Normandy, Brittany & the Best of the North_ With Paris (Fodor's) - Fodor's [151]
Hôtel Meurice.
$$$$ | Since 1835, the Meurice has welcomed royalty and celebrities, from the Duchess of Windsor to Salvador Dalí. In late 2007 the lobby, bar, and restaurant were given a swanky makeover by French designer Philippe Starck. Rooms have a gilded Louis XVI or Napoleonic Empire style, with antique furnishings covered in sumptuous French and Italian brocades. Most rooms have a Tuileries/Louvre or Sacré-Coeur view, but the massive Royal Suite takes in a 360-degree panorama. Bathrooms are marble, with deep, spacious tubs. The health club includes grape-seed-based treatments, such as “cabernet sauvignon” massages; children are pampered with their own Meurice teddy bear and tot-size slippers and bathrobe. Pros: views over the gardens; central location; trendy public spaces. Cons: on a noisy street; popularity makes the public areas not very discreet. | 228 rue de Rivoli, Louvre/Tuileries | 01–44–58–10–09 | www.meuricehotel.com | 160 rooms, 36 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, Internet. In-hotel: 2 restaurants, room service, bar, gym, Internet terminal, some pets allowed, no-smoking rooms | AE, DC, MC, V | Station: Tuileries, Concorde.
Renaissance Paris Vendôme.
$$$$ | Hiding behind a classic 19th-century facade is a fresh, contemporary hotel with subtle 1930s influences. Under a huge atrium skylight, the lobby’s polished black marble floors, lacquered hardwood furnishings, neutral fabrics, and decadent antiques set the mood. The small library has free Wi-Fi and a wood-burning fireplace, and the intimate Bar Chinois is decorated with elaborate Chinese wallpaper. Imported woods and black slate accent the hotel’s sauna, steam room, and countercurrent swimming pool. Pros: posh location; trendy restaurant; free Wi-Fi. Cons: as part of the Marriott group it can feel a bit lacking in character. | 4 rue du Mont Thabor, Louvre/Tuileries | 01–40–20–20–00 | www.renaissanceparisvendome.com | 82 rooms, 15 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, DVD, Internet. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, pool, gym, laundry service, Internet terminal, parking (paid) | AE, DC, MC, V | Station: Tuileries.
Ritz.
$$$$ | Ever since César Ritz opened the doors of his hotel in 1898, the mere name of this venerable institution has become synonymous with luxury. The famed Ritz Escoffier cooking school, where you can learn the finer points of gateaux, is here, as is the new Ritz Lounge Bar and the Hemingway Bar. There’s also a Greek-temple-style subterranean spa and swimming pool. Guest rooms match this level of luxe; even the humbler spaces have every modern doodad, cleverly camouflaged with the decor of gleaming mirrors, chandeliers, and antiques. (Think marble baths with gold pull chains that summon the valet or maid.) The most palatial suites are named after famous Ritz residents: Coco Chanel, the Prince of Wales, and Elton John. Pros: spacious swimming pool; selection of bars and restaurants; top-notch service. Cons: can feel stuffy and old-fashioned; easy to get lost in the vast hotel; paparazzi magnet. | 15 pl. Vendôme, Louvre/Tuileries | 75001 | 01–43–16–30–30 | www.ritzparis.com | 106 rooms, 56 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 3 restaurants, room service, bars, pool, gym, spa, children’s programs (ages 6–12), laundry service, Internet terminal, parking (paid) | AE, DC, MC, V | Station: Opéra
2E ARRONDISSEMENT (BOURSE/LES HALLES)
Hôtel de Noailles.
$$$ | With a nod to the work of postmodern designers like Putman and Starck, this style-driven