Paris has a long tradition of luxury hotels where kings and counts, celebrities and great minds have stayed. For more than 150 years, the luxury hotels of Paris have been giving their distinguished guests superb service, beautifully designed rooms and gourmet meals.
For most of us, a night or two in a five-star hotel in Paris sounds like a dream. But compare the prices with luxury hotels in other big cities, or even with a good resort back home, and you’ll see that for a similar price you can truly treat yourself in the City of Light.
I’d like to suggest a few hotels in Paris that were once palaces. Join me on a journey of pure pleasure, from a morning coffee under an ornate ceiling to a pampering spa with a swimming pool. In short, as Irving Berlin (1888-1989) more or less put it in Puttin’ on the Ritz: “If you’re sad and don’t know where to go, the best place to go is the Ritz” (or any other luxury hotel I recommend 🙂).
Luxury hotels near the Louvre
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Chateau Voltaire
A recommendation from a friend who knows a thing or two about chic. This is a beautiful, super pampering hotel in the center of Paris, between Rue de Rivoli and the Opéra Garnier. Beyond the ideal location, you’ll find stunning interior design and all the five-star treats, including a sauna and a spa.
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Cheval Blanc
The most talked-about hotel in Paris (“the White Horse”), set in the building of the legendary Samaritaine department store. The view from the window (Place Dauphine!) is simply divine. The price isn’t low, but the experience and the incredible spa are worth every cent.
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Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme
Fans of the series Lupin? This is where the hero’s son was held. Beyond the screen connection, the hotel offers a winning mix of a great location (near Place Vendôme) and modern luxury with every treat you need for a perfect Paris vacation.
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Le Burgundy Paris
A hotel that feels like the set of a colorful 1960s movie. Inside you’ll find a Michelin-starred restaurant, a swimming pool with an amazing view and a pampering spa. All this in the heart of Paris, right next to the upscale shopping of Rue Saint-Honoré.
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Mandarin Oriental, Paris
A magical blend of East and West. The design draws on Indochina, with Chinese porcelain and romantic seating corners. Don’t miss the roof: have a cocktail up there and enjoy a panoramic view of Paris. The hotel’s restaurant, Sur Mesure, held two Michelin stars until 2024, when chef Thierry Marx left.
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Le Meurice
A historic institution that has been pampering wealthy British travelers since its beginnings in the 18th century. The rooms are decorated in Louis XVI style, and there’s a restaurant with two Michelin stars and a stunning inner garden. No wonder statesmen and celebrities keep choosing it.
Pampering hotels in the Marais
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Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa
Set inside the “Queen’s Pavilion” on the magnificent Place des Vosges. It’s one of the best locations in Paris, combining royal history with modern pampering, including a spa and excellent massages. Ideal if you want to wander among the galleries and boutiques of the Marais.
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Cour des Vosges
A grand building that looks out serenely over Place des Vosges. The hotel offers rooms with panoramic views and massages in the privacy of your room. And if you’ve had too much chocolate mousse at Chez Janou next door, the hotel offers a personal trainer who will make the evidence disappear.
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Sinner Paris
A luxurious hotel with a young spirit in the heart of the Marais. Its famous stained-glass windows and the South American chef’s restaurant give it a cool, one-of-a-kind charm. After a day of sightseeing, the lavish spa is waiting for you with beauty treatments for body and soul.
Luxury hotels in Saint-Germain
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Hôtel D’Aubusson
Dreaming of staying in a 17th-century mansion? You’ve come to the right place. The inner courtyard with its fountain and the rooms with wooden beams give a warm, country feel in the heart of bustling Saint-Germain. The hotel is perfect for anyone who loves discretion and real pampering.
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Hotel Lutetia
The Lutetia has a complicated history from the war, but today it’s one of the most pampering hotels in the city. The design is luxurious and classic, the spa is perfect, and the mysterious bar will make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a novel by John le Carré (1931-2020).
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L’Hôtel
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) died here penniless, but today the hotel is a gem of velvet curtains, canopy beds and handmade chandeliers. It has a gorgeous pool and a concierge who will get you tickets to any show or a table at any sought-after restaurant in Paris.
Five-star hotels near the Champs-Élysées
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Four Seasons George V
A byword for luxury and endless pampering. The hotel is especially geared to families (video games, kids’ menus and babysitting) and has a restaurant with three Michelin stars. If you want the very best near the Champs-Élysées, this is the place.
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Vestay George V
This hotel solves the problem of tiny Paris rooms by offering suites only (21 to 50 square meters). The location near the Champs-Élysées is great, the design is classic and the service is excellent. A smart choice if you want space and luxury.
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Hotel de Crillon
Set on Place de la Concorde, it hosts the crème de la crème of the world’s aristocracy. Lavish rooms, chef-run restaurants and a spa. When you get home, you’ll be able to mention, oh so casually, that you stayed in one of the most famous hotels on earth.
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Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Set on the elegant Avenue Montaigne. Even if you’re not staying here, it’s worth coming for afternoon tea to enjoy the wonderful pastries and the special atmosphere of a hotel that is also home to the Michelin-starred restaurant of Alain Ducasse (born 1956).
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Le Royal Monceau Raffles
A discreet entrance that kings and princes pass through. The rooms were designed by Philippe Starck (born 1949), and there’s a regal lobby where world diplomacy is conducted in whispers. Pampering and amazing service at the very highest level.
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Les Jardins du Faubourg (by Shiseido)
Japan in the middle of Paris. A cleanly designed hotel with a spa and beauty center by the cosmetics giant Shiseido. The natural treatments here renew both skin and soul, an experience you won’t forget in the heart of Paris.
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Hôtel Elysées Régencia
The hotel sits among upscale streets and enjoys the special atmosphere of the Champs-Élysées, just around the corner. A pampering, pleasant place for a perfect Paris vacation right where the action is.
More recommended luxury hotels
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Shangri-La Paris
The showstopper here is the view: in most cases you can see the Eiffel Tower straight from your room. The building once belonged to the Bonaparte family, and it offers extraordinary luxury, a lavish spa and Guerlain toiletries.
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Maison Souquet
Near the Moulin Rouge, in a building that was once an upscale brothel. The decor was brought over from a Belgian palace and mixes a spicy history with chic and pampering. There’s a one-of-a-kind cocktail bar and excellent service in an intimate atmosphere.
More articles to help you find a great hotel
If you didn’t find what you were looking for here, don’t worry. I’ve put together more guides to help you plan the perfect stay:
