Hôtel Plaza Athénée is the epitome of Parisian chic.
No place in the world enchants the collective imagination quite like Paris. In the City of Light, you’re encouraged to savor every moment, from beginning the day with a warm, crusty baguette to toasting the evening with glasses of wine on a terrace under the twilight sky. Some of the best places to indulge in these simple pleasures (and those more elaborate) are Paris’ storied hotels, which have a reputation for impeccable service, opulent accommodations and exquisite fine dining.
Whether you seek grand landmarks or small, family-run gems, you can trust Forbes Travel Guide’s exclusive list — we have been rating hotels since 1958 using an objective and independent process. To find the best hotels in Paris, our incognito inspectors posed as ordinary guests and stayed at each property. The inspectors tested hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating. The remaining 30 percent comes from the quality and condition of the facilities.
Revel in French sophistication.
Five-Star Hotels in Paris
When Cheval Blanc Paris debuted, it was the finishing touch in the five-year renovation of one of the fashion capital’s grande dame department stores: La Samaritaine. LVMH’s first urban maison was intended to feel like a home — every element of the historic building was handpicked to give the space its own soul.
Along the Seine near Pont Neuf, rooms show off landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame from the winter garden bay windows, while the suspended seventh-floor garden features 360-degree skyline vistas. See more.
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris’ Empire Suite.
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris transports you to the early 1900s, when the city sparkled in rich-textured, fine-tapestried grandeur. Of course, it also offers reminders of the current times with grand floral arrangements and a luxurious, modern spa. Since 1928, the George V has established itself as a Paris institution, not only for its architecture and style but also for its role in setting the bar for the hospitality industry around the French capital. See more.
Take a seat in the courtyard.
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel shines with a blend of authentic grandeur and modern elegance. Housed in an 18th-century palace, the opulent manor boasts original details, including pink-hued marble floors, gold-trimmed wrought-iron stair rails and high, painted ceilings.
During a four-year transformation back in 2017, architect Richard Martinet and a team of top designers stunningly repurposed the historic building, bringing its antique bones into the 21st century. See more.
Make the Left Bank your base.
Opened in 1910, Hotel Lutetia is perhaps the most famous hotel on Paris’ Left Bank. Built in a unique mix of art nouveau and deco styles, it became a high-end haunt of the city’s literary and arts establishment. Pablo Picasso was a frequent guest, as were writers Andre Gide, André Malraux and Samuel Beckett. James Joyce wrote much of Ulysses while ensconced in the celebrated hotel.
Closed in 2014, the iconic property underwent a four-year renovation. The results retain the hotel’s legacy while positioning it as one of Paris’ hottest destinations. See more.
Recognizable from the cherry-red awnings shading its windows, Hôtel Plaza Athénée has defined Parisian chic since opening in 1913. The Athénée resides on the city’s favorite fashion street, Avenue Montaigne, and famed French chef Jean Imbert watches over its five restaurants. Royals, singers and fashion stars (Christian Dior inspired the hotel’s spa) have stayed at this elegant icon.
Don’t miss the tucked-away courtyard, where ivy blankets the walls and the red window awnings make another appearance. See more.
Choose a book in the library.
As its name hints, the exclusive La Réserve Paris is discreet. But that doesn’t mean this jewel box of a boutique hotel is a stuffy affair, either. Opened in 2015, it caters to in-the-know guests who love unique stays in an excellent location. Given the property’s address between the Champs-Élysées and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, you can indulge in arts, food and shopping before retreating to a stylish room in this 19th-century Haussmannian gem with views of the Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower and the Pantheon. See more.
Enjoy elegant accommodations.
Le Bristol Paris has an illustrious past. In the heart of Paris’ fashion district, it became a dedicated hotel in 1925, welcoming legends such as Charlie Chaplin, Rita Hayworth, Josephine Baker and Sophia Loren, and it served as the American embassy during World War II.
But Le Bristol also looks to the future. A 2018 renovation added a decadent La Prairie spa (with a room for banya-style treatments) and redecorated accommodations, including the Panoramic Suite, which was a backdrop for Woody Allen’s 2011 film, Midnight in Paris. See more.
One of Paris’ most lavish properties.
Le Meurice, Dorchester Collection
Housed in a French palace, Le Meurice has been part of the city’s landscape since 1835. Although it began as a hotel for British travelers, today, Le Meurice is one of Paris’ most lavish hotels. It has undergone major renovations in its long history, most recently in 2022. Acclaimed French designer Philippe Starck kept the classic feel of the hotel, modernized and accentuated with whimsical yet subtle touches. See more.
Get a view of the city.
Mandarin Oriental, Paris was the brand’s first French hotel. The storied building, which has been used since the 16th century, contributes to its status as one of the few elite Parisian hotels given the “Palace” distinction by the French Agency for Tourism Development.
On Rue Saint-Honoré, one of the city’s oldest streets, Mandarin Oriental sits among mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries. A short stroll from the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Musée d'Orsay, Palais-Royal and Place Vendôme, the hotel is in the heart of town. See more.
