The best luxury hotels in Paris, from Haussmannian palaces to private butlers
Haussmann buildings, the abundance of gilded historic monuments, and the glimmering Seine and its elegant bridges have arguably made Paris the most glamorous cityscape in the world. The French capital is home to nine 'Palace'-grade hotels (essentially five star-plus), along with a swathe of more traditional five-stars that vie to offer the most exceptional accommodation in the city, whether it's through Michelin-starred dining experiences by Ducasse, Marx & co; designer spa treatments; or made-to-measure experiences (think a Rolls Royce spin around the city, or chef-curated caviar menu). Visiting these hotels feels like participating in a lavish, expertly directed theatrical experience; truly once-in-a-lifetime (with a price tag to match). And there's nowhere quite like Paris for a setting to match.
Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
Located on Avenue Hoche, the hotel is certainly well placed for those looking to explore the finer things Paris has to offer. The grand Art Deco awning nods to the history of the property, which opened in the 1930s, but inside the feel is thoroughly contemporary, with Philippe Starck-designed décor and fusion food offerings from Nobu Matsuhisa. The hotel has its own large art bookshop and a 99-seat cinema, and up-to-date exhibition round-ups from the hotel's dedicated 'art concierge', Julie Eugène, are on offer in rooms. The spa, with its exceptionally large (23-metre) swimming pool, completes the picture. Read expert review From ￡718 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Ritz Paris
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
When it was opened by César Ritz in 1898, the Ritz was the most innovative hotel in Paris; the first to have lifts, electricity and private bathrooms. The modern hotel has preserved its period furniture and paintings à la Louis XV, and kept some of the cult features such as the divisive gold swan taps. The hotel has the world's first Chanel spa, bringing a gentle waft of perfume, to accompany the gym and the galleried indoor pool, kept at a tropical 31°C. This is a place for playing at being Marie Antoinette, and indulging in tea and madeleines in the Proust library salon or cocktails in the Hemingway bar. Read expert review From ￡946 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Shangri-La Hotel, Paris
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
This hotel is an escapade into a sybaritic vision of France's past with its wedding-cake fa?ade, grand stairway and a string of historic salons, which have been listed and painstakingly restored with hand-gilded panelling and neoclassical friezes. Apart from the modern Penthouse Suite and the Imperial Suite which has a butler's kitchen, the 81 bedrooms and suites are calmly classical, recalling the French grand lifestyle. The best have large rooftop terraces with astonishing views of the Eiffel Tower. Restaurants abound from Franco-Asian Bauhinia restaurant to Michelin-starred Shang Palace. Read expert review From ￡631 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
Palatial comfort, gastronomy and wildly extravagant flower displays sum up the sumptuous George V, situated in the Champs-Elysées golden triangle among plenty of high-end fashion shops. Suites all have vast dressing rooms – ready for substantial shopping sprees; the largest Royal and Presidential suites come with lounge, office, dining room and kitchen area, ripe for business meetings or entire families. All are in various historic styles, except for the modern Penthouse in smooth marble with several terraces, a corner dining room and outdoor sunbed. The hotel has three restaurants which hold Michelin stars. Read expert review From ￡841 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Le Bristol
Paris, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Le Bristol is one of the best joints in town: a long-established and distinguished hotel in one of the city’s most fashionable streets with excellent service. Don't miss the absolutely top-notch restaurant Epicure, or the exquisite spa and indoor rooftop pool. There are 188 guest rooms, many overlooking the inner courtyards and well sound-proofed from city noise. They are feminine in style with fresh, floral fabrics reflecting the hotel’s trademark colours, vivid green and dark pink, with co-ordinating bedspreads, and a classic mix of chandeliers, Regency-style furniture and neutrally-toned walls. Read expert review From ￡768 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
Understated sophistication is the name of the game at this sumptuous palace hotel, famed for its flamboyant Asian-inspired interiors and Michelin-starred restaurant, Pur. It's situated in the heart of central Paris, footsteps from the luxurious jewellery shops and fashion boutiques of place Vend?me. Unlike other palace hotels, the Hyatt – in a 19th-century Haussmannian building – has no opulent history. Rather, its appeal lies in the sophisticated oasis of tranquility and luxury it offers. Service is polished and intimate. Classic doubles are superbly sized but plump for the Imperial Suite which has its own spa. Read expert review From ￡645 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Le Meurice
