We love a good boutique hotel — in fact, we’ve got a list of our favourite ones in Paris right here. But sometimes, you simply want undeniable, unabashed, all-out luxury from a brand you know will do it well. Fortunately for the well-heeled pleasure seeker, no city does luxury hotels quite like Paris. The French capital basically invented luxury, with an almost endless array of stays to choose from. While the sheer volume of options can make it difficult for even the most discerning traveller to know where to stay. Fortunately, when it comes to luxury hospitality, France is a special case scenario, with the government itself providing the crème de la crème of luxury hotels with its own stamp of approval. The nation has its own designation that goes beyond standard five-star luxury, known as ‘Palace hotels’.
What is a Palace hotel?
As we’ve touched upon, the French pretty much invented luxury — and, they continue to act as an arbiter of it in the hospitality space. While nowadays pretty much any hotel can call itself a ‘luxury hotel’ by ticking a few boxes, the Palace distinction (also known as ‘Distinction Palace’) is an official government rating designed to recognise the most prestigious hotels in the country.
The Palace distinction was established by the French Ministry of Tourism in November 2010 and is bestowed by Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency. The honour is designed to award official recognition to the five-star hotels that go above and beyond their ranking in terms of service and hospitality, and increase the visibility of these hotels to the international market.
Establishments wishing to be classified as a Palace hotel must meet certain criteria, with candidates needing to be in operation for over a year, guarantee a minimum guest room size of 322 square feet, and already be classed as a five-star hotel. In France, the star rating system is government regulated, with five-star hotels meeting mandatory criteria such as having multilingual staff, a spa, pool, and sustainability initiatives. Applicants who meet the initial criteria must then present in front of a panel of experts from the worlds of literature, art, media, business, and culture, as well as government officials. The panel will assess the hotel’s character and all-important je ne sais quoi before deciding on a verdict, taking into account factors such as the beauty of the building’s architecture and interiors, exceptional location, heritage value, standards of service, and gastronomic offerings.
The best Palace hotels in Paris for the ultimate luxury stay
The exclusive nature of the Palace distinction means that there are just twelve Palace hotels in Paris (and only 31 in the country). Because of the rigorous process required to achieve the distinction, every Palace hotel embodies the pinnacle of luxury in terms of service, aesthetics, and overall experience. For that reason, we’ve included all twelve of them below. Now, we won’t belabour each hotel’s various merits—exemplar culinary offerings, high thread count, intuitive service etc.—as the fact that they’re Palace hotels tells you that anyway. Instead, we’ve chosen to focus on the history and inimitable je ne sais quoi of these Parisian grande dames.
1. Le Bristol Paris
Oozing grandeur and elegance from the first glance, Le Bristol Paris is a landmark luxury hotel within the city of lights and has held the Palace designation since 2011. Located on the corner of Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, Le Bristol Paris was founded by Hippolyte Jammet and named after Bishop Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol, who was famed for his love of comfort and opulence — and, his unwavering pursuit of it. Since opening its gilded doors in 1925, Le Bristol Paris has hosted the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly, and Naomi Campbell and served as the home of the American Embassy during World War II. The hotel is home to 190 rooms and suites, each unique in its colour palette but united in their classic interior design style, boastful art, and generous proportions.
Price: from $3500AUD/night
Address: 112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
2. Hotel Plaza Athénée
Unbridled opulence abounds in the Belle Époque gem that is the Hotel Plaza Athénée. Even if you don’t know it by name, you’ve doubtless seen its balcony setting the stage for Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw to squeal at the Eiffel Tower (or perhaps for Keanu Reeves and Michael Douglas to—seperately—enjoy breakfast atop) and its suites playing a veritable supporting role in The Devil Wears Prada. Designed by Charles Lefebvre in the Haussmann style of architecture and boasting Belle Époque interiors that combine the curvilinear appeal of Art Nouveau with the gilded glamour of Art Deco, the Hotel Plaza Athénée opened its doors in 1913, a few weeks prior to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, resulting in it becoming a hotspot for composers and theatregoers. Over a century—and a multi-million dollar renovation—later and the Hotel Plaza Athénée remains a paragon of Parisian style and a popular haunt for well-heeled locals and international creatives alike.
Rooms and suites are decorated in classic Parisian style from levels one to six, while the upper two levels see a modern take on Art Deco reign supreme. The entry-level room categories lean on the smaller side, so we’d recommend opting for a deluxe room or higher. Not to be missed is a nightcap at Le Bar and a treatment at the newly opened Dior Spa.
Price: from $3500AUD/night
Address: 25 Ave Montaigne, Paris, France
3. Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris
If you married an American filmmaker’s idea of luxury with a Middle Eastern billionaire’s take on it and held the ceremony inside a classic Haussmann building, you’d get the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris. The Parisian institution opened in 1928 on Avenue George V in the 8th arrondissement, with its name fittingly nodding to the avenue it sits on as well as to the British monarchy. It’s then perhaps no surprise that the hallowed halls of the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris have welcomed everyone from British and Middle Eastern royalty to celebrities the world over; The Beatles wrote I Feel Fine in their suite at the George V (and got into a pillow fight captured by photographer Harry Benson, doubtless enabled by the Four Seasons’ impossibly fluffy pillows), while Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad Hilton spent their honeymoon in the penthouse suite. While we said we wouldn’t linger too much upon each Palace hotel’s dining institutions, it’s well worth a mention that the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants—the first European hotel to do so—and boasts a 50,000-bottle subterranean wine cellar.
