Paris never ceases to captivate. The City of Light is rich with art, history, and romance. And when it comes to the best hotels in Paris, the city’s top properties deliver all that—and more. Paris has something to suit every personality, budget, and interest. From opulent palace hotels that mirror the city’s grandeur to design-forward boutique stays and historical gems that whisper tales of a bygone era, you can find something for everyone in Paris.
In this user-friendly guide, we’ve scoured the city’s iconic arrondissements to make sure that you’re staying in areas that are both convenient and inspiring. Most of the properties are located on the classic Right Bank—not far from the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées—but we’ve also got finds in chic neighborhoods (like the Marais) and across the Seine on the cool Left Bank.
In short, it’s a compilation designed to excite and guide both the first-time visitor and the seasoned wanderer. Let this list remind you why Paris is a place that you can never stop exploring.
In the beating heart of the 1st arrondissement and within spitting distance of the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre is Château Voltaire. Opened by Zadig & Voltaire founder Thierry Gillier in November 2022, the space combines traditional Parisian elegance with contemporary cool. For his first hospitality venture, Gillier converted his brand’s former headquarters—three buildings from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries—into a hotel that evokes the stylish, louche spirit of modern icons like the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles and London’s Chiltern Firehouse. Inspired by Parisian art de vivre with bespoke headboards, Gillier tapped the interiors firm Festen to design the property. Each of the 31 rooms and one suite have been crafted to resemble a chic pied-à-terre, or small apartment. Manor-style woodwork, fringed velvet, and Gothic accents reflect a union of past and present. The hotel’s ultrachic restaurant, Brasserie l’Emil, draws a stylish crowd of locals and in-the-know travelers.
Paris is the City of Love, and Maison Souquet truly raises the bar for romance. In fact, it’s right across the rue from Moulin Rouge. Designer Jacques Garcia converted the former bordello into a pulse-racing five-star hotel in Pigalle with velvet-covered salons that evoke the lavish, erotic fantasy of the Belle Époque. Here, Impressionist nudes, 19th-century furniture, and silken drapes have a transportive effect that leaves your inhibitions at the door. The 20 rooms and suites are named after notorious Parisian courtesans and are designed according to one of seven themes: Chinese, Japanese, Indian, 18th century, Empire, Art Deco, and Napoleon III. Velvet chairs, walls adorned in ornate fabric, stuffed headboards, and dim lighting set the mood. Garcia used nearly 2,200 yards of silk across 120 varieties to decorate these dens of decadent sensuousness. And don’t miss the intimate hammam spa.
In late 2023, the Marais district welcomed its newest five-star hotel with open arms with the arrival of Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin. Located in a converted 14th-century building, art and culture lovers will appreciate its prime location tucked amid the neighborhood’s hip shops and art galleries, all a stone’s throw north of the Seine. Martin Brudnizki, the design maestro also behind the recently opened La Fantaisie hotel in the fashionable 9th arrondissement, crafts his spaces with an of-the-moment freshness that still feels timeless and elegant. Each of the 50 rooms and 11 suites blend French classicism with a quirky eclecticism: pops of jade, clashing patterns, funky rugs, and custom lamps by Maison Lucien Gau. The hotel’s restaurant, Boubalé, from Michelin-starred chef Assaf Granit pays loving tribute to Le Marais’s Jewish roots with playful twists on Ashkenazi delights. In the ornate, intimate basement spa is a mosaic swimming pool with an expansive fresco inspired by Jean Cocteau.
Opened in 2021, Paris’s first Bulgari hotel on Avenue George V in Paris’s fashionable Right Bank is surprisingly discreet and understated for a brand known for statement-making grandeur. The lobby is illuminated by hanging glass lamps and features an oak-paneled, ivory onyx bar where insiders convene for digestifs. The Italian architecture firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel designed the 76 rooms and suites to evoke impeccably appointed apartments that blend Italian sophistication with classic French style. You’ll find brown leather headboards; sumptuous, jewel-toned furniture; and herringbone pattern carpets that recognizably nod to the parquet floors of Paris’s most desirable flats. Fancy living like royalty for a day? The palatial penthouse suite is a bi-level, glass-encased jewel in the sky, with unmatched views of the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Coeur, a bathroom clad completely in Arabescato marble, and over 6,000 square feet of terrace and garden space.
