The best hotels in Paris, the City of Light

Paris is the word on everybody’s lips this year – for good reason, with the ultra-chic city not only hosting the 2024 Summer Olympic Games but now connecting to Australia in a single flight, on the back of Qantas’ new non-stop from Perth. 

As a true cultural mecca, the French capital is synonymous with historic flair and modern glamour, brimming with a iconic museums and galleries, alongside a tapestry of old and new luxury hotels.

A penthouse with a view at Bulgari Hotel Paris.

No matter what style or era you seek, you’ll find it here.

With that in mind, in no particular order and by no means a definitive list, here are some of the best luxury hotels Paris has to offer. 

Hotel Madame Rêve

Just a hop and a skip from the Louvre and Le Palais Royale, Hotel Madame Rêve’s interiors are a blend of Second Empire opulence and understated retro-chic. Yet not just anyone can step inside – guests must buzz to enter the intimate lobby.

Wake up to magnificent views in the Deluxe Atelier Room.

Food is a core element of the experience, with La Plûme plating up enticing Franco-Japanese dishes such as sole tempura, roasted duck, and braised octopus with Jerusalem artichoke puree, in a sexy, dimly lit atmosphere.

Want to soak up some rays? Make your way to the hotel's rooftop.

If it’s pampering you're after, the hotel boasts an energising wellness area and fitness room, plus a 1,000sqm rooftop terrace primed to revel in the summer nights.

The Peninsula Paris

As with its esteemed kin around the globe, from Hong Kong to London, The Peninsula Paris is tailor-made for embracing the finest the city has to offer. Not only is it exquisite from all angles, it also has a fascinating story to boot.

There's little room for understated decor in Paris.

Expect world-class service and outstanding facilities the moment you arrive, from the white-clad bellhop greeting you to sumptuous decor and a fleet of Rolls Royce available to whisk you around in ultimate comfort. And the rooms? They’re divine.

Dusk dining at L'Oiseau Blanc.

You won’t have to travel far to find delectable fare with five venues onsite, including LiLi, a Cantonese known for its bountiful dim sum, and L’Oiseau Blanc on the top floor, where haute cuisine is enjoyed overlooking Paris’ Haussmann-style rooftops.

Bulgari Hotel Paris

One of the more recent additions to Paris’ luxury hotel scene, Bulgari Hotel Paris brings Italian savoir-faire to the City of Lights, replete with a 25m indoor pool, ground floor boutique, and several fabulous bar and dining choices.

Bulgari is contemporary breath of fresh air.

Located on the prestigious Avenue George V, the hotel’s rooms and suites – of which there are just 76 – are a perfect blend of opposing qualities: elegant but warm, quietly luxurious but not ostentatious, with the right chord between aesthetics and functionality.

The Lounge is your go-to for a morning coffee or pre-dinner aperitif.

For an added touch of indulgence, the Penthouse Suite spans two floors and comes with a 600 sqm private rooftop garden with views of the Eiffel tower.

Four Seasons Hotel George V

You’ll feel like visiting royalty at the Four Seasons Hotel George V. Nestled in the heart of Paris' celebrated Golden Triangle, surrounded by the crème de la crème of fashion houses, it's a five-star landmark hotel with a well-earned reputation.

Four Seasons George V adheres to the brand's lofty standards.

Originally opened 1928, the hotel’s Art Deco-style interior delivers surprises at every turn. But it's the dining scene that sets the hotel apart – it's the only hotel in Europe to feature six Michelin stars under one roof.

Le Cinq pairs French fare with an exceptional rare wine list.

With options ranging from Mediterranean-infused menus, contemporary Gallic cuisine and all-time French favourites, this is the foodie’s hotel of choice. And when it’s time to work off those calories, you’ll find a high-tech gym and heated pool too.

Villa-des-Pres

Nestled in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés – the infamous neighbourhood which drew artists and writers like moths to a flame in the 19th and 20th centuries – is a place where ‘quality of quantity’ reigns supreme: Villa-des-Pres.

The hotel is just off Boulevard Saint-Germain, only 15mins stroll from Notre Dame.

Known for its work on Hotel Madame Rêve, designer Bruno Borrione has imbued each one of this boutique hotel’s 34 rooms, suites and apartments with an effortlessly-chic style where everything is ‘just so’.

