Best Luxury Hotels in Ile de France

If you saw the final episodes of HBO’s Sex and the City TV series, you’ll recognise Hôtel Plaza Athénée as the splendid establishment in which Carrie Bradshaw stayed. The character was wowed by the view from her suite balcony, and you will be too as it’s opposite the capital’s most iconic emblem. The front elevation features wrought-iron balconies planted with colourful flowers and is found on Avenue Montaigne, close to designer boutiques. After a spot of nearby shopping, you can unwind in the hotel’s Dior spa and dine in its Michelin-starred restaurant.

For those who prefer elegant, contemporary styling, with a refined, casual, homely ambience, the 37 room, five-star boutique Le Roch Hotel and Spa, will meet all your requirements. Situated in a quiet part of old Paris, between the Opera, Louvre, and Place Vendôme, the hotel offers a unique Parisian atmosphere, combined with the technological needs of modern living. Rooms and suites are a good size, with pleasing, modern styling by native Parisian, Sarah Lavoine. Along with its innovative restaurant, the hotel also boasts an excellent, well-stocked bar, pool, spa facilities, and pleasant sun terrace to enjoy an early evening aperitif.

Sitting in the centre of old historical Paris, on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, The Bristol was the first hotel to be labelled a ‘Palace’ (French terminology for a hotel a cut above five-star). Opened in 1925, and now one of the Oetker group hotels, its marble foyer, crystal chandeliers, 17th-century tapestries, and Louis XV and XVI style furnishings, resonate affluence. The hotel has an award-winning spa, a sixth-floor swimming pool with panoramic views across Paris, and two Michelin-starred restaurants. Just 14 miles from Orly Airport and 18.5 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the hotel also offers charging points for electric vehicles, should you decide to hire a car during your stay.

This five-star spa hotel located perfectly encapsulates contemporary luxury with Parisian spirit and flair. Located at 18 rue Clément Marot, a few steps from Avenue Montaigne, La Demeure Montaigne, offers guests an intimate experience in which they can make the charming private mansion their home from home during their stay. No detail is overlooked at this exquisite abode, which is also home to a gastronomic restaurant, hidden bar and Thalgo Institute. Its 93 rooms and suites are just as stylish as the rest of the hotel and the Eiffel Suite has a confidential location offering guests the utmost in privacy. Gourmet and seasonal dishes are served at the discreet restaurant whilst guests can enjoy fine wine, champagne and cocktails in a relaxed yet trendy atmosphere. The spa is a collaboration with the marine cosmetics brand Thalgo and is a cocoon of tranquillity in the heart of bustling Paris. This beautiful city bolthole offers unassuming luxury and high-class service right in the heart of Paris.

Found in the same neighbourhood as Le Metropolitan, the Majestic Hôtel epitomises timeless French elegance. It’s a spa hotel with a huge swimming pool in which you can take aqua-biking classes; a gym in which you can book personal training sessions and treatment rooms for a therapeutic experience like its hammam ritual. Each of the 57 bedrooms has heavy drapes and artwork specifically chosen to complement the space, while one and two-bedroom suites provide kitchenettes for those wanting to do a little home cooking. But there is a restaurant within the hotel, and a bar serving chic afternoon tea. Another highlight of Majestic is its top-class Les Clefs d’Or concierge.

Located in the iconic 19th-century Louvre post office building, the Madame Rêve Hotel boasts a great location and its 82 rooms and suites and public spaces offer guests a unique panorama over the Parisian cityscape. With a subtle design of precious woods and golden-brown fabrics, there is an understated vibe of luxury here. The five-star hotels presents guests with two culinary experiences Madame Rêve Café serves a taste of the Mediterranean and La Plume takes its menu inspiration from Japanese-influenced cuisine. For guests that need to recharge, the fitness room is equipped with the latest equipment and the sauna with breathtaking views is the perfect place to unwind or for full relaxation indulge in a treatment on one of the two calming treatment rooms.

