For Condé Nast Traveler, by Betsy Blumenthal CNT Editors.
We just can't shake Paris's intoxicating pull. Maybe it's the je ne sais quoi of the city's perennially chic inhabitants, or the charm of its well-trodden cobblestone streets, or maybe—just maybe—it’s owing, in part, to the city's constellation of discreetly elegant lodgings. These hotels are the best of the best in the French capital, as rated in the 2016 Readers' Choice Awards, proving that Paris—especially when seen from the terrace of a gilded hotel suite—is always a good idea. Click to view as a list.
20. Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower
The best part about this hotel might be its proximity to the one of the world's most famous (and Instagrammable) landmarks: the Eiffel Tower. The structure is so close—a mere four minutes by foot—that you can easily sneak it into your selfies, especially since views of the tower and Trocadéro come standard with a stay in most of the modern, modular rooms. For a meal that'll appease both your palate and your too-tired traveler legs, grab a seat at the in-house FR/AME brasserie. The breezy open-kitchen concept and floor-to-ceiling windows evoke a certain West Coast airiness—think fish tacos and Gruyère burgers.
19. Hôtel d'Aubusson
On a charming side street in Paris's trendy Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, this former 17th-century townhouse—now a chic, 49-room hotel—is the stuff of Francophile dreams. Fashionable sixth arrondissement? Check. Ornate, old-world Grand Salon with all the Belle Epoque trappings (read: heavy tapestries, glimmering chandeliers, and gilded mirrors)? Check. Quaint café where literary bigwigs like Sartre, Beauvoir, and Camus used to hang out? Check. Throw in Hermès toiletries and a breakfast spread in the ivy-spotted inner courtyard, and we'll abandon any reason to leave.
18. Hôtel de Crillon
It says something about this historic hotel that it ranks so highly among travelers, seeing as it's been closed for renovations since 2013. Originally commissioned by Louis XV in 1758, the palace (whose identical twin, the Hôtel de la Marine, sits beside it) is within walking distance of the Champs-Élysées and the Louvre. Aside from its elegant bedchambers—oak-paneled rooms were outfitted with Aubusson carpets and Baccarat chandeliers—travelers adored the informal restaurant at L’Obé, a gathering place for fashionable Parisians, and the tea service in the Winter Garden Tea Room. We can't be sure how much of the hotel's interior will change, but we'd be willing to bet that the royal treatment for which it's known and loved will continue once it reopens.
17. La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa
When we imagine old-world opulence—like, say, wood-paneled libraries, 19th-century furniture trimmed in vibrant velvets, and Haussmann-style apartments outfitted in brocade silk wallpaper and the sweet, powdery smell of fresh flowers—it's La Réserve that comes first to mind. A stay at this 40-room hôtel particulier, just a block from both the Champs-Élysées and the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, isn't for the faint of heart (or wallet): You'll need to splurge a little for the Carrara marble bathrooms, anti-aging spa treatments, and two Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gabriel. But we, and plenty of seasoned travelers, can guarantee that it'll be well worth it.
16. Westin Paris — Vendôme
There's a lot to like about this hotel in Paris's first arrondissement, from its spacious, high-ceilinged rooms, to its 24-hour room service policy, to the toothsome breakfast buffet that's laid out for guests each morning—no need to scout around on the streets for a fresh, flaky croissant when you stay here. But of course, there are some standouts: Lunch at the hotel's Le First restaurant is a must-do (it's worth it to sit out on the terrace, in the hotel's inner courtyard, where you can admire the mosaic-tiled fountain and surrounding columns and archways). The Six Senses spa offers an extensive menu of treatments, from a Himalayan pink salt scrub to an "Indian head massage," applied with warm coconut oil. Try to snag a Junior Suite for a panoramic view that stretches from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower.
See the rest of The Best Hotels in Paris on CNTraveler.com
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