This Suite is home to an Italian mosaic bathroom and private bar.

That penchant for perfection flows to the 13m indoor pool, wellness treatment room and gym, along with an intimate bar, where guests can indulge in signature cocktails and champagne indoors or on the leafy patio.

Le Meurice

Just off the Tuileries Garden, the Versailles-like grandeur of Le Meurice has welcomed distinguished guests for over 200 years. Extravagant chandeliers, marble fireplaces and gold as far as the eye can see in its restaurants; it’s breathtaking.

The Michelin-starred Restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse.

Considered one of the first luxury hotels in the world when it opened in 1815, the property has a long connection with the art world, from hosting Picasso’s wedding dinner to serving as Dali’s Parisian home for over three decades.

This terrace could be all yours, simply by checking into the Belle Etoile Suite.

Rooms are an expectedly-decadent affair, yet it’s the top floor Belle Etoile Suite – boasting its own private elevator and terrace with views to the Eiffel Tower.

Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Dorchester Collection

A gem amid the prestige boutiques in Paris, Hôtel Plaza Atheénée is the fashionista’s hotel of choice, located on Avenue Montaigne and surrounded by the likes of Valentino, Harry Winston and Dior. And it was the hotel that attracted them all.

The Garden Court plates up seasonal fare and plant-based summer menus.

Almost all of its room categories are available in two distinctive styles – classical Parisian and Art Deco. However, though vastly different, all rooms are united by the exceptional attention to detail and styling that has become a hallmark of the hotel.

Jean Imbert's menu is an ode to French heritage.

When it’s time to feast, you can partake in a delicious afternoon tea at La Galerie (one bite is never enough) or treat yourself to Michelin-starred fare at the exceptional Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée, a restaurant dripping in old world splendour.

Maison Proust Paris

Themed hotels can be rather hit or miss, but when they work, they really do. Case in point is Maison Proust, which is not only inspired by the works of Parisian writer Marcel Proust but sprinkled with the grandeur of the late 1800s.

La Maison Proust bar is made for conversation and indulgence.

It’s exquisite from top to bottom, with the first three floors a showcase for prominent Parisian characters, the 4th floor dedicated to painters, 5th floor to authors, and the 6th floor to the apartments of Marcel Proust.

As for the 23 rooms and suites ranging from deluxe to three-bedroom executive, every one is sumptuously furnished patterned silks and embroidered fabrics, and enhanced by dim lighting which lends each a mood of romance.

La Mer Spa should take a place on every guest's itinerary.

Given its penchant for the heady days of the Belle Epoque, there is, naturally, a bar tailor made for revelry. And whether seated in an alcove or draped across a lounge in the main salon enjoying tasty morsels and cocktails, you’re in for a deliciously seductive treat.

Cheval Blanc Paris

Housed within the iconic La Samaritaine building, overlooking the River Seine, Cheval Blanc Paris is a captivating experience from the moment you enter. In fact, there’s a good chance the first words from your lips will be ‘ooh la la’.

Le Cheval Paris is described as an 'historical building with a contemporary spirit'.

Each of its 72 rooms is light and bright, decorated with timeless furnishings and rich upholstery, with sumptuous beds you’ll long to sink into. Combine this with four restaurants and a fabulous Dior Spa and you have a hotel ticking all the boxes.

The Seine River Suite is as captivating as the views of the namesake.

In terms of location, it has the Paris trifecta in walking distance: the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, not to mention a glittering array of boutiques, bars and restaurants where you can embrace your inner Parisian.

Also on site, is arguably the city’s most visually-stunning pool, featuring a hypnotising pattern of blue and green mosaic tiles that create the illusion of swimming along the river's edge.

Mandarin Oriental Paris

Given the reputation of its brand, it should come as no surprise that Mandarin Oriental Paris is a thing of beauty, backed up by exceptional service, haute cuisine and a kaleidoscope of pampering spa treatments.

Camélia by Thierry Marx plates up cuisine as striking as its decor.

Though the hotel's 135 rooms vary in size and colour, each is elegantly furnished with contemporary artwork, soft silk throws, and bountiful floral bouquets. And just outside? Picturesque views of the fashionable rue Saint-Honoré.

Mandarin Oriental Paris offers exclusive tours and experiences for guests.