Price: from $5700AUD/night
Address: 31 Ave George V, Paris, France
4. Mandarin Oriental Lutetia
With its curvilinear cream stone facade crafted in the Belle Époque style, the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia cuts a striking figure in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district of the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The former Hôtel Lutetia—the establishment was taken over by the Mandarin Oriental group and renamed in early 2025—was founded by the family behind the Le Bon Marché department store, with the building constructed in 1910 in the Art Nouveau style, led by architects Louis-Charles Boileau and Henri Tauzin. It quickly became a hotspot for artists and cultural figures in the know—Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Henri Matisse, Josephine Baker, and Pablo Picasso were regular guests—with the Hôtel Lutetia serving as a place for scientific and philosophical discussion and debate.
The hotel was seized during the German occupation in Paris and served as headquarters for the Abwehr (German military and intelligence) before serving as a repatriation centre for returning prisoners of war, displaced persons, and Holocaust survivors after the war.
A hotel defined by duality, today the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia—following a painstaking restoration by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte—preserves the history of the original Belle Époque building while writing its own story. The Mandarin Oriental Lutetia’s 184 rooms and suites serve as a visual respite from the opulent public areas—think stained glass windows and ceiling frescos—with understated spaces decorated Art Deco style. Warmth is created through richly layered lighting, oak floorboards, fluted wooden panelling, and soft rugs underfoot.
Price: from $2500AUD/night
Address: 45 Boulevard Raspail, Paris, France
5. Hôtel de Crillon
The Hôtel de Crillon is housed within one of two identical stone palaces on the Champs-Élysées—the other is occupied by the Hôtel de la Marine—comissioned by Louix VX in the 18th century to serve as a government office before being turned into a private home; notable former residents include Marie Antoinette, who was publicly executed in the square outside. In the early 20th century, it was transformed into a luxury hotel under the supervision of architect Walter-André Destailleur and has served as such since 1909. Now helmed by Rosewood, it has all the trappings the luxury hotelier is known for, including three restaurants, well-appointed amenities, and a private butler. Its sumptuous interiors have played host to the prestigious bal des débutantes, while the hotel’s lobby served as the setting for Jake Barnes, the protagonist in Ernest Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises, to write letters to his lover.
Price: from $3700AUD/night
Address: 10 Place de la Concorde, Paris, France
6. La Réserve Paris
Holding court within a mansion formerly owned by couturier Pierre Cardin, La Réserve Paris is a small but mighty Palace hotel in Paris. With interiors designed by Jacques Garcia in the Belle Époque style, La Réserve Paris is home to just 40 rooms and suites (more of the latter than the former, thankfully), giving it an intimate boutique feel more akin to staying in your stylish aunt’s mansion—with staff on call, of course—than a hotel. Gilded gold woodwork and herringbone flooring appear throughout, with rooms and suites appointed with antiques and silk wall hangings. Despite being the French capital’s smallest Palace hotel, La Réserve Paris doesn’t skimp on the culinary element — it’s home to Le Gabriel, chef Jérôme Banctel’s three-Michelin-starred—and all too often booked out—restaurant.
Price: from $3000AUD/night
Address: 42 Avenue Gabriel, Paris, France
7. Le Meurice
Overlooking the Tuileries Garden, Le Meurice was originally built by Charles-Augustin Meurice in 1835, with the intention of creating a hotel that would particularly appeal to British guests visiting the capital of lights. Since its inception almost two centuries ago, Le Meurice has welcomed numerous royal guests, including Queen Victoria; King Edward VIII and his wife, the (then) Duchess of Windsor; Sultan of Zanzibar; King Alphonse XIII of Spain; and the Maharajah of Jaipur, earning it the moniker the ‘Hotel des Rois’ (Hotel of Kings). That said, the vibe at Le Meurice has perhaps been more influenced by the motley crew of artistically minded guests who have slumbered within its opulent walls — Salvador Dalí lived at the hotel for a month a year for three decades and Jay-Z and Kanye West recorded the track Niggas in Paris there in 2011, while the likes of Andy Warhol, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling has made Le Meurice their base in the French capital.
No two rooms or suites are alike in Le Meurice; the presidential suites on the first floor are decorated in the 18th century Louis XVI style, while rooms on the sixth floor are clad in hand-painted wallpaper by de Gournay. The interiors were most recently reimagined by the legendary Philippe Starck, who redesigned the hotel’s restaurants, bar, and some public areas.
