Paris Hotels

Situated on one of the smartest squares in the city, the Ritz Paris is the capital’s most celebrated hotel and is the very essence of luxury and discretion. The lobby gleams with marble, chandeliers and impressive floral arrangements from designer Djordje Varda, while the oriental carpets, soft to the touch, soak up the sound. It has a magnificent swimming pool and fitness room, as well as a health spa.

There’s luxury accommodation and then there’s Hotel Le Bristol Paris. From marble-panelled powder rooms to its regal 1,210-sq-m (13,000-sq-ft) garden, Le Bristol has been Paris’s most prestigious hotel since its inception in 1925. All services are naturally state of the art and foodies will be happy to hear its three-Michelin starred restaurant continues to stockpile accolades under the guidance of chef Eric Frechon.

The wonderful Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg is a renovated 18th century mansion that feels effortlessly like a Parisian town house. Styled by the illustrious Didier Gomez, the rooms in this 5-star hotel are tastefully finished with Louis XV armchairs, vintage mirrors and beds you can imagine libertine lovers losing whole weekends in. Lunch and cocktails in the hidden courtyard terrace are a must too.

A new addition to the Derby Hotel chain, Hôtel Banke is a refurbished bank found in the desirable Opera district in Paris. The lobby’s grandiose circular interior, capped with a crystal-domed ceiling, gives way to thickly carpeted hallways and designer sofas. Both single and double rooms are modern and pleasingly functional. The trendiness factor borders on gauche, but with this location who cares.

This lush Marais bolthole isn’t obscenely overpriced but will leave you feeling pampered and prepped to take on the area’s myriad coffee stops and macaroon shops. Its furniture is by Phillipe Starck and its wallpaper by Hermes. Sleek and stylish, make sure you dress the part for this classy Parisian hotel.

The Saint James is steeped in weird and wonderful history. A one time hot-air balloon field (some still take off today) and school for France’s most talented students, nowadays it is one of Paris’s hottest addresses. Situated in a 19th century chateau on the edge of the city centre, rooms are a blend of belle époque decadence and modern luxury. Beyond the bedrooms, the library bar, with a terrace affording views across town, is what makes this hotel really special.

Owner Nadine Flammarion has taken a fresh and fun approach to interior design with bright white walls and splashes of colour bringing out the atmosphere at Hôtel Arvor Saint Georges. Novels, deckchairs and striking art prints contrast with the otherwise Spartan approach. Arvor has 24 rooms and six suites and the location makes it perfect for strolling through Montmartre and soaking up some creative inspiration.

Just around the corner from Montparnasse cemetery, this neat boutique hotel offers stunning rooms and a sumptuous breakfast without the wallet melting price tag. Best of all, it feels far more like neighbourhood Paris than similarly sized spots in touristy Montmartre. The lounge area, replete with library, is a great place to kick back before heading out to one of the array of nearby brasseries for dinner.

Hotel Darcet offers 32 modern and comfortable rooms right in the heart of Paris. Perfect for travellers and business people alike, the prices are also very reasonable. The hotel is also conveniently located just a 10-minute walk to Saint-Lazare station.