Best Luxury Hotels in Ile de France

Lying between the Seine and the Café de Flore, the Pavilion Faubourg offers guests a chance to experience traditional Parisian luxury with a contemporary flair. The hotel’s 47 rooms and suites are filled with soft colours which render the rooms exceedingly inviting and charming. The rooms are bathed in natural light and no expense has been spared to make them as comfortable as possible from luxurious beds to floor-to-ceiling windows which gaze out over Paris. The hotel’s Spa des Pres by Codage is home to a Hamman, fitness room, deep pool with water jets and massage cabins. The Faubourg’s restaurant, Les Parisiens brings guests and locals alike together to try exceptional food, wine and service all in a setting which pays homage to James Joyce’s iconic book the “Dubliners”. Similarly, the hotel’s bar, the James Joyce also pays homage to the eternal author as it serves exquisite cocktails in a bar which feels just like a classic English club.

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.

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.

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.

Found between the Garden of Versailles and the Grand Triano, the neoclassical Trianon Palace was built at the turn of the 20th century. An enormous Guerlain Spa surrounded by mature gardens is a highlight here, along with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s own Michelin starred fine dining restaurant proffering views over the palace. 199 guest rooms are decorated in harmony with the hotel’s grand environs, adding in some contemporary styling. Onsite leisure amenities include two tennis courts, a large Grecian-inspired indoor pool, hammam, a relaxed brasserie and a bar. Family and pet-friendly rooms are available at this Waldorf Astoria owned property.

The first hotel to be located within the Palace grounds, Le Grand Contrôle was built by Louis XIV’s architect of choice in 1681. Now it has 14 rooms and suites, enabling guests to sleep in a confine once reserved solely for royalty and their courtiers. An extension of the palace’s south wing, it provides a unique experience – step inside and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to the 17th century. Period antiques, candle effect lighting, wall hangings and pastel pallets recreate an Antoinette era. But there are exciting new additions too, including Alain Ducasse’s own restaurant, the Valmont spa and an indoor pool.