Best Luxury Hotels in 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.

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.

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.

In the 16th arrondissement, this property has Eiffel views. Le Metropolitan is cosy and quiet, with an almost museum-like feel and 19th-century architecture designed by François Champsaur. The decor is simple and calming; true Parisian chic. The super comfy beds are the kind you sink into after a long day’s sightseeing — some are housed in uber-contemporary minimalist four-posters and bathrooms have been crafted using Capri marble and Zimbabwe granite as feature materials. The hotel’s restaurant is seductive and alluring, displaying understated luxury, while the bar (open all day for morning coffee through to late-night cocktails – is entered via two works of art.

The Royal-Riviera Hotel is a prestigious five-star retreat located on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, perfectly positioned between Nice and Monaco. This elegant hotel, originally established in 1904, offers 96 exquisitely designed rooms and suites, blending classic Belle Époque architecture with modern luxury. The accommodations range from sea-view rooms to spacious suites, many with private terraces or balconies. The hotel’s dining experience includes “La Table du Royal,” a Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients. The dining room features panoramic sea views, enhancing the culinary experience. There’s also a poolside restaurant, “Jasmin Grill & Lounge,” offering more casual fare with an Asian twist, all while overlooking the Mediterranean. The property’s private sandy beach is one of its standout features, providing an exclusive area for guests to relax by the azure waters of the Côte d’Azur. The hotel also boasts a heated outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lush gardens, open year-round, and a wellness centre offering a variety of treatments, a fitness room, and a sauna.Renowned for its personalised service, combining the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the facilities of a grand resort. Its location offers easy access to the attractions of the French Riviera, including the charming towns of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Èze, while still offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle.

The Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel is a historic and luxurious property located on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. Originally established in 1848, this landmark hotel has been meticulously restored to blend its Belle Époque charm with modern elegance. The hotel boasts 151 rooms and suites, many offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea or the verdant Albert 1er gardens.

The rooms and suites are designed with a blend of contemporary style and classic sophistication, featuring plush furnishings, high ceilings, and large windows that flood the spaces with natural light. Many rooms include balconies or terraces, allowing guests to fully appreciate the stunning coastal views.

Dining at the Anantara Plaza Nice is an experience in itself, with the hotel’s signature restaurant, SEEN by Olivier, located on the rooftop. This vibrant dining venue offers a fusion of Mediterranean and international cuisine crafted by renowned chef Olivier da Costa. The restaurant is complemented by a chic rooftop bar, which provides panoramic views of the Baie des Anges, making it a perfect spot for sunset cocktails.

The hotel offers a range of luxurious amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. The Anantara Spa provides a serene retreat where guests can enjoy a variety of treatments inspired by both local traditions and global wellness practices. The fitness centre is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing guests to maintain their fitness routines while travelling.

Its prime location makes it an ideal base for exploring Nice and the broader Côte d’Azur region. It is situated near popular attractions such as the historic Old Town, the Place Masséna, and the vibrant Marché aux Fleurs. Additionally, guests have easy access to the famous Ruhl Plage, one of the city’s most popular beaches.

The Monte-Carlo Beach serves as a meeting point for lovers of glamour in the Riviera, and immensely benefits from its close-to-sea location. Situated between a pine forest and the sea, It provides a serene atmosphere. The luxury resort overlooks the azure horizon of the Mediterranean Sea and has rooms whose décor is a mix of contemporary notes, and the spirit of the roaring twenties. Visitors also get to swim in the saltwater Olympic pool overlooking the beach.

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.

When you pay four figures a night for your accommodation, you expect nothing less than the very best of five-star everything. At La Reserve Paris Hotel and Spa, you get just that. Situated on the fashionable Avenue Gabriel, the hotel verges on the ambience of a private gentleman’s club. Built during the 1800s, and providing stunning views across the Paris skyline, the interior was completely redesigned by hotel designer Jacques Garcia. With its modern feel, yet traditional look, the décor and furnishings allude to the personal service which is so much a feature of the hotel.

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.

Centrally placed, and close to the Place Vendôme and Palais Garnier, many of the big Paris attractions can be reached in a pleasant 15-minute stroll from the hotel. When you wish to explore further afield, a number of Metro stations are just metres away. A magnet for many A-list celebrities, from tennis grand slam winners to chart-topping singers, the hotel offers the very best of five-star accommodation, dining and amenities. Rooms and suites are set off in pleasing contemporary styling with attractive, elegant adornments. The main restaurant has a one-star Michelin rating, while breakfast and brunch can be enjoyed in the glass-ceilinged Les Orchidées, or the relaxing La Cheminée.

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.