Paris has eight officially-designated Palace Hotels, and the differences between them are the sort of thing that only starts to matter once you've stayed at three or four. Below is the honest, palace-by-palace comparison our Paris-based advisor uses: what each hotel is genuinely best at, which suites are worth the upcharge, and the two 'not-quite-Palace' properties that often beat them all.
The Ritz Paris - the palace of palaces
The Ritz on Place Vendôme is the reason 'palace' became a hotel category. Reopened in 2016 after a four-year restoration, it remains the most theatrical Paris hotel experience - the Bar Hemingway, the Ritz Bar, the Salon Proust for tea, the Chanel Spa (Coco's own suite is preserved).
Book a Prestige Suite on the Rue Cambon side for the quieter courtyard-facing rooms; book a Place Vendôme-facing suite if you want the classic view. Suite Coco Chanel is the icon, but the César Ritz Suite on the top floor is often our recommendation for repeat guests.
Le Bristol - the classic that never wavered
Le Bristol on Faubourg Saint-Honoré is the palace that never closed for renovation and never needed to. Eric Frechon in the kitchen (three Michelin stars at Épicure since 2009), a rooftop pool that predates most of its peers, and the most consistent service programme in Paris.
Book a Deluxe room on the courtyard side for peace, or the Panoramic Suite on the top floor for the Sacré-Cœur view. Le Bristol is our default recommendation for repeat Paris travellers who want the hotel to disappear into the trip.
Cheval Blanc, Hôtel de Crillon and Plaza Athénée - the three great alternatives
Cheval Blanc Paris (LVMH's flagship in the Samaritaine building on the Seine) is the newest and most contemporary - 72 rooms, all with river or Louvre views, a Dior Spa and the Plénitude tasting menu by Arnaud Donckele.
Hôtel de Crillon (Rosewood) on Place de la Concorde is the counter-programming choice - a 224-year-old palace with a Karl Lagerfeld-designed suite programme and one of the best terrace views in Paris. Plaza Athénée on Avenue Montaigne is the couture-and-fashion choice, next door to Dior's flagship.
Four Seasons George V and Mandarin Oriental - the American-and-Asian precision options
Four Seasons George V is the hotel most repeat American Paris visitors book, and for good reason - the largest hotel rooms of any Palace in Paris, the best hotel restaurant portfolio (Le Cinq, Le George, L'Orangerie) and the most reliable service programme in the city.
Mandarin Oriental Paris on Rue Saint-Honoré is the quiet alternative - 138 rooms, a courtyard garden that is the largest in central Paris and the most residential feel of any Palace. Both are booked with breakfast, credit and upgrade priority through advisor channels.
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