Soak up opulent interiors.
When dreaming of Paris — its grand history, institutions, art and architecture — few modern-day edifices evoke the city as closely as the legendary Ritz Paris, opened by Cesar Ritz in 1898.
The hotel’s prime location in the Place Vendôme has anchored it not just as a temporal respite for weary travelers but as an actual home to luminaries such as Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Marcel Proust as well as many major political figures visiting the city in the last century. See more.
An eyeful of the Eiffel.
It’s fitting that the first Shangri-La in Europe would be housed in a Parisian palace over 120 years old. Today, the hotel impresses with its grand and eclectic styles from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Shangri-La Paris took great care in preserving the past, even seeing the former palace registered as a historical monument in 2009.
If falling asleep to the Eiffel Tower’s nightly light show sounds like a dream, then the Shangri-La is your hotel, since a host of accommodations feature unbeatable views of the landmark. See more.
Check into Versailles.
Four-Star Hotels in Paris
Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle
Built by Louis XIV’s favorite architect around the same time as Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle was reborn in 2021 as Airelles Château de Versailles — the first and only hotel to grace the hallowed grounds. The hotel, an extension of the palace’s south wing, looks almost identical to what it did back in the times of the court.
Airelles Château de Versailles restored nearly 90 percent of its 18th-century furniture. With these vintage appointments, a private entrance to the 2,000-acre gardens, sweeping l’Orangerie views and attentive butlers, you will feel like a royal. See more.
Rooms radiate understated, chic glamour.
Sitting unassumingly in the heart of the Golden Triangle, the new Bulgari Hotel Paris offers a contemporary take on the city’s palace hotels.
The 11-story property melds Italian craftsmanship with artisan French touches, the result of a collaboration between a Milan-based architectural studio and a French architectural firm. Most of the 76 rooms feature a balcony, unique amenities (see: travel-trunk-styled minibars), marble bathrooms with Roman showers and private hammams. See more.
Where contemporary meets classic.
Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal occupies a privileged location at the center of one of Paris’ most illustrious historic districts, but this grande dame is thoroughly modern. The plush, contemporary-meets-classic look is by noted designer Pierre-Yves Rochon.
Luxurious, up-to-date amenities include the intimate Holidermie Spa, a restaurant with a quiet terrace and a gym with a hammam. The unbeatable location overlooks the lovely Palais Royal and is within walking distance of the Louvre and the tony Rue Saint-Honroé. See more.
A posh, polished getaway.
Just steps away from the Champs-Élysées on the right bank of the Seine, Hotel Lancaster is known for serving the glamorous elite. Built as a townhouse in 1889, the luxe property was later converted into an elegant hotel. Hundreds of antiques, paintings, gleaming parquet floors and Baccarat crystal chandeliers solidify the traditional French style. The updated art-deco-clad rooms have modern comforts and surround a gorgeous courtyard. It’s all very posh and polished, but never flashy. See more.
Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris’ Il Carpaccio.
Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris
Stepping through the traditional, dramatic entrance of Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris is like being transported into the imagination of Philippe Starck. In 2010, the famous French designer transformed the legendary palace hotel into a modern and spirited space, making it one of the city’s most creatively designed properties. But Starck didn’t completely erase the building’s past — you can still see touches of its original grandeur, including the chandeliers hanging above the lobby’s staircase. See more.
Stay near one of Paris' most beautiful squares.
Sitting on Rue de la Paix, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is steps from the iconic Place Vendôme, one of the city’s most beautiful squares. Inspired by the building's history, celebrated interior designer Ed Tuttle subtly combined French classicism and contemporary design.
Retreat to the hotel’s Le Spa to partake in the whirlpool, hammam and sauna before a La Mer service. For a more private session, book one of the hotel’s suites that have their own spas complete with a Jacuzzi, steam room and massage table. See more.
The Peninsula’s first European hotel.
The Peninsula Hotels’ debuted its first European outpost in Paris, a city where inconspicuous grandeur is a way of life. Originally named Hotel Majestic, the regal space was famous for hosting posh society events in the early 1900s. American composer George Gershwin wrote “An American in Paris” while staying at the original hotel in 1928.
Today, the 19th-century hotel is modernized with high-end amenities and modern technology in the guest rooms, a world-class art installation in the lobby, six restaurants and a spectacular spa. See more.
Prince de Galles’ tantalizing terrace.
Prince de Galles, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Since 1928, Prince de Galles, A Luxury Collection Hotel has been a bastion of art deco luxury on the elegant Avenue George V in Paris' eighth arrondissement.
Meticulously restored by master designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the hotel showcases its art deco theme in the spacious reception area, lobby and eight floors. Perched just off the storied Champs-Elysées, the graceful property makes for a serene and stylish respite from the flurry of the City of Light. See more.
A historic gem.
For more than a century, Saint James Paris was a private mansion. In 1992, the historic gem opened its doors to the public with a bold, design-forward look that embraced its past.
