Follow in the footsteps of historic figures and movie stars as we give you the lowdown on Paris hotels to stay at if you want to enjoy modern comfort served with a touch of Louis XIII-opulence or Belle-Époque glory.
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. Enjoy alongside this playlist to get you in the mood and don’t miss our picks for the best boutique hotels in Paris too.
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.”
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
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
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
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
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
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-a-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-Pres 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
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 16eme arrondissement.
Find out more about Saint James 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
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.
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