As a global center of art, fashion, high cuisine and architecture, it’s no surprise that Paris counts some of the world’s most sought-after luxury palace hotels. The term “palace” hotel has only been in official use since 2010, when the French government decided to award a small number of 5-star hotels the label as a mark of exceptional quality and prestige. We’ve selected 7 of these as our absolute favorites.
Not only do these coveted Parisian institutions offer crème de la crème lodging– they also are well-known for their Michelin-starred restaurants, spectacular, verdant gardens, rooftop pools and world-class spas. No luxury excursion to the French capital would be complete without a stay at one of these revered hotels. Surprised the Ritz didn’t make the list? The recent revamp of the famous hotel on Place Vendome might help convince the judges to consider it for next year…
La Reserve: For old-world Parisian glamour
Located between the prestigious Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysées, this classic hotel earned Palace status just a few years ago, and it’s not difficult to see why.
The airy, light-filled building feels like a true palace, endowed with rich tapestries, marble fireplaces, a smoking lounge, a lush inner courtyard teeming with plants and flowers, and a luxurious 16-metre indoor pool and adjoining spa.
All rooms are decorated with silk-hung walls, ornate antique furniture, damascene brocade taffeta, velvet drapes and other lavish details. Bathrooms are fitted with Carrara and Turquin blue marble, and all guests have access to a private butler to meet their every need during a stay here. There are more suites than standard rooms at this much-sought-after hotel, some featuring incredible features such as private wine cellar, and are designed like lavish private Haussmannian-style apartments. Many afford views over the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais and other iconic Paris monuments.
Meanwhile, the hotel’s two-Michelin-star restaurant Le Gabriel serves exceptional French gastronomic cuisine in a lavish, Napoleon III-style dining room, while the onsite spa offers an array of superb beauty and wellness treatments based around Nescens-Swiss, an anti-aging cosmeceutical brand. Take advantage of the enormous pool, hammam/steamroom and fitness center to unwind after a stimulating day exploring Paris.
Le Plaza Athenée: Gastronomic excellence and a sumptuous Dior spa
The signature red-and-white colour theme at this Parisian institution on Avenue Montaigne has become closely associated with prestige and glamour in the city of light. First opened in 1913, the Plaza Athenée is renowned for its restaurant from acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse– one that has held steadily to its three Michelin stars over many years and fierce competition. It currently ranks 13th among 50 of the world’s best restaurants–for those seeking gastronomic excellence, look no further.
The Louis XVI-style rooms and suites all feature Italian-style marble bathrooms, sumptuous furniture and linens, and decadently relaxing sitting areas. Many rooms boast stunning views of monuments including the Eiffel Tower. Meanwhile, the leafy garden terrace and Dior Institute guarantee a luxurious stay– the Institute has regularly been praised as one of the world’s best spas, featuring products and exclusive treatments from the haute-couture house.
Le Mandarin Oriental: For quiet luxury in between Shopping
Nestled just off the ultra-prestigious Rue Saint-Honoré, one of Paris’ most-sought-after shopping districts and lined with couture boutiques and high-end antique dealers, Le Mandarin Oriental is an ideal place to call home when you plan to spend your sojourn in the capital on a luxury shopping tour. It’s also right around the corner from Place Vendôme, home to some of the globe’s most-legendary jewelers, from
But back to the hotel itself– one so extraordinary that it, too, has earned Palace status. For anyone with a love of art-deco design and a preference for boldly modern codes, the Mandarin Oriental certainly fits the bill. The hotel blends art-deco and Asian design elements for a uniquely elegant effect bringing together East and West.
The split-level penthouse features an enormous outdoor deck area complete with panoramic terrace, romantic seating and soft lights, as well as a dining room, kitchen and bar. All guest rooms and suites are fitted with luxurious design details and amenities including plush divans, high-end silk bedding, Bang & Olufsen entertainment center and contemporary artwork.
Meanwhile, the enormous onsite spa measures 900 square metres and features private spa “suites” where visitors can indulge in total relaxation. A 14-metre lap pool, treatment cabins, Asian steamroom, and special facilities for couples make this an especially good choice for a honeymoon or engagement celebration.
Finally, curious gastronomes will delight in the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Sur Mesure, from French chef Thierry Marx. This is a table with an avant-garde, experimental spirit, blending the sensory experiences of sight, sound and taste to create a genuinely personal culinary experience.
Le Meurice: For architectural charm and a revered jazz bar
One of the ultra-prestigious Dorchester Hotel properties, few places in the capital are more synonymous with palace-level luxury than Le Meurice. Overlooking the formerly royal Tuileries Gardens and in close reach of the Louvre, the Meurice combines old-world and contemporary elegance. Design-wise, traditional 18th-century French elements blend with the modern vision of famed architect Philipe Starck, who redesigned the hotel in 2016 to give each floor its own distinctive, often quirky, theme. For anyone interested in architecture and design who want both delivered in an ultra-luxurious setting, the Meurice can’t be beat.
The hotel’s eponymous 2-star Michelin restaurant from Alain Ducasse offers top-rate French cuisine, while the Bar 228 has gained a reputation as one of the city’s most elegant jazz bars, serving inventive– and prestigious– cocktails from famed barman William Oliveri. There’s also a restaurant, Le Dali, named in honour of the moustachioed surrealist artist who frequented the hotel.
Le Bristol: Louis XV rooms and a stunning rooftop pool
This glamorous palace hotel has a strong Hollywood connection: stars from Ava Gardner to Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin favoured it as a place to rest their gorgeous heads while sejourning in Paris. Musicians and artists such as Josephine Baker and Mick Jagger have also frequented the hotel, holding lavish parties and openings. More recently, Woody Allen filmed it for his love-letter to the capital, “Midnight in Paris“.
In addition to its three-star Michelin restaurant, Epicure, headed by celebrated chef Eric Frechon, the Bristol’s outstanding feature is its rooftop pool and its spa. Featuring products from La Prairie, the spa is one of the most sought after places to unwind and relax in the capital, and affords some stunning views of the city.
Owned by the Oetker family, the Bristol boasts 190 rooms including 100 suites, sumptuously decorated with Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture. It’s also coveted for its green, leafy premises: the outdoor 1,200 sqm garden and terrace are a verdant escape from the stress of the city.
Le Royal Monceau Raffles: For art, cinema and design fans
A concept palace hotel that’s clearly the artiest among those on our list, the Royal Monceau Raffles is pushing the envelope with a focus on bold, nearly avant-garde design and themes that elsewhere might not quite spell ultra-luxury. Yet here, it works. Philippe Starck was again entrusted to revamp this Parisian institution, and his bold vision can be seen throughout the sprawling premises.
Boasting a large art bookshop, a full cinema, a contemporary art gallery and a private collection featuring some 300 original works of art, Le Royal Monceau is, it’s fair to say, “far more” than an ultra-luxury hotel. It’s a self-declared temple to contemporary artistic creation. But luckily for discerning travelers, all the sumptuous features of a palace property remain at their fingertips, from the city’s largest hotel swimming pool to the gorgeous, mirrored spa with products and treatments from Clarins. Meanwhile, the restaurant scene here is edgy and trendy, from the 1-star Michelin Il Carpaccio restaurant, featuring gastronomic Italian cuisine, to the Japanese-themed Matsuhisa, one of the hottest restaurants in the capital and headed by Chef Nobu.
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