The Crillon has a storied history. In 1758, King Louis XV commissioned the most popular architect of the day, Ange-Jacques Gabriel—who also designed the Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles—to create a pair of structures overlooking the Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement. Behind the façades, a mansion was built where none other than Marie Antoinette used to take piano lessons. In 1909, the mansion was turned into a grand hotel that attracted a who’s who of society from Paris and around the globe. Today, the Hôtel de Crillon stands as a living testament to its captivating past, combining aristocratic heritage with contemporary allure. Step through its doors and you’ll discover Bar Les Ambassadeurs (a lounge that serves more than 100 types of Champagne), L’Écrin (a fine-dining restaurant), a wellness spa, and an indoor pool illuminated by 17,600 gold-tile scales. The 78 elegant rooms, 36 suites, and 10 signature suites are outfitted with bespoke furnishings and marble bathrooms. And the location can’t be beat: It’s just a two-minute walk to the Jardin des Tuileries.
Paris is known for its palace hotels, which signify a type of ultraluxury accommodation. The Shangri-La Paris in the 16th arrondissement truly was a palace. In the late 19th century, Prince Roland Bonaparte, grandnephew of Napoleon, built this architectural masterpiece filled with hand-carved marble, frescoes, vaulted ceilings, and a dramatic Stairway of Honor. In 2010, the property was transformed into the Shangri-La Paris—with a design by Pierre-Yves Rochon, who fused Asian hospitality with French elegance. The 100 rooms and suites are filled with Empire-style furnishings that you can see all of Paris from; more than half of the spaces have drop-dead gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower. Food takes a starring role at Shang Palace, the only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in France that just so happens to be located right in the hotel. Don’t miss Le Bar Botaniste, where the interiors evoke Napoleon’s war tent and the herb-spiked cocktails are inspired by Roland Bonaparte’s passion for botany.
Paris, a well-known culinary haven, reaches its pinnacle at the Four Seasons Hotel George V. Built in 1928, this icon is set right in the Golden Triangle, an 8th arrondissement neighborhood known for its glamorous boutiques and stellar location—in fact, it’s just a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe. While there are plenty of places to eat around the George V and throughout Paris, the five-star hotel is home to no less than three Michelin-starred restaurants. There’s the three-starred Le Cinq (where chef Christian Le Squer’s multicourse menus are served under a majestic chandelier), the one-starred L’Orangerie (where chef Alan Taudon celebrates seafood and plant-based cuisine), and the one-starred modern-Mediterranean Le George (chef Simone Zanoni’s modern-Mediterranean restaurant). The epic wine cellar, hidden 45 feet underground, survived the bombings in World War II. The hotel also offers over-the-top excursions which cement it as one of the best hotels in Paris—like a trip to Versailles in a Porsche with chef Zanoni to pick seasonal produce from his kitchen garden, followed by a cooking class back in the city. Upstairs in the 159 guest rooms and 59 suites, designer Pierre-Yves Rochon embraced Louis XVI–era elegance with trompe l’oeil ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and silk furnishings.
In the 1st arrondissement on the legendary Place Vendôme, The Ritz is a timeless beacon of elegance and style that has been entwined with the city’s literary and fashion scene for more than a century. Coco Chanel resided here for decades, Ernest Hemingway savored spirits at Bar Hemingway (named in his honor), and F. Scott Fitzgerald found sanctuary within its walls. After a $450 million transformation overseen by architect Thierry Despont, The Ritz continues to captivate travelers with its sunlit rooms adorned in gilt-framed molding and a swimming pool that sits under a trompe l’oeil sky ceiling filled with clouds. You can indulge in Parisian pleasures in the hotel’s public spaces: Linger over tea in the Belle Époque–style Salon Proust or savor seafood delights at Bar Vendôme, a stylish brasserie. The rooms are spectacular—especially the suites. Some are named after former guests, including the Suite Coco Chanel (where she lived) and the Suite Marcel Proust, as well as landmarks like the Suite Opéra—which overlooks the Palais Garnier. The hotel’s charm even extends to its youngest guests, with teddy bear mascots and École Ritz Escoffier cooking classes.
In the heart of the 1st arrondissement on the Rue de Rivoli, Le Meurice Paris opened in 1835 as one of the world’s first luxury hotels—but make no mistake, it’s not stuffy by any means. The classic yet eccentric property has long attracted creative types like Salvador Dalí (who spent a month here every year), Pablo Picasso (who chose to have his wedding dinner there), and Andy Warhol (who frequented the hotel on his trips to Paris). Le Meurice’s rich artistic spirit is woven into every facet of its design. Contemporary art installations adorn its ornate interiors. Rooms have a mix of classic and modern touches, like the Maison Lucien Gau chandeliers and Ateliers Jouffre sofas in the recently redone Pompadour Suite. The gourmet restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse marries culinary and visual artistry in a setting that combines Versailles-inspired opulence with Philippe Starck’s trailblazing vision.