The chic and luxurious boutique Relais Christine is located in the heart of Paris, only a stone’s throw away from the Seine and some of Paris’ top attractions and restaurants. Relais Christine is the perfect choice for guests seeking an intimate hotel. The hotel’s 48 rooms and suites are decadent and sophisticated. They are enhanced by marble bathrooms, warm woodwork and valuable antiques which all pay homage to Frances’s rich history. The piece de resistance of the hotel is the Spa Guerlain which is situated under 13th century vaults. Its opulent and beautiful interiors only add to the indulgent spa experience which is one of Paris’s best. Whilst the Relais Christine does not have its own restaurant, it is situated close to some of Paris’s best restaurants and the dedicated concierge team is always at guest’s beck and call to help them arrange activities and find a place to dine.

The Mandarin Oriental is located in Paris’s iconic haute couture neighbourhood in the centre of the city. The Mandarin seamlessly fuses Parisian designs with the Asiatic and luxurious flair for which the Mandarin Oriental brand is known. Rooms and suites are romantic and cosy, many of them also boast exquisite views of Paris’s beautiful streets. The Mandarin boasts an award-winning Spa which has its own steam showers, virtual reality pools and lap pool. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Camelia, uses the freshest and most sustainable ingredients available to create divine Parisian dishes which will excite the taste buds of even the toughest food critics. The Mandarin is also home to the intimate Bar 8 cocktail bar as well as its own cake and pastry shop.

Located in the Golden Triangle of Paris, The Four Seasons Hotel George V occupies a 1920s art deco hotel which is chic and welcoming. The hotel’s 244 rooms and suites are spacious and historic, some of the suites even boast views of the Eiffel Tower. The hotel also has a dedicated concierge service, newspaper service, spa and provides guests with luxury bath products. Yet the hotel stands out in its own right due to its dining options. The hotel is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants which have been awarded a total of six Michelin stars. This lineup includes Le Cinq, a three Michelin star restaurant by Christian Le Squer, it is world-renowned for being one of the best restaurants anywhere. The hotel is also home to a cosy and intimate bar which serves coffee, cocktails, and light dishes.

Occupying an estate and chateau the Saint James is one of the most romantic and luxurious hotels to be found anywhere in Europe. Saint James despite its gardens and privacy is located in the central, 16th neighbourhood, which is not only one of Paris’s most exclusive areas but is also close to many of its major sites. The hotel’s rooms, suites, villas, and apartments are decadent, light, and historical with every inch of every room feeling like an 18th-century Chateau which has been skilfully brought into the 21st century. The Saint James is also home to a fully equipped fitness centre and the Guerlain Spa which offers exceptional treatments to guests. The Saint James is also home to many dining establishments like the Red and Green Michelin-starred Bellefeuille with a decadent French menu curated by the acclaimed chef Gregory Garimbay and The Library Bar which feels like the British gentlemen’s club it used to be.

Just moments away from the Louvre and the Marais, the Cheval Blanc Paris gracefully rises out of the Seine. Occupying a historic yet beautifully renovated Maison, the Cheval Blanc’s interior – designed by Peter Marino- is playful and distinctly French. The hotel’s 72 rooms and suites are intimate and luxurious, many also boast commanding views of the city. Many of the hotel’s exclusive suites even have some of the best views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine to be found anywhere in Paris. The Cheval is home to the Dior Spa and Rossano Ferretti salon and thus it meets every beauty and wellness need of its guests. The Cheval is home to Hakuba, a stylish Japanese restaurant, and Le Tout-Paris a Michelin-starred brasserie and cocktail bar which gazes out over Paris. For a true culinary experience, guests can also dine at Plenitude, a three Michelin star restaurant which serves some of the best food to be found anywhere in France.

Located in the centre of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Hotel d’Aubusson is the perfect place for guests who wish to immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of the area. The hotel occupies a stunningly renovated 17th-century mansion which seamlessly blends modern comforts with a historic charm. The hotel’s 50 rooms and suites are spacious yet cosy as they use dark colours to create an inviting atmosphere. The hotel is home to the Café Laurent, a distinctly Parisian bar due to its characterful interior and refined elegance. It is the perfect place to enjoy a coffee in the day or reminisce over cocktails with friends at night. The Café Laurent also hosts exceptionally fun jazz nights which bring locals and guests together in a shared love of music. For guests wishing to relax the hotel also boasts its own Spa, which is equipped with a steam room, sauna, Scandinavian shower, ice fountain and balneotherapy bench.