The Palace distinction in France is awarded to five-star hotels meeting particularly demanding criteria, such as exceptional location, heritage quality, exceptional services and prestigious gastronomy. Paris, a city of light and history, boasts 12 palaces, each rooted in histories that intersect with haute couture, diplomacy, literature and the French art of living.
From the George V to theHôtel de Crillon, from the Bristol to the Plaza Athénée, from La Réserve to the Lutetia, these prestigious addresses form an exceptional constellation in the Parisian panorama. Many appeared at the turn of the 20ᵉ century or during the Belle Époque, scattered throughout the Golden Triangle, onAvenue Montaigne, near the Champs-Elysées and Place Vendôme.
Each of these palaces has witnessed major Parisian events, from the two World Wars to the Occupation, some even having been requisitioned and transformed into headquarters. They are living witnesses to Parisian history, frequented by the greatest figures of their time - artists, writers, heads of state and Hollywood stars.
Between French history and Parisian art de vivre, discover the best-kept secrets of the 12 palaces of the City of Light.
Star Hotel Champs-Élysées****: A stylish retreat just steps from the Arc de Triomphe
Sponsored - Just a stone's throw from the Arc de Triomphe, the Hôtel Star Champs-Élysées**** offers a truly distinct Parisian experience. This four-star boutique hotel, with its intimate and sophisticated atmosphere, features vibrantly decorated rooms designed as immersive sensory journeys. [Read more]
Le Lutetia, a century of history between luxury, art and resistance
Among the great addresses on the Left Bank, the Hôtel Lutetia (now Mandarin Oriental Lutetia) stands out for its rich history. From its beginnings in 1910 to its spectacular renovation and dark wartime days, this palace alone tells the story of Paris. [Read more]
Hôtel de Crillon, the timeless palace on Place de la Concorde
Facing the Tuileries gardens, the Hôtel de Crillon embodies timeless elegance. From its construction in the 18ᵉ century to its bold renovation, the Crillon has weathered revolutions, wars and the mutations of luxury. Discover this palace-turned-palace, rooted in the soul of Paris. [Read more]
Le Meurice, secrets and splendor of the palace favored by kings and artists on rue de Rivoli
Opposite the Tuileries, Le Meurice stands as a living witness to the evolution of Parisian luxury. From its origins in the 19ᵉ century to contemporary renovations, this hotel has seen kings, artists, fashion designers and mythical chefs come and go. [Read more]
Le Bristol Paris, a luxury legend in the heart of Faubourg-Saint-Honoré
Facing the Élysée Palace, between haute couture and the prestigious Parisian thoroughfares, the Bristol Paris has stood as one of the capital's finest palaces since 1925. [Read more]
Plaza Athénée, over 100 years of couture elegance in the heart of Avenue Montaigne
Inaugurated in 1913, the Plaza Athénée has since become a symbol of French luxury. With its emblematic bright red code, legendary lounges and Michelin-starred gastronomy, this palace has stood the test of time, remaining at the cutting edge of refinement. [Read more]
George V, the story of a timeless Parisian palace in the Golden Triangle
On the eponymous avenue, in the shadow of the bright lights of the Champs-Élysées, the Four Seasons Hotel George V has embodied Parisian hotel elegance since 1928. From its opening in the Art Deco era to its most recent contemporary renovations, this palace has been both a witness to and a player in Paris's heyday. [Read more]
Le Royal Monceau, the palace that combines artistic audacity and Parisian luxury on Avenue Hoche
On Avenue Hoche, a stone's throw from the Arc de Triomphe, the Royal Monceau is a palace of many rebirths. From its origins in 1928 to its contemporary metamorphosis under Philippe Starck, discover its history. [Read more]
Mandarin Oriental, a former circus turned palace on rue Saint-Honoré
Located on rue Saint-Honoré, between Place Vendôme and the Tuileries Gardens, the Mandarin Oriental Paris is a modern palace with a new take on Art Deco architecture. The result of a bold renovation, it embodies the balance between Parisian heritage and contemporary design. [Read more]
Shangri-La Paris, a princely palace combining imperial heritage and Asian luxury on Avenue d'Iéna
Avenue d'Iéna, in the 16ᵉ arrondissement, the Shangri-La Paris embodies a bold and successful reconversion, from the private palace of Prince Roland Bonaparte to a listed Monument Historique and distinguished palace hotel. [Read more]
The Peninsula Paris, the palace that resurrected the grandeur of the Hôtel Majestic
On Avenue Kléber, a stone's throw from the Arc de Triomphe, stands The Peninsula Paris, born of a double metamorphosis: that of a historic building, and that of a reinvented modern palace. From its past as the Hotel Majestic to ministerial offices, to its return to majesty in 2014, The Peninsula Paris embodies the delicate marriage between heritage and contemporary audacity. [Read more]
La Réserve Paris, the quiet luxury of a palace in the heart of the Golden Triangle
In the hushed shadow of the Champs-Élysées, La Réserve Paris has established itself as a confidential palace since its opening in 2015. Housed in a private mansion dating back to 1854, meticulously renovated and designed for privacy, it embodies understated elegance, combining Haussmannian history, contemporary design and Michelin-starred gastronomy. [Read more]
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, a palace of confidential elegance on Rue de la Paix
Located on rue de la Paix, between Place Vendôme and the Opéra, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme has become one of the capital's most sought-after luxury hotels over the past twenty years. Behind its listed façade lies a hotel conceived as a modern residence, combining design, contemporary art and French savoir-faire. [Read more]
And a hotel that doesn't have the Palace distinction but is mythical all the same:
The Ritz Paris, the timeless legend of Place Vendôme
Overlooking Place Vendôme, the Ritz Paris is an institution, a landmark of French luxury and refinement. Since its inauguration in 1898, the hotel has weathered aesthetic revolutions, historical crises and hotel renaissances. [Read more]
The oldest restaurants in Paris, historic and legendary tables
Discover the Paris of yesteryear at one of the capital's oldest restaurants, where mythical figures from French history once sat. [Read more]
For a walk that's original, historic and gourmet, let's discover the oldest tea rooms and bakeries in Paris. [Read more]
The oldest restaurants in Paris, historic and legendary tables
The oldest tearooms and bakeries in Paris