Price: from $3200AUD/night
Address: 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
8. Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme
A breezy walk away from the jewellery and fashion houses of the Place Vendôme and relatively close to the Louvre and Palais Garnier, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme sits within the fashionable 2nd arrondissement. Offering a more discreet take on luxury, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme eschews a grand entry in favour of a business in the front, action in the back approach. The understated lobby is home to little more than a desk directing you to head around back, creating a sense of exclusivity not dissimilar to a private members’ club. Inside the 19th-century Haussmann building, American architect Ed Tuttle crafts spaces that are more contemporary than the other Palace hotels in Paris (barring the aforementioned Mandarin Oriental Paris), but imbued with an ineffable sense of warmth courtesy of softly filtered lighting, gilded gold details, dark wood paneling, and inviting upholstery that feels lived-in.
Price: from $3400AUD/night
Address: 5 Rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris, France
9. Le Royal Monceau Raffles
Since opening in 1928, Le Royal Monceau has been defined by its artistic spirit, with the charming hotel attracting the likes of Walt Disney, the Maharajahs of Indore and Kashmir, Ray Charles, Madonna, and Sofia Coppola. In 2008, Le Royal Monceau underwent a two-year renovation that saw Philippe Starck given carte blanche to work his magic on the hotel, bestowing it with an eclectic, playful tone that ensures its stands out among the more classically designed hotels in the French capital. Starck’s distinctive energy extends to every facet of the hotel, from the public spaces to the petite ‘artist rooms’ and positively palatial presidential suites.
In addition to its regal suites and trio of restaurants—the blend of Asian and Peruvian flavours at Matsuhisa Paris makes it a particular standout—Le Royal Monceau’s heady art collection makes it a must-stay hotel for creatives around the world. Expect to see pieces by the likes of Harry Gruyaert and Thierry Dreyfus on site, while the contemporary art gallery next door, Art District, is also run by the hotel.
Price: from $2800AUD/night
Address: 37 Ave Hoche, Paris, France
10. Shangri-La Paris
Housed within a late 19th-century building originally constructed as a residence for Prince Roland Bonaparte—the grand-nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte—the Shangri-La Paris opened in 2006, following a respectful restoration and renovation by architect Richard Martinet and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The character of the original building has been preserved, with the zodiac symbols on the vaulted ceiling still visible and the original wooden floors, stained glass windows, and dramatic brass and forged steel staircase retained.
Many of the original residential rooms have also been retained, albeit with different uses. The Shangri-La Paris is home to 100 rooms and suites, with a large number of them boasting Eiffel Tower views. Decor errs on the traditional side, with the building’s original mouldings complemented by Louis XV style armchairs, vintage Goyard trunks, antique writing tables, chinoiserie decor, and silk wallpaper, resulting in tasteful fusion of French and Asian style. Dining reflects this fusion too, with restaurants blending Chinese, French, and international cuisines; expect to find congee and dim sums sitting alongside flaky pastries and aged cheese at the breakfast buffet.
Price: from $2600AUD/night
Address: 10 Avenue d’Iéna, 75116 Paris, France
11. The Peninsula Paris
Occupying the former Hotel Majestic, a go-to haunt for celebrities and socialites during the Jazz Age, The Peninsula Paris made its debut in 2014 and has been classified as a Palace hotel since 2016. The 19th-century Haussmann building has lived many lives since first opening as the Hotel Majestic in 1908; it became a field hospital for wounded officers during World War I and was converted into government offices in 1936, before serving as the headquarters of the German military high command during the German occupation of Paris.
The building sat empty for decades before the Hong Kong-based Peninsula brand took over, renovating and restoring original wood and decorative stone work, and bringing them to life with meticulously laid gold leaf. Abstract art adorns the public spaces, including the striking Lasvit crystal Dancing Leaves installation of hand-blown plane-tree leaves that greets visitors in the lobby. In the 200 rooms and suites, The Peninsula Paris proffers an unfussy take on Parisian decor, with its clean lines, neutral colour palette, and decidedly modern feel complemented by mixed-media works by French artist Patricia Erbelding.
Price: from $3000AUD/night
Address: 19 Avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris, France
12. Mandarin Oriental Paris
Sitting on the fashionable Rue St Honoré, the Mandarin Oriental Paris has the most modern vibe of all the Parisian Palace hotels. Forgoing the gilded opulence of its contemporaries in favour of blac-and-white striped marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and lush greenery, the Mandarin Oriental Paris represents a sleek take on luxury that complements the city as it is today. Rooms and suites are decorated in a modern take on Art Deco and appointed with silk soft furnishings, plush rugs, and sculptural decorative objects. Formerly home to the two-Michelin-starred Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx (the eponymous chef departed the hotel group in 2023) and currently offering bistro style fare at Camélia as well as cocktails at Bar 8, the Mandarin Oriental Paris is a favourite for aficionados of the Asian hotelier as well as fashion devotees — the latter no doubt thanks to its designer surroundings.
Price: from $2600AUD/night
Address: 251 Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
Looking for more hotel recommendations, destination guides, and honest hotel reviews? Head to our travel section.
Words by John Deckard
