We love a hotel in a heritage building! From Singapore to New York, there’s just something about all that history, what may or may not have happened there at another time that gets us all hot under the collar. Thankfully, friend of the THJ family and Paris local, Aude Camus gets equally wax lyrical on the subject and has put together her picks for the best Parisian heritage hotels you need to try. She’s also curated a guide to the best things to do in Paris to experience the city like a local. Enjoy alongside this playlist to get you in the mood and don’t miss our picks for the best boutique hotels in Paris too.
This story was contributed by our friends over at Hong Kong Madame. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on how to live your best Parisian life in HK.
The best heritage hotels in Paris
In a modern world where glassy skyscrapers cast their elegant shadows over some of the world’s most beautiful cities, Paris will always be Paris with heritage buildings at every corner. As Gil Pender, interpreted by Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris, would say: “Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form and when you think that in the cold, violent, meaningless universe that Paris exists, these lights, I mean come on, there’s nothing happening on Jupiter or Neptune, but from way out in space you can see these lights, the cafés, people drinking and singing. For all we know, Paris is the hottest spot in the universe.”
1. Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel | 8th arrondissement, Central
Hotel: Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
Location: 10 Place de la Concorde, Paris
Neighbourhood: Place de la Concorde, 8th arrondissement
Rooms: 124 rooms and suites, including signature suites
Style: Lavish 18th-century architecture by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, restored historic interiors and contemporary French design
Family-friendly: Yes. Family accommodation and children’s amenities are available
Wellness: Sense, A Rosewood Spa, with treatments, a fitness centre and relaxation facilities
Pool: Indoor swimming pool
Dining: L’Ecrin, a Michelin-starred restaurant, Brasserie d’Aumont and Bar Les Ambassadeurs
Best for: Palace-hotel luxury, history enthusiasts, couples and special occasions
Prices starting from: Approximately €1,500–€2,000 per room per night, depending on room and season
Built in 1758, Hôtel de Crillon (main image) has been the stage of many historic moments, from the beheading of King Louis XVI on the Place de la Concorde square it overlooks to the signing of the creation of the League of Nations in 1919.
Transformed into a palace in 1909, the hotel closed its doors in 2013 to undergo a four-year-long renovation aiming at bringing modern flair to the grandiose listed interiors by Ange-Jacques Gabriel. From the historical event venues and signature suites offering unrivalled views of the square and the award-winning SENSE spa to the Michelin-starred restaurant L’Ecrin and the so Parisian bar Les Ambassadeurs, Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, epitomises the quintessential spirit of Paris.
Discover Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel or Book through Booking.com
2. Cheval Blanc Paris | 1st arrondissement, Central
Hotel: Cheval Blanc Paris
Location: 8 Quai du Louvre, Paris
Neighbourhood: La Samaritaine, 1st arrondissement, beside the River Seine
Rooms: 72 rooms and suites
Style: Contemporary luxury within a restored 1928 Art Deco landmark, with interiors by Peter Marino
Family-friendly: Yes. Family accommodation and children’s services are available
Wellness: Dior Spa with treatment rooms, a fitness area and beauty treatments
Pool: Indoor swimming pool
Dining: Plénitude, Le Tout-Paris, Langosteria and Limbar
Best for: Contemporary palace luxury, fine dining, shopping and Seine views
Prices starting from: Approximately €2,000–€2,500 per room per night, depending on room and season
Cheval Blanc Paris (Photo © Alexandre Tabaste)
Once part of the iconic department store La Samaritaine, the Art Deco edifice sits at the edge of the Seine. The revitalised 1928 monument reopened its doors as a five-star hotel in September 2021 and now homes 72 contemporary rooms and suites, four restaurants including Plénitude by Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Donckele, a Dior spa, and a panoramic rooftop terrasse. It also boasts unrivalled views of monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame or the Louvre and truly brings history on your doorsteps.
Read more about Cheval Blanc Paris.
