'Luxury' and 'Paris' have always gone hand-in-hand, since the decadent days of Versailles through to the high-end fashion shopping of 21st-century Paris. Paris is also the 'city of love', and some of the best luxury hotels in Paris are great for couples. The city also boasts some gorgeously bohemian boutiques - reminiscent of the days when Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Salvador Dali wandered the streets. From gourmet escapes to wonderfully exclusive stays, our Hotel Gurus have hand-selected a collection of the best luxury hotels in Paris to make planning your next trip a quick, hassle-free, choice. So why not browse through our list to start planning your stay?
For foodies
- Mandarin Oriental Paris is one of the best luxury hotels in Paris for gourmands, with its trio of 2-Michelin star restaurants. A contemporary palace hotel in a seriously cool district famous for its boutique shops, it boasts an haute couture spa, elegant, Art Deco interiors, a glitzy bar and swimming pool. For true luxury and gorgeous views, book the Panoramic Suite Terrace.
- Hotel de Crillon is an 18th-century neoclassical palace given a 21st-century makeover. From the marble-tiled bar to the Michelin-star restaurant serving 12 courses, it's one of Paris's best luxury hotels for a gourmet escape. Hand-selected antiques in the contemporary rooms, a swimming pool lined with golden scales, personalised wine-tasting and a pampering spa, it's true Parisian decadence.
- Hotel Lutetia is a gorgeous elegant stay. Built in 1910, the ornate, marble-tiled rooms are enormous, flooded with light from the classical French windows, coloured in soft chic splashes of colour. The stylish bars, brasserie restaurant, the private hot tubs and period terraces, all in an unbeatable location, make this a truly indulgent stay.
- Saint James Paris is set in a 19th-century neoclassical chateau. The spacious, Art Deco rooms are opulent and uniquely-styled, filled with objet d'art and artworks. The restaurant is a Michelin star affair so expect delicious cuisine while the Guerlain spa treatments are to-die-for. A spoiling choice for a gourmet break.
For romance
- Le Bristol is one of the few Grand Dames of Paris still in private ownership since its opening, in 1925. Grand luxury awaits you. A garden courtyard paradise, perfect for lounging with a drink from the bar, poured by its award-winning mixologist. Two Michelin-star restaurants, a La Prairie spa, original artwork in the plush and light-filled rooms, and the only hotel with a rooftop pool in Paris.
- Fouquet's Barriere is a historic, imperial palace in a blaze of modern art. With 5 restaurants, including a Michelin-star restaurant, the rooms are hip and contemporary with touches like TVs encased in sharkskin. Best yet, guests gets their own personal butler. Romantic and relaxing, definitely one of the best luxury hotels in Paris for couples.
- Hotel Bowmann is a Haussmann beauty. From its stunning neoclassical facade to its classic, Art Deco interiors with gilded mirrors, chandeliers and sink-into beds, it's great for couples looking for a city break spent in style. Fine dining at the 99 Haussmann restaurant is a real delight, the suites with roof terraces are intimate, and some suites come with a hot tub. Book the hotel's riverboat for a romantic cruise!
For a historic stay
- Built for Napolean's half brother, La Reserve is a 19th-century Haussmann mansion sitting on the refined Avenue Gabriel. The plush rooms feature silk hung walls, herringbone oak parquet and hand-selected antiques. The pool and 2-Michelin-star restaurant are obviously delightful, but the real draw is the spa, with its focus on anti-ageing treatments.
- Shangri-La Paris was once the mansion of Napolean's great-nephew. Grand and ornate, from the marble lobby to the spoiling spa in the stables, the Asian or European colonial rooms feature regal carpets, plush furnishings and heavy drapes; the best have views of the Eiffel Tower. The 2-Michelin star restaurant is a particular highlight.
- For old imperial grandeur, you can't beat Le Meurice. The rooms are 18th-century opulence meets chic modern design. But for true luxury, book the Belle Etoile Suite with its 360º views of Paris. Bar 228 is a stunning local favourite and the Michelin-star restaurant is themed on Versailles, making this Grand Dame of Paris an enchanting stay.
- Easily one of the most romantic luxury hotels in Paris, Pavillon de la Reine is a 17th-century ivy-clad mansion sitting one of the city's most beautiful squares, Place des Vosges. Honeymooners will love the plush, rustic-chic rooms with their chintzy wallpaper, plump four-posters and exposed wooden beams. With its small spa and delectable restaurant, it's easy to why it was the home of Louis XIII's wife!
For Paris cool
- A favourite of Parisian fashionistas, J.K. Place Paris is a luxury bolthole, and one of the best luxury romantic hotels in Paris. Above the River Gauche, this elegant boutique offers contemporary rooms with hand-picked antiques and artworks. The northern Italian restaurant, Casa Tua, is sumptuous and the underground spa is a spoiling affair.
- Marquis Faubourg St Honore is the lovechild of pre-Revolutionary France and the Sexual Revolution of the '60s. An 18th-century townhouse that once housed the Marquis de la Fayette, the chic, bohemian rooms feature original Versailles flooring and Louis XVI fireplaces. Elegant, stylish, designer, with a spa and restaurant, it's one of the best value luxury hotels in Paris.
- For bohemian decadence, Maison Souquet surpasses all others. This former Montmartre pleasure house, workspace of illustrious courtesans, is a marvel of the Belle Epoque style. The opulent, romantic rooms are interwoven with hand-selected silk; the spa will pamper you and the clandestine cocktail bar is a broody, sexy place to unwind. Magnifique.
- Hotel Grand Powers sits in the enviable Golden Triangle, an original Haussmann building and decadent 5-star. One of Paris's best luxury boutiques with all-day dining at the bar and an atmospheric, marble-clad, spa. The rooms are works of art: decked out in aged brass, marble, oak and velveteen upholstery, and handmade furniture - a chic and luxurious stay.
Luxury boutiques
- Hotel Splendide Royal Paris is a space of Baroque elegance. This opulent boutique boasts rooms adorned in classical Mediterranean style, with hand-selected antiques and Baroque-esque gilded picture frames. Families will love the interconnecting suites, and Tosca, the restaurant, is a low key affair which serves exceptional cuisine.
- On the banks of the River Seine, Le Damantin is an artsy boutique and spa hotel. The cosy, pastel-coloured rooms are intimate and the best have views of the Eiffel Tower. One of the best-value luxury spa hotels in Paris, guests have free access provided in their reservation. Pampering, snug and chic.
- Hotel le Burgundy is a seriously trendy 5-star boutique in 8th arrondissement, one of the most famous areas in Paris. Designer-chic rooms, ornate private balconies, a spa, Michelin-star restaurant and smart, artsy vibes, this is easily one of the best value hotels in Paris.
- Le Roch Hotel & Spa rates highly with couples. This chic boutique urban bolthole features snug designer rooms and suites and, if you book the apartment, you get exclusive use of the 6th floor. The spa, pool, secret terrace and sumptuous restaurant make it one of the most romantic luxury hotels in Paris.
For exclusivity
- Exclusive, sexy and shadowy, Hotel Costes is one of the coolest and most exclusive luxury hotels in Paris. So exclusive that the website only gives you contact details, so, be warned: they don't accept anybody - it's a favourite stay for A-listers! The bar has live DJ sets until the early hours, the restaurant is notoriously experimental, and the pool, spa and opulent rooms, styled like boudoirs, are hard to leave.
Still not sure which to book?