one of the spirits from its extensive collection.

The Bulgari Spa is worth mentioning for its décor and the fact that it occupies no less than 1300 square meters on two floors. Made of Vicenza (Veneto) stone and Burmese teak, the spa offers a wide menu of signature treatments and two pools, one of which is a 25-meter semi-Olympic pool. The mosaic in the pool, with its emerald, jade and malachite shades streaked with gold, is remarkable and evokes the splendor of ancient Rome, while the second pool is inspired by the Baths of Caracalla. The hotel is also home to a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a beauty and hair salon. 

Hôtel Plaza Athénée

Located on the sumptuous Avenue Montaigne, which brings together all the major luxury brands, including the parent company of Christian Dior, the Hôtel Plaza Athénée opens the doors to Haute Couture in Paris.

With its Haussmannian architecture in cut stone and its wrought iron balconies decorated with carnations, the Hôtel Plaza Athénée is an impressive place. Its 208 rooms and suites all bear the signature of the hotel’s Haute Couture philosophy. Blending styles and eras, from Art Deco to Baroque to Residential, the rooms are all bright, with off-white walls serving as a canvas for the striking reds, fuchsias and yellows of the period furniture, comforters, curtains and decorative elements. Most of the signature suites have a view of the Eiffel Tower.

In keeping with this Haute Couture spirit, the culinary offerings of the Hôtel Plaza Athénée are dominated by the Michelin-starred Restaurant Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée. The Relais Plaza is the hotel’s iconic Art Deco outlet, while La Galerie offers a quiet and chic space for breakfast and light meals. In winter, La Cour Jardin, with its quaint skating rink in the courtyard, becomes a cozy chalet for private dinners. Outside, the Montaigne Terrace is a great place to see and be seen, especially to watch the fashionistas parade around during the fashion week. Guests can also retire to the Bar in the evening for cocktails and snacks.

With its alcoves, the Dior Spa invites guests into a boudoir atmosphere inspired by the world of designer Christian Dior. There, guests will be able to benefit from specific treatments based on a philosophy of reactivating youthfulness.

Maison Villeroy

Located on the quiet rue Jean Goujon, between Avenue Montaigne and the quays of the Seine, Maison Villeroy enjoys the same addresses as the Four Seasons Hotel George V and Bulgari Hotel Paris but with greater privacy and an intimate atmosphere.

Most of its accommodation, which comprises 4 guestrooms, 6 suites, and 2 residential apartments, feature a combination of grey and off-white interior décor that contrasts with the darker tones of Promemoria’s handcrafted furniture and modern artwork on the walls. In contrast, the Celeste suite and the Empyrean apartment feature darker brown tones for a more enveloping atmosphere. The all-marble bathrooms are equipped with the latest Duravit Sensowash Starck appliances and THG bathtubs. Each room also has 24-hour butler service, as well as exclusive access to the hotel’s restaurant, bar and spa.

On the culinary front, the Michelin-starred Trente-Trois serves an impressive gourmet menu in a classic-style dining room, complete with wood paneling and a marble fireplace. The restaurant boasts the skills and talent of resident chef Sebastien Sanjou, who hosts a different chef each month for specially designed menus. Elsewhere, the Jean Goujon Bar, located in an elegant lounge with gold leaf moldings, holds a fireplace and takes on the feel of a private club, ideal for relaxing over a drink or for a business meeting.

The entire lower level houses the spa, with facilities such as a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and hydrotherapy shower. Guests will also have access to a state-of-the-art gym with the option of personal training.

The Peninsula Paris

Situated on Avenue Kléber, The Peninsula Paris is the most westerly palace in the capital, located between Place de l’Etoile and its Arc de Triomphe, and Place du Trocadero.

In this massive Belle Epoque building, the hotel houses 200 rooms and suites with a minimalist interior design. In muted tones of earth and cream, the rooms feature contemporary furnishings, parquet floors, selected paintings on the walls, alongside large windows with city views.

The hotel‘s six restaurants and bars offer a wide range of cuisines. Lili pays homage to the group’s Hong Kong roots, while L’Oiseau Blanc invites guests to experience a gourmet French 2-Michelin-star menu, designed by Chef David Bizet. The Lobby and Klébler Terrace both offer French and international cuisine. The Klébler Bar is elegantly framed with gilded woodwork, and the Rooftop offers a breathtaking view of Paris.

The Peninsula Paris welcomes guests to its Asian-themed spa and promotes its commitment to wellness and sustainability through the launch of a “Life Lived Best” platform that includes expert advice on fitness, relaxation and nutrition. The spa occupies 1,800 square meters on the hotel’s basement level and has 6 treatment rooms, a 20-meter heated indoor pool, a separate whirlpool and a fitness center.

Where to Stay on the left bank of Paris ?

Hôtel Lutetia

Hailed as the only Palace on the Left Bank of the Seine in Paris, the Hotel Lutetia is a neighborhood landmark, loved as much by its residents as by the locals.

Its 184 rooms, including 87 suites, have been restored and modernized by the emblematic Jean-Michel Wilmotte, and now present a much more contemporary version of the hotel’s original Art Deco interiors. In terms of design, the rooms are both refined and warm, with wood paneling on the walls, herringbone parquet flooring and, above all, Murano glass lighting. The furniture specially made for the hotel revisits the original Art Deco world. The Signature suites, all unique, pay tribute to personalities such as Josephine Baker, a jazz icon, who finds a special echo in this historically artistic and jazzy neighborhood. The Francis Ford Coppola suite is simply the one he used to occupy when he visited Paris and which he decorated himself. The hotel even called on the actress Isabelle Huppert, who embodies the spirit of Rive Gauche so well, to decorate one of these suites.

Hotel Lutetia, originally created by Madame Boucicaut to accommodate the largest clientele of Le Bon Marché, embodies the cultural and creative effervescence of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Many of its suites are decorated with works by artists such as César and Philippe Hiquily, and collaborate with various local art galleries.

On the culinary front, the Brasserie Lutetia welcomes guests and non-residents alike to enjoy Patrick Charvet’s menu, while the Bar Josephine pays homage to Josephine Baker and the Roaring Twenties of Paris.

The hotel’s spa, called Alashka, has developed a wellness program based on holistic approach to well-being.