While the outside looks like a countryside chateau, the interiors are decked out in vibrant, extravagant furnishings that are a joy to behold. The eclectic mix includes a graphic black-and-white lobby, individually designed rooms and a clubby bar filled with leather-clad books and chairs. See more.
Boutique brilliance.
Designed in the 19th century as a hôtel particulier (or “private mansion”), San Régis Paris sits in what was then — and still is — one of the city’s most coveted locales. Tucked away on a more subdued side street in the Golden Triangle, the family-run boutique hotel is close to landmarks like Petit Palais and Arc de Triomphe while Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton boutiques are around the corner.
Touches like crystal and bronze objets d’art, regal antiques and silk-lined walls have made it a Hollywood and fashion favorite. See more.
Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s Paris’s Le Joy.
Recommended Hotels in Paris
Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's Paris
Fouquet’s has been a staple on the Parisian dining scene dating back to 1899 and has long been known for its extensive list of glamorous diners. Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's Paris serves as a natural extension of the famed restaurant. But there’s much more to see and do at the hotel beyond the famed brasserie. Noted for its opulent but tasteful modern interiors, fine dining and stellar service, this extravagant property has garnered an impeccable reputation. See more.
Its own work of art.
If Mona Lisa could have seen where Hôtel du Louvre sits, she may have grinned from ear to ear — it’s next to the Louvre. Built in 1855, the luxury hotel aligns with Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s architectural design plan, with cream-colored stone walls and ornamental iron window guards.
Thanks to a renovation completed in 2019, the interior design plays with different eras. Modern decorative touches intersperse the premises with audacity: smooth lines, illustrations by Emmanuel Pierre and black marble counters. See more.
A treat in the Arc de Triomphe’s shadows.
The eighth arrondissement is where French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte is most remembered and where Hotel Napoleon Paris is located. His tribunal Arc de Triomphe is a short walk away.
Hotel Napoleon has a charming story behind it: Russian traveler Alexander Pavlovich Kliaguine presented the place in 1928 to his bride, a French woman he fell in love with at a literary salon. You, too, will fall for the elegant property — only this time, it’ll be because of beautiful wingback chairs and exquisite meals. See more.
True French hospitality.
Hotel Raphael has embodied the tradition of true French hospitality since it opened in 1925. In fact, it’s still run by the family who built it — passed down through several generations, the Raphael remains one of the rare, privately owned French luxury hotels in Paris.
Located mere steps from the majestic Arc de Triomphe and other monuments, the discreet boutique hotel has long attracted visiting royalty, statesmen and stars, even serving as the setting for the Wes Anderson short film Hotel Chevalier. See more.
A well-appointed wonder.
With an enviable location within the eighth arrondissement, Hyatt Paris Madeleine will impress visitors looking to indulge in what Paris is known for: incredible shopping, cultural sites and destination restaurants.
The intimate boutique hotel warmly welcomes guests as they explore the two onsite restaurants, spa facilities and well-appointed, contemporary rooms. Whether you intend to explore the City of Light or relax onsite, Hyatt Paris Madeleine offers a destination for every Parisian visitor. See more.
Art deco elegance.
From the ornate metalwork along the grand staircase to the accents around the in-room fireplaces, L’Hotel du Collectionneur is a stunning example of art deco elegance. It also showcases an impressive private collection of art deco pieces, ranging from sculptures to paintings. Skillfully re-creating the splendor of a bygone era with a ’30s-influenced interior design isn’t an easy feast, especially when the luxury hotel is one of the largest in Paris, with nearly 500 luxurious rooms and suites. See more.
Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra’s Rivages.
The sophisticated, understated Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra has been a symbol in the city since its 1860s debut. Le Scribe, as locals lovingly refer to it, was a permanent residence for legendary figures like entertainer Josephine Baker.
The 201-room Le Scribe places you within walking distance of some of Paris’ signature sights, like the Louvre and the gilded Opéra Garnier. After a 2021 renovation, the landmark hotel still exudes a sense of timeless glamour from the Second Empire sprinkled with contemporary touches. See more.
A private mansion turned into an elegant hotel.
Formerly an 18th-century private mansion and home to the French Marie Claire magazine, Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg is in one of Paris’ most elegant areas. Steps away from the Tuileries Gardens and Grand Palais, this glamorous hotel will leave you swooning. Walk inside to a bustling bar area, where shoppers converge, for a coffee or wine break. Sink into Louis XV-style armchairs and absorb the surrounding gallery of larger-than-life prints of fashion icons. See more.
Waldorf Astoria Versailles — Trianon Palace’s Suite Terrace.
Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace
Adjacent to the opulent Palace of Versailles, the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Versailles — Trianon Palace delivers a regal experience befitting its famed neighbor.
The old soul of the building shines through in some of the architectural details yet conforms with the hotel’s understated, contemporary feel. Luxuriate in the property’s elegant suites, refined dining venues and sensational spa. But should you need anything, the attentive staff is never far away. See more.
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