Must-Stay Hotels in Paris

A grand Haussmannian landmark near the Arc de Triomphe, The Peninsula is known as ‘Little Versailles’ due to its gilded finery (over 20,000 pieces of gold leaf, in fact, were recently used to restore its interiors). Pairing the precision of its Asian roots with a distinctive Parisian insouciance, the hotel is a favourite of a certain international fashion set, while its rooftop restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, has unmatched views of the twinkling Eiffel Tower at night. 

George V may be named for a British monarch, but its appeal and atmosphere is utterly Parisian. Situated in the ‘Golden Triangle’ next to the Champs-Élysées, the hotel is known for its chic, art deco stylings and decadent food and wine offering: its cellar, hidden 14 metres below ground in two former quarries, holds 20,000 rare and vintage bottles. 

The Royal Monceau is not like other Parisian hotels. When the prestigious palace was redesigned in 2008 by Philippe Starck, the designer hosted a ‘demolition party’ for the great and good of the city to take part in the tear-down. The result embodies Starck’s philosophy of “rebellious luxury”, perhaps — an opulent palace, filled with a creative spirit and more than a little mischief. Its art collection, fittingly, is probably the most impressive of any hotel in Paris, while the property has an in-house ‘art concierge’ to arrange private gallery views and tours. 

Instantly recognisable by the red awnings that appear to float among its deep green ivy, the Plaza Athénée is perhaps the grandest ‘grand dame’ hotel in all of Paris. Known for its links with the world of Parisian couture and its chic, influential clientele, it’s also a place of real romance: in the 1950s, when Marlene Dietrich was staying at the hotel, her lover Jean Gabin requested that every single balcony was flooded with red geraniums — her favourite flower.

A boutique legend that has lounged down on the Rue Saint-Honoré since 1995, Hôtel Costes is known for its seductive ambiance (the designers imagined its interiors like a “velvet womb”) and a famously fashionable crowd: its lobby is nicknamed ‘the catwalk’, thanks to the sheer number of well-dressed, good-looking people who sashay through it daily. A cultural institution as much as a hotel, it has long been the spiritual home of French lounge music, and legendary producer Stéphane Pompougnac mixed several now-iconic compilations for the hotel in the late 1990s. 

Located on Avenue George V, the Bulgari Hotel brings Italian glamour to Paris with sleek modern design and a residential feel. The atmosphere is discreet and contemporary, appealing to guests who appreciate privacy and refined luxury. Known for its ultra-spacious suites, spa, and exclusive aesthetic, it offers a modern alternative to the city’s grand palace hotels.

Laid out before the cobbled glory of the Place de la Concorde, Hôtel de Crillon is palatial in every sense: a historic, gold-stoned mansion which was originally commissioned by Louis XV and soon became a favourite haunt of Marie Antoinette. Now home to a chic international crowd, the iconic spot (owned, as it happens, by the Taittinger champagne dynasty) combines grand stylings with modern flair: the late Karl Lagerfeld designed two of the hotel’s most exclusive “Les Grands Appartements” signature suites.