Explore Cheval Blanc Paris or Book through Booking.com
3. La Réserve Paris | 8th arrondissement, Central
Hotel: La Réserve Paris – Hotel and Spa
Location: 42 Avenue Gabriel, Paris
Neighbourhood: Near the Champs-Élysées, 8th arrondissement
Rooms: 40 rooms and suites
Style: Second French Empire elegance, with rich fabrics, antique furnishings and interiors by Jacques Garcia
Family-friendly: Yes. Connecting rooms and larger suites can accommodate families
Wellness: Spa with treatments, hammam, sauna and fitness facilities
Pool: 16-metre indoor swimming pool
Dining: Le Gabriel, La Pagode de Cos, La Bibliothèque and Le Gaspard
Best for: Intimate luxury, fine dining, couples and discreet palace-style accommodation
Prices starting from: Approximately €1,500–€2,000 per room per night, depending on room and season
La Réserve Paris
Just off the Champs-Elysée is the smallest – 40 rooms and suites – and most confidential of the city’s official 11 palaces. Set in the former home of the Duke of Morny, French Emperor Napoléon III’s stepbrother, La Réserve Paris conveys elegant Second French Empire vibes thanks to its interiors by award-winning French designer Jacques Garcia.
In true French style, food takes the centre stage at the hotel with four dining outlets including fine dining at Le Gabriel and a cosy library cocoon. Wellness isn’t neglected either and between the spa, the 16-m indoor pool, the hammam, and the fitness area, there’s plenty of space for you to sit back and breathe.
Check out La Réserve Paris or Book through Booking.com
4. Cour des Vosges | 4th arrondissement, Central
Hotel: Cour des Vosges
Location: 19 Place des Vosges, Paris
Neighbourhood: Le Marais, 4th arrondissement
Rooms: 12 rooms and suites
Style: 17th-century private mansion with exposed ceiling beams, period details and contemporary furnishings
Family-friendly: Suitable for couples and small families; check room configurations and occupancy limits
Wellness: Private Roman bath experience in the hotel’s vaulted basement
Pool: No conventional swimming pool; the hotel has a heated Roman bath
Dining: Breakfast and light dining; restaurant arrangements should be confirmed before booking
Best for: History lovers, intimate stays and guests wanting a room overlooking Place des Vosges
Prices starting from: Approximately €500–€700 per room per night, depending on room and season
Cour des Vosges
The picturesque Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris, is known for its red brick buildings standing over vaulted arcades which serve as background to the 12 rooms and suites of Cour des Vosges. The private mansion, converted into a hotel in 2019, combines heritage features such as the 17th century ceiling beams with modern pieces of art, contemporary designs and one-of-a-kind views of the square that Victor Hugo once called home.
What’s more is that a revitalised Roman bath is hidden in the basement and with 32-degree heated water it’s a must-try after spending the day wandering the streets of Paris.
Learn more about Cour des Vosges or Book through Booking.com
5. Madame Rêve | 1st arrondissement, Central
Hotel: Madame Rêve
Location: 48 Rue du Louvre, Paris
Neighbourhood: Les Halles, 1st arrondissement
Rooms: 82 rooms and suites, many with private balconies
Style: Contemporary five-star design inside the restored 19th-century Louvre Post Office building
Family-friendly: Suitable for families; check connecting-room availability and occupancy limits
Wellness: Fitness facilities; no full-service spa confirmed
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: La Plume, Kitchen and rooftop dining spaces
Best for: Rooftop views, central sightseeing, contemporary design and dining
Prices starting from: Approximately €400–€550 per room per night, depending on room and season
Madame Rêve
Just a few minutes away from Cheval Blanc Paris, another 5-star hotel has just opened its doors. At the very heart of the 1st arrondissement sits a 1886 building which Parisians used to know as the Louvre Post Office, the largest post office in France.
Breathtaking views of Paris await you from the 1000 sq-m rooftop garden and the private balconies of 53rd of the 82nd rooms and suites. The revitalised historical setting also hosts two restaurants, with the Mediterranean 19th-century café currently being the talk of the town.
Discover more about Madame Rêve or Book through Booking.com
6. Relais Christine | 6th arrondissement, Central
Hotel: Relais Christine
Location: 3 Rue Christine, Paris
Neighbourhood: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th arrondissement
Rooms: 48 rooms and suites, including four rooms with direct access to a private garden
Style: 17th-century private mansion with elegant French interiors, antique furnishings and a secluded garden
Family-friendly: Yes. Larger rooms and suites can accommodate families; confirm configurations when booking
Wellness: Guerlain Spa beneath historic vaulted ceilings, with treatments, sauna and fitness facilities
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: Breakfast and an honesty bar; no full-service restaurant listed
Best for: Couples, quiet luxury, garden access and exploring Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Prices starting from: Approximately €500–€650 per room per night, depending on room and season
Relais Christine
Renovated in 2017 by Laura Gonzalez – who also redesigned its sister property Saint James Paris, the 48-room Relais Christine makes the perfect quiet Parisian pied-à-terre for those wishing to follow in the footsteps of the writers, artists, singers and actors who made Le Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots, and the entire Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood the intellectual heart of Paris.
