Nowhere does high-end hotels quite like Paris.
The city is the global capital of fashion, the arts and fine dining, the French capital is innately fancy in a way that can’t be replicated or fabricated. In fact, the French as a whole seem constrained by standardised measures of luxury.
In France, the term "palace" is not used lightly when it comes to hotels. In hospitality, the "Palace" distinction is a prestigious title awarded by Atout France, the French tourism agency, to a select group of five-star establishments that exemplify and exceed the pinnacle of luxury and service. To earn this coveted label, a hotel must meet stringent criteria that go beyond the traditional five-star standards, including; exceptional location, unique architectural heritage, impeccable service, and a commitment to providing an unparalleled guest experience. Of course, some locations which are awarded the "palace" status, are in fact actual palaces.
From a discreet, city centre petit mansion, to Europe’s most celebrated and coveted stays and Michelin-starred dining destinations, here are eight of the city’s most remarkable hotel stays.
Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
In a converted honey-stone aristocratic residence facing Place de la Concorde, one of Europe’s grandest city squares, the Crillon is just as exuberant as its surroundings. Washed in golds and with a painted cloudscape crowning its double-height ceilings, its Bar Les Ambassadeurs is pure glamour - drinks on the mocktail menu highlight one key ingredient (say plum or raspberry) and there’s live entertainment each evening. Many of them meticulously designed by Karl Lagerfeld, its signature suites are similarly striking. With its name meaning jewellery box, platinum-hued L’Écrin serves tailored set menus in an intimate, romantic setting.
From €1,800 per night,
10 Place de la Concorde, Paris
@rosewoodhoteldecrillon
Book your stay here
Le Meurice
By the Louvre, centuries-old Le Meurice stands as an iconic example of Parisian luxury and history. Over three consecutive decades, the famous Spanish artist, Dali stayed for a month each year: his pet ocelot (a cheetah-like feline) damaged the carpets but staff didn’t mind his eccentricities - particularly as he dished out artworks as gratuities. And even now, the hotel feels just as decadent and indulgent today. As one of the first hotels to receive the prestigious "Palace" distinction in France, Le Meurice sets an unparalleled standard for excellence in hospitality. Each bedroom features at least 100 yards of fancy fabrics - swish silks, intricate damasks, the softest velvets - and its restaurants are overseen by Alain Ducasse. As attested by the lines that form outside, the socially viral pastry chef Cedric Grolet’s patisseries are among the most coveted and artistic you’ll find in the city.
From €1,892 per night
228 Rue de Rivoli, Paris
@lemeuriceparis
Book your stay here
Shangri-La Paris
For all its bells and whistles, of which this hotel offers many - including the largest hotel pool in the city and the only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in the country - it’s the hotel's views that truly set the Shangri-La Paris apart. Its unparalleled vistas overlooking the Seine River and the Eiffel Tower are especially atmospheric after dark as glittering lights of the landmark sparkle. Although you could easily laze in bed and just admire this panorama by day or by night, this immaculately restored 19th-century palace warrants further discovery. Wander its gilded corridors to spot crystal leaf chandeliers, delicate original decorative details, and the ornate living quarters previously enjoyed by Roland Bonaparte, the building’s first occupant and Napoleon’s great-nephew. Renowned for its exceptional service, world-class amenities, and Michelin-starred cuisine, the Shangri-La Paris has become a symbol of refined hospitality.
From €2,000 per night
10 Avenue D’Iéna, Paris
@shangrilaparis
Book your stay here
Le Bristol
At first glance Le Bristol feels like a quintessentially classic property: the walls are draped with 17th-century tapestries, and the wood-panelled pool is reminiscent of a classic ocean liner. But Le Bristol, with its opulent "palace" status is surprisingly playful too - a fluffy, cloud-white Birman cat named Socrate is a permanent who just might be the most pampered pet in Paris, and sometimes, you will also find audacious and awe-inspiring pop up art installations in the hotel's gorgeous courtyard garden. Perhaps most compelling of all, though, is its exceptional three-Michelin-star restaurant Epicure. Though previous head chef Eric Frechon recently departed, it still offers an exceptionally elevated French fine-dining experience and is among the most refined hotel restaurants on the planet.
From €2,590 per night
112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor, Paris
@lebristolparis
Book your stay here
Maison Villeroy
Maison Villeroy places such an emphasis on privacy that even most Parisians have never heard of it.
Just off Avenue Montaigne in the upmarket Triangle d’Or, this converted mansion holds just 11 bedrooms, suites and apartments. Its that intimacy, coupled with butlers on standby for every room category, which results in an incomparable level of personalised service. And despite the hotel’s small scale, there’s no compromise when it comes to quality: the plump Vispring beds are nothing short of blissful, a wellness zone sprawls over an entire floor of the property, and the curated menu of the handsome, oak-panelled Michelin starred Trente-Trois restaurant showcases the best of French fine-dining.
From €1,280 per night
33 Rue Jean Goujon, Paris
@maison.villeroy
Book your stay here
Four Season George V
Even among Four Seasons’ 100+ five-star properties around the world, few hotels quite match the grandeur of the George V. First impressions are fabulous: profusions of flowers invariably fill the entirety of the lobby (eight florists ensure the 12,000 stems delivered weekly look perfect). Special-occasion dining is another highlight. This is the only hotel in Europe housing three Michelin-starred restaurants; the most indulgent is Le Cinq, where flawless French cuisine is served to pampered diners seated in gold-plated Louis XIV chairs. Bedrooms and suites are impeccable, and agreeably homely, many have terraces and balconies, and feature thoughtful touches like bedside bouquets of fragrant white roses.
From €2,000 per night
31 Avenue George V, Paris
@fsgeorgevparis
Book your stay here
Ritz Paris
Home to Coco Chanel for two decades and still a mainstay of megawatt celebs and fashionistas whenever they visit the city, Ritz Paris is famously flamboyant - but it’s fun too. Bathroom taps are shaped like bowing swans; in pastel peach, puffy bathrobes are a little bit kitsch. And just about everything else delivers at the highest level. Ornate signature suites offer staggering Place Vendome views; privacy-conscious guests can work out in individual fitness rooms; the spa offers tailored treatments by Biologique Recherche. To take a taste of the Ritz back home, the on-site École Ritz Escoffier holds cooking and pastry courses for all levels.
From €2,000 per night
15 Place Vendome, Paris
@ritzparis
Book your stay here
The Peninsula Paris
Operating to the same exceptional standards as the brand’s Hong Kong flagship, The Peninsula quashes any outdated stereotypes suggesting Paris can’t deliver superb service. Exceptionally large, spruce bedrooms are decorated in a swathe of creams and chocolates, and feel notably more modern than many competitors’ offerings. L’Oiseau Blanc is the hotel's rooftop, two-Michelin-starred French restaurant. Here be sure to look out for the full-sized replica 1920s biplane - a nod to the Peninsula brand’s long-standing association with aviation. But for the best people watching head to Le Lobby: just like James Joyce and Picasso before them, the great and the good of Paris still flock to this gilded room for catch-up drinks and afternoon tea.
From €1,388 per night
19 Av. Kléber, Paris
@thepeninsulaparis
Book your stay here