Beyond its rooms you’ll find three bar and dining options, including the two-Michelin starred Sur Mesure – a gourmet sensory experience – and Camélia's eco-conscious contemporary fare. If the desire for a tipple of two calls, Bar 8 is your go-to for exotic cocktails.

Ritz Paris

This central Paris icon requires little introduction. Located at Place Vendôme, a short stroll away from the Louvre and Palais Garnier Opera House, Ritz Paris has cocooned everyone from renowned actors to members of royalty.

Bar Vendôme is a chic brasserie with a delicious all-day menu.
Vincent Leroux

While the ornate Empire-style furnishing in its 159 deluxe rooms and suites might not be everyone’s cup of tea, they do provide a luxurious amount of space – even the smallest rooms are larger than the average one-bedroom Parisian apartment.

In need of some self-care? Make the most of your downtime and drop by the subterranean Ritz Club, home to the world’s only Chanel spa, a fitness centre and an azure-tiled pool.

Many of its suites are named after past guests, including this, the Windsor Suite.
Vincent Leroux

The dining scene doesn’t fall short either. After dinner at the hotel’s chic Bar Vendôme, head to the intimate Bar Hemingway, where legend has it the writer liberated the hotel from the Nazis and then proceeded to drink 51 dry martinis in a row.

Shangri-La Paris

Set in the former home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, great nephew of Napoleon, Shangri-La Hotel Paris fuses French grandeur with traditional Asian hospitality. Its pièce de résistance? One of the most coveted Eiffel Tower views in all of Paris.

Few hotel views compare to those of the Shangri-La Paris.

Despite being close to major museums and sights, including the Palais de Tokyo and Musée d'Art Moderne, it's easy to feel at home at this Trocadero adjacent-hotel thanks to its intimate and calming atmosphere.

Unwind in regal opulence in the Prince Bonaparte Apartment.

Indulgence takes the form of Executive Chef Quentin Testart’s Shang Palace – the only Michelin-star Chinese restaurant in France, and La Bauhinia, beneath an extraordinary glass dome and plating up a mix of French and South East Asian flavours.

La Réserve Paris - Hotel and Spa

Moments the Champs Élysées, La Réserve Hotel and Spa is intimate and refined – a perfect case of quality over quantity. Its rooms, suites and public spaces are all intoxicatingly beautiful too, thanks to the efforts of acclaimed French interior designer Jaques Garcia.

As with every great hotel experience, it begins with a warm welcome.

Every one of its 14 elegant rooms and 26 boudoir-esque suites is richly furnished with silk damask walls, herringbone parquet floors, and handpicked antiques, combined with subtle lighting that enhances the relaxed ambience.

There's nothing understated about the decor of La Pagode.

The spa is home to a 16m indoor pool, hammam and rooms offering treatments from Swiss anti-aging brand Nescens-Swiss – the only spa in the city to offer this – along with a fitness centre where guests can enjoy pilates and yoga classes.

Raffles Le Royal Monceau

Combining the elegance of the 1940s and 50s, Raffles Le Royal Monceau is a luxurious escape with big appeal for art lovers: not only does it boast an impressive collection of more than 350 pieces, art tours can be arranged too.

Guitars are a playful addition to every room.

Each of its 149 rooms, from Studios to Junior Suites and the top-of-the-line Royal Monceau Suite, feature beautiful marble bathrooms and custom made linens, as well as acoustic guitars for guests to express their creativity.

The Michelin-rated Il Carpaccio restaurant.

Location-wise, the hotel is mere moments from the Arc de Triomphe, Parc Monceau and the Avenue des Champs Élysées. Further afield, hop on the ‘metro’ and you’ll reach icons such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and Musée D´Orsay in no time.

Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

There’s something special about staying in a landmark address on Place de la Concorde, in a building where Marie Antoinette used to take her piano lessons, no less.

Indulge your sweet tooth at the Jardin d’Hiver tea lounge.

Reopened in 2018 as Hôtel de Crillon, the 18th century palace sports a surprisingly modern feel in its guest rooms, though the over-the-top flamboyance visitors crave is on full display in dining venues – particularly Restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse.

The spa swimming pool is lavishly tiled 17,600 gold scales.

As you’d expect from such a world-class Paris luxury hotel, all rooms treat guests to butler service and are lavishly adorned with a blend of bespoke and vintage furnishings – think stylish bar carts and carefully-curated art pieces.