The 17th century private mansion is the only hotel in Paris to offer four rooms with direct access to a private garden. It also hosts a Guerlain spa in the basement, under the 13th century vaults of what was once a medieval abbey.
Explore Relais Christine or Book through Booking.com
7. Saint James Paris | 16th arrondissement, West
Hotel: Saint James Paris
Location: 5 Place du Chancelier Adenauer, Paris
Neighbourhood: 16th arrondissement, near Bois de Boulogne
Rooms: 50 rooms and suites
Style: Neoclassical château-inspired mansion with grand interiors, a private garden and distinctive French design
Family-friendly: Yes. Family rooms and suites are available
Wellness: Guerlain Spa with treatments, sauna, hammam and fitness facilities
Pool: Indoor swimming pool
Dining: Bellefeuille, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, plus a bar and lounge
Best for: Romantic stays, château-style luxury, fine dining and a quieter Paris neighbourhood
Prices starting from: Approximately €700–€900 per room per night, depending on room and season
Saint James Paris
Does it get any more French than spending the night in a 19th-century castle? Saint James Paris is the city’s only castle-hotel and occupies a neoclassical edifice built on what was once Paris’ first air-balloon landing field. Having served as a home for the Thiers Foundation for a hundred years, then a gentlemen’s club, the mansion has been a hotel since 1991. The 50-room property has just been renovated to spotlight its monumental volume and neoclassical details while enhancing the country estate feel created by the bucolic garden surrounding the property at the heart of the 16th arrondissement.
Find out more about Saint James Paris or Book through Booking.com
8. The Hoxton Paris | 2nd arrondissement, Central
Hotel: The Hoxton Paris
Location: 30–32 Rue du Sentier, Paris
Neighbourhood: Le Sentier, 2nd arrondissement
Rooms: 172 rooms across several room categories
Style: Restored 18th-century mansion with original architectural features, contemporary furnishings and mid-century influences
Family-friendly: Suitable for families, with larger room categories; check occupancy limits
Wellness: Fitness facilities; no dedicated spa listed
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: Rivié, Planche, Jacques’ Bar and a winter garden
Best for: Design-conscious travellers, social spaces, dining and exploring central Paris
Prices starting from: Approximately €200–€300 per room per night, depending on room and season
The Hoxton Paris
In the 2nd arrondissement, at the heart of “Le Sentier” – a neighbourhood historically known for being the textile and garment manufacturing district of Paris – it has taken four years to convert a 18th century listed mansion, designed for a councilor of Louis XV – Etienne Rivié -, into a 172-room hotel.
The glass-ceiling lobby with 18th century staircase, which opens on a winter garden where Parisians like to sit for a coffee or a glass of biodynamic wine, sets the tone. More than a hotel, The Hoxton is a social hub, a place for guests and locals alike to get comfortable. And comfortable one can get in the bedrooms mixing paneling, chevron wood flooring and 1950s inspirations.
Check out The Hoxton Paris or Book through Booking.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a hotel a Parisian heritage hotel?
A Parisian heritage hotel occupies a historically significant building, such as a former mansion, palace or landmark. Many preserve original architectural features while incorporating contemporary rooms, restaurants and facilities.
Which Paris neighbourhoods have the most heritage hotels?
The 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th and 16th arrondissements have notable heritage properties. The 1st offers central landmarks, while Saint-Germain-des-Prés has historic streets and literary associations. The 8th is known for grand architecture and luxury shopping.
Are Parisian heritage hotels more expensive than regular hotels?
Generally, yes. Palace hotels and restored private mansions often charge premium rates. Smaller heritage properties can be more accessible, particularly outside peak travel periods. Prices also depend on room size, views and included services.
Can you stay in a historic Paris hotel without sacrificing modern comforts?
Yes. Many properties combine protected architectural details with modern bathrooms, climate control, high-speed Wi-Fi and contemporary dining. Some also have indoor pools, spas and fitness facilities.
Are Parisian heritage hotels suitable for families?
Several offer family rooms, connecting accommodation and children's services. Hôtel de Crillon, Cheval Blanc Paris and Saint James Paris are among the properties with family-oriented accommodation. Always check occupancy limits and children's policies.
When is the best time to book a heritage hotel in Paris?
Spring and autumn are popular periods for visiting Paris, so book early if you have a particular property or room category in mind. Winter can bring lower rates outside the Christmas and New Year period. Compare weekday and weekend prices before booking.
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