Paris, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Le Meurice stands out among the Paris palaces with its prime position on arcaded Rue de Rivoli, just minutes from the Louvre. It's very grand yet not stuffy. Dali used to stay here with his ocelots and that has clearly left a legacy of tolerance for guest's foibles. The hotel’s suites take opulence to a fantasy-land level. The vast Presidential Suites on the first floor are straight out of Versailles with Hungarian parquet and immense grand salons. The jewel in the crown is the Belle Etoile suite on the seventh floor, which has its own private elevator and terrace with 360-degree views of Paris. Read expert review From ￡602 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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H?tel Plaza Athénée
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
This is one of Paris's most ostentatious and unabashedly opulent hotels, situated on one of Paris’ most fashionable streets close to the Champs Elysees. Inside, grand décor blends touches of 17th-century Versaille style and Art Deco elements, with a modern finish. In the dazzling restaurant, Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, wood panelling, columns and immense chandeliers contrast with striking silver banquettes. Rooms are sumptuous with plush carpets and chandeliers; the balcony rooms at the front of the hotel feature the money-shot view across the river to the Eiffel Tower. Read expert review From ￡662 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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Mandarin Oriental, Paris
Paris, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Flanked by designer boutiques on rue Saint-Honoré sits Paris' Mandarin Oriental, a bastion of elegance. The look throughout the hotel is contemporary with subtle 1930s flourishes and a nod to French haute couture. Whimsical touches include the butterfly motif that appears on carpets and artwork and the delightful over-sized bird cage – a folly of French fancy – for see-and-be-seen dining in the garden. Most doubles overlook the garden and décor by French designer Sybille de Margerie is contemporary with a retro gloss: think gold, taupe, and plum palettes, angular lamps and rich amaranth woods. Read expert review From ￡629 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
H?tel de Crillon
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
This historic building dates originally from the 18th century, but only some of the grandest rooms at the front of the hotel survive from this period. The renovation has transformed the rest of the hotel with extraordinary attention to detail. The biggest successes are the two internal courtyards, which have been transformed from rather dingy spaces into leafy gardens with tables from the Winter Garden tearoom, with the brasserie and the spa spilling into them. There are 124 rooms, including 36 suites, and 10 exceptionally large signature suites, including two designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld. Read expert review From ￡834 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
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The Peninsula Paris
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
This is luxe with a capital L. The Peninsula’s building – which takes up a whole city block – originally housed a Belle Epoque grand hotel, and retains painstakingly restored period features, interplayed with contemporary fixtures. It offers traditional grand-dame service and opulence with a modern edge, making it a favourite with international entertainment and sports stars. Expect attentive service and outstanding facilities, including a subterranean spa and the city’s longest hotel pool. Read expert review From ￡946 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa
Paris, France
9Telegraph expert rating
Aside from the exquisite styling of star designer Jacques Garcia, this ultra-luxe Parisian hotel is well-placed for lovers of old-school prestige and luxury, with the high-end boutiques of Rue Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne within close walking distance. Butler service is standard and guests have a direct line to an appointed member of staff in their room. The Jér?me Banctel-led kitchen at Le Gabriel restaurant earned two Michelin stars in its first year, and serves exquisite French dishes with a light Japanese influence. Read expert review From ￡942 per night Check availability Rates provided by Mr & Mrs Smith
San Régis Paris
Paris, France
8Telegraph expert rating
This understated five-star – once frequented by Lauren Bacall and Gene Kelly – is a delightful hidden gem. The five stars come not from the facilities, but from the exceptional level of personalised service. The rooms, decorated in quintessentially French style by Pierre-Yves Rochon, have a classic aesthetic, with floral patterned Hermès wallpaper, wood panelling and antique portraits. Eiffel Tower views are available in the suites at the top of the property, which feature elaborate Versailles-style décor. Read expert review From ￡344 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Contributions by Natasha Edwards, Hannah Meltzer, Nick Trend and Nicola Williams