At one time home to such luminaries as Picasso, Manet, and Degas, Paris has remained among the leading capitals of the art world. As such, it makes sense that the City of Lights has more than just one hotel for art lovers. The second option, which is equally as good as the first, would have to be Le Royal Monceau–Raffles Paris. On top of being one of Paris’s premier luxury hotels (Lionel Messi did, after all, sign his contract to play for Paris Saint-Germain at the hotel in August 2021), Le Royal Monceau–Raffles Paris features an exquisite art collection on their property. In fact, the hotel is so dedicated to the arts that it has their own art concierge, Julie Eugène. Eugène not only shows the hotels personal collection, but she can also take guests on private tours of many Paris museums, including the Louis Vuitton Foundation, before the doors open to the public.
Set in a mansion facing the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower, La Réserve Paris was originally designed by Baron Haussmann in 1854 for Napoleon III’s half brother, the Duc de Morny. The discreet exterior belies the decadent interiors, which present a world of Second Empire glamour that’s been reimagined by designer Jacques Garcia. Inspired by the paintings of artist James Tissot, Garcia used a simple palette—black, red, green, and vivid gold—punctuated with design details like doors with Cordoba leather trims, antique armoires, and velvet-upholstered armchairs. Some of the suites even have views of the Eiffel Tower. Every guest is assigned an on-call butler to help with duties big and small, from packing and unpacking to finding tickets for sold-out shows. La Réserve’s location is hard to beat: Some of the city’s best shopping boulevards, including Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne, home to stores like Dior and Chanel, are within walking distance.
An enchanting Latin Quarter find, Relais Christine is hidden away on a tranquil side street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Stepping into this 17th-century town house—built atop a 13th-century abbey—is like entering a secret sanctuary. Inside, interior designer Laura Gonzalez weaves her magic throughout the 48 guest rooms, with a whimsical mix of chandeliers from Dedar for Hermès, Pierre Frey fabrics, and vintage treasures from local flea markets. Breakfast is served in the hotel’s vaulted cellar, while the leafy inner courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon aperitif. For sybarites, there’s an intimate spa run by Maison Guerlain. Want to explore? They offer free bicycles (even tandems) that you can take to nearby landmarks like Notre Dame and the Musée d’Orsay. A Fiat 500 S convertible can also be rented for an extra fee if you want to venture farther afield.
The hotel brand J.K. has a cult following, with the design set in its native Italy. It’s the brainchild of Italian-Israeli hotelier Ori Kafri, who worked with Florentine architect Michele Bönan to create a series of hotels that feel more like private members’ clubs. Their first foray in Europe beyond Italy is J.K. Place Paris, and the result is nothing short of extraordinary. Carved out of a former embassy, the hotel is located in the alluring Saint-Germain district, not far from landmarks like the Musée d’Orsay and the Tuileries Garden just across the Seine. Bönan’s touch is evident throughout, with an assortment of African chairs, vintage Hermès sketches, and geometric rugs. The restaurant, Casa Tua, with its glass-roof space, serves up Northern Italian cuisine. Meanwhile the subterranean spa beckons with a heated pool lined with glittering Bisazza mosaic tiles.
Like a country retreat dropped into the bustling Marais neighborhood, the family-owned Pavilion de la Reine offers a haven of tranquility on the breathtaking Place des Vosges. The boutique property’s ivy-clad, 17th-century façade seamlessly blends into the square itself while the private garden courtyard looks like something out of a Provençal fairytale. Step inside to discover a harmonious blend of antiques, marble fireplace mantles, and modern furnishings. All of the 56 rooms and suites tell their own story, with Missoni-style throws, velvet settees, and exposed wood beams. Wellness seekers can rejuvenate at Spa de la Reine by Codage, where a small hammam is just the respite you need after a busy day of exploring.
Want to explore the trendy Pigalle neighborhood and hilltop Montmartre, home to the iconic Sacré-Coeur? Base yourself at Le Pigalle, an innovative retreat that marries retro aesthetics with cutting-edge design. Each of the 40 rooms is adorned with Art Deco furnishings, thoughtfully curated photo displays, and a minibar stocked with premixed cocktails. The hotel embraces its neighborhood’s history as a red-light district, with playful nods like a velvet-curtained lobby, a neon sign, and even a stripper pole. The area surrounding the hotel is undeniably edgy but cool, close to hot spots like the buzzy bistro Le Mansart. Want to see more of Paris? You’re not far from the Pigalle metro station, which will easily connect you to popular spots like Place de la Concorde and the Left Bank.
Craving an escape? From colorful carry-ons to cleverly designed packing cubes (how did we ever travel without them?), shop everything you need to make the journey in style—and as streamlined and stress-free as possible.
