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 Paris Chic Hotels
Paris is chic, so why not stay in a chic hotel? The city oozes class, whether you are shopping in elegant rue St-Honore or hip Marais, strolling hand-in-hand along the Seine, or sipping coffee in a Rive Gauche cafe. An appealing location is essential, and welcoming staff: however stylish the hotel, however long its illustrious history or its celebrity guest list we can do without those ice maiden receptionists who flick their designer wraps and watch with ill-disguised contempt as you drag your luggage across the hall and try to cram it into the world's smallest lift. As for Parisian design hotels, with a capital D, they may be chic too, but they are a breed apart, and we tell you our favourite separately in a list of the city's best hip hotels (see Paris Hip hotels). Of the venerable grand dame establishments such as the Ritz, the Crillon and so on, we find the chicest to be the Meurice, followed by the Bristol and Four Seasons George V. Here's our complete selection of hotels with a certain je ne sais quoi. The hotels are listed by price category, and their order bears no reflection on our preference.
 Reviews by Leonie Glass |
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| Luxury: The epitome of Parisian-style luxury |
| Location: Rue de Rivoli, Tuileries; 1st arr. |
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| Our favourite of the city's grande dame hotels, and the chicest. The location is unrivalled and the revamped interior glitters in gold, marble and glass in a way that's dramatic yet dainty. Rows of gilt framed glass doors lead into the shadowy majesty of the Bar Fontainbleu and the scintillating Versailles-themed, Michelin-starred restaurant. Rooms and suites hark back to the Empire and 18th century and many have superb views, while the Belle Etoile Suite has an amazing 360º view over Paris. Spoiling spa; appropriate service. |
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| Luxury: Marlene Dietrich's favourite hotel, beautifully restored and sumptuously decorated |
| Location: Champs-Elysées, 8th arr. |
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| A grand ancien régime town house bought in 1930 by legendary hotelier Emile Wolf, who filled it with lovely things and a starry array of guests from Coward to Dietrich. Past owner Grace Leo Andrieu deftly brought it up to date while preserving its atmosphere of unflashy glamour; now it's the first foreign outpost of the aristocratic Spanish Hospes group who are bent on retaining its integrity, as well as its original furniture....meanwhile sip cocktails in enchanting Salon Berri; dine in Michel Troisgros' restaurant; take the original red leather lift to your lovely bedroom. |
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| Luxury: Impressive mansion with a heavenly setting |
| Location: Place des Vosges, Marais; 3rd arr. |
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| It’s the location of this hotel that really distinguishes it: perhaps one of the most romantic in Paris, set back from the gloriously harmonious place des Vosges, approached via a calming courtyard garden. The fine 17th century mansion was once the residence of Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII, but now feels more like a baronial country house, with suitably smart and very quiet bedrooms. |
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| Luxury: New boutique hotel that blends different materials in a chic contemporary style |
| Location: Saint-Germain, just off rue de Sèvres; 6th arr. |
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| The tiny ground floor of this new boutique hotel has been as cleverly designed as a boat, with space for sitting beside the hi-tech fire (flames leaping from white pebbles), breakfast tables and a reception desk. The man responsible for the cool, stylish look (a marriage of rosewood, mirror, chrome, velvet and stone) is Bruno Borrione, associate of Philippe Starck. Upstairs, bedrooms are surprisingly large, lined with a restful wallpaper of stylized trees, with leather and mirrored furniture and Missoni rugs. Seconds from Bon Marché. |
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| Luxury: Smart hotel with a stunning design and choice between modern and classic rooms. |
| Location: just north of boulevard St-Germain; 7th arr. |
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| The decoration of this glossy hotel – one of the city's first 'boutiques' – has been cleverly conceived and immaculately realized down to the last designer detail. Lights, doorhandles and furniture have all been specially crafted in such materials as cast bronze, sycamore and leather. The honey-marbled entrance and wood-clad restaurant look fashionably stylish and important. You can also eat, tucked into a deep leather chair in the cosy 'fireplace lounge' or on the sunny terrace. Choose between a traditional and contemporary-style bedroom. |
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| Mid Price: Discreet, understated style with thoughtful touches |
| Location: Montparnasse/Jardin du Luxembourg; 6th arr. |
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| All is discretion at this essentially simple hotel with an innate sense of style, still in place despite the arrival of new owners (but the same staff) and a timely redecoration. Bedroom walls have been coloured either pink or pale green, with attractive fabrics, antiques, objects d'art and pretty pictures, while a log fire burns in the warm, classically-styled salon which also has a little bar. Breakfast in bed is a treat, with delicious bread and croissants from Mulot. You need never leave your room: light dishes are served until 10pm. |
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| Mid Price: Chic, affordable rooms in classic/contemporary style |
| Location: Louvre/Palais-Royale; 1st arr. |
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| A terrific address in an area not blessed with affordable hotels. A smart whitewashed building in a narrow street announces the Thérèse, carefully and calmly designed in classic/contemporary style, with an eye for quality. The elegant bedrooms have good quality beds and linens, while bathrooms neatly mix contemporary with traditional, such as Philippe Starck lighting and attractive old style tap fittings. |
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| Mid Price: Elegant, comfortable accommodation in a handsome Art Deco building |
| Location: in the ‘Ternes’ district north of Etoile, off boulevard Berthier; 17th arr. |
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| Owned by three generations of women since it opened 40 years ago, the Banville offers an attractive combination of style, comfort and middle-of-the-road prices. Inside the fine Art Deco building is tastefully decorated in chic neutrals, enlivened by the occasional dash of colour. A grand piano is the focal point of the elegant sitting area/bar, where the owner, Madame Moreau, sings every Tuesday evening, accompanied by her pianist. A bargain compared with its Left Bank rivals. |
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| Mid Price: Delightful, welcoming hotel with a private house feel |
| Location: St-Germain-des-Prés; 6th arr. |
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| In an alluring St-Germain street, Sylvie de Lattre’s hotel is beautiful and enveloping, decorated in the manner of an elegant private house. Bedrooms (specify a large one) are furnished with antiques, with attractive lighting. There’s a cosy sitting room ideal for relaxing, and a cellar breakfast room. The ambience is happy and homely. |
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| Mid Price: Hôtel particulier with all its original details intact and a chic design |
| Location: in the heart of St-Germain des Prés; 7th arr. |
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| In a calm St-Germain street, sister hotels stand side by side. The three-star Saint Vincent occupies a lovely old townhouse with an impressive entrance. The careful conversion preserves all the best of its original features: fireplaces, staircases, parquet floors, panelled doors, and moulding. The decoration is a happy combination of Second Empire and contemporary styles, and all the details – lamps, flowers, pictures, 'objets' – are in place. Rooms at the two-star Saint Thomas d’Aquin (at No. 3) are less luxurious but more reasonably priced. |
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| Mid Price: Attentive staff and pretty courtyard at this stylish hotel |
| Location: St-Germain-des-Prés; 6th arr. |
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| This chic yet inviting hotel has a cosseting feel from the moment you arrive, with courteous staff and a salon filled with fresh flowers and comfortable sofas. The conservatory-style breakfast room, overlooking a lovely courtyard garden where you can breakfast in summer, must be one of the most alluring in Paris. For a touch of class, ask for one of the beautifully decorated duplex suites. |
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