A visit to Paris hardly needs an explanation. Sunset strolls along the Seine and evenings spent in perfect Parisian bistros beckon tens of millions of travelers every year.
Post-Covid, Paris remains the standard-bearer for luxury hospitality, with hotels debuting renovations, high-end spa treatments and Michelin-starred dining experiences to entice travelers in 2020 and beyond.
The best hotels in Paris are diverse, and include opulent ‘palace’ hotels (a distinction bestowed on the finest hotels in France by the Ministry of Tourism) like the Four Seasons Hotel George V and Hôtel Plaza Athénée, and intimate boutique properties like L’Hotel .
Open for more than a century, Hotel Plaza Athenee has strong links with Paris haute couture—Christian Dior set up his couture house next door in 1947. In a prime location on Avenue Montaigne, today the hotel is near luxury boutiques including Fendi, Valentino and Dior.
A renovation completed in 2014 included a refresh of 208 guest rooms decorated by Marie-José Pommereau and an iconic 1960s-inspired redesign of the three Michelin-star Alain Ducasse restaurant.
The hotel’s Dior Institut Spa, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, has opulent treatments including micro-abrasion with sapphire crystals.
The first hotel in France to be awarded the ‘palace ‘ distinction, Le Bristol is one of our experts’ favorite grand dames in Paris. The location on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is central, and the hotel’s three Michelin star restaurant Epicure is one of the city’s top tables.
A six-year renovation completed in 2018 brightened public spaces and guestrooms with a lighter green, blue and grey color scheme, but the things that set Le Bristol apart include the beautiful antiques in the 188 guestrooms (wing chairs and Louis XVI-style beds), works of art from the owner’s private collection, and the indoor rooftop pool.
Our critics heap praise on this hotel, calling it ‘one of the world’s most impressive hotels’ (Star Service) and ‘arguably the city’s most luxurious and spacious hotel’ (Rough Guides).
This intimate boutique hotel tucked away on a charming street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés has just 20 unique and cosy guest rooms decorated by designer Jacques Garcia in a wide range of styles, from Baroque to Art Deco. Every inch of the hotel seems to seduce, from the spiral staircase to the bar decorated with floor-length silk drapes.
The building was once a 19th-century mansion and the last home of writer Oscar Wilde—who passed away there in 1900. The suite that bears his name has a well-worn writing desk and a sunny terrace.
In Le Bar, visitors can sip on American-style cocktails such as an expertly mixed old fashioned, while listening to live jazz. There is also a subterranean spa with a hammam and steam room.
Le Meurice was opened in 1835 by the first hoteliers in Paris. Located moments away from the Louvre it has been a bolthole for artists and writers for more than 100 years. Modern and traditional clash (in a good way) with furniture, art and interiors by Philipe Stark and inspired by artist Salvador Dali, who was a regular.
Expect your jaw to drop at the flamboyant ceiling murals and frescoes, gold leaf, Italian marble bathrooms, and exquisite creations by world’s best pastry chef Cédric Grolet and look out for the interesting contemporary art pieces dotted around the lobby.
The George ‘cinq’ needs little introduction. One of the most famous hotels in the world, our critics have endless praise for this ‘temple of modern luxury’ (Black Book), with Condé Nast Traveler observing that ‘the lobby alone is worth the trip.’
The historic art deco landmark is ideally located a stone’s throw from the Champs-Élysées. Its three restaurants have a combined five michelin stars, with ingredients coming from a kitchen garden at Versailles. The classical decor includes flamboyant flower installations and the spa is a marble-clad haven with expert-trained staff.
A post-Covid reopening is being marked with new customised experiences including cooking classes with chef Simone Zanoni of Le George, and wine tasting with sommelier Éric Beaumard.