Paris officially classifies its finest hotels as "Palaces" — a category above five-star that requires 11 additional criteria including a swimming pool, a high tea service and a certain number of employees per room. There are currently 32 Palace hotels in France, with the highest concentration in Paris. Here are the finest of them.
From £1,200 per night
The most famous hotel in the world — and after a four-year renovation, arguably the finest. César Ritz's masterpiece on the Place Vendôme is a lesson in the highest form of French hospitality. The Ritz Escoffier cooking school, Bar Hemingway and the Coco Chanel Suite ensure it earns its reputation with each stay.
Bar Hemingway — where Hemingway himself celebrated the liberation of Paris in 1944 — is one of the world's great hotel bars.
From £1,100 per night
The Four Seasons George V remains the standard-bearer for consistent luxury in Paris. The flower arrangements alone are legendary — a full-time team of florists maintains the famous displays. Le Cinq is one of the top Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. The location on avenue George V is ideal for the Champs-Élysées.
Le Cinq restaurant at the George V holds three Michelin stars — dining here is a Paris essential.
From £900 per night
The Meurice's Dalí Suite honours the artist's many extended stays, and the restaurant — Le Meurice Alain Ducasse — holds two Michelin stars in a Belle Époque dining room overlooking the Tuileries Garden. The Spa Valmont occupies a privileged position within one of the great Paris hotels.
The only Palace hotel with direct views over the Tuileries Garden — the city's most elegant green space.
From £950 per night
The Avenue Montaigne Palace — synonymous with haute couture and the fashion district. The scarlet awnings, the Dior Institut spa and the Restaurant le Relais Plaza make this the natural home for those visiting for Paris Fashion Week or shopping at the adjacent luxury maisons.
The most fashionable address in Paris — steps from Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Balenciaga.
From £1,050 per night
The youngest of the Palace hotels on this list, the Mandarin Oriental opened in 2011 on the Rue Saint-Honoré — one of the world's most luxurious streets. The spa is the finest of any Paris hotel; the terrace garden is a rare sanctuary; and the restaurant Camélia is among the city's better creative fine dining options.
The most impressive hotel spa in Paris — awarded the best hotel spa in Europe multiple years running.
Ranked on room and suite quality, F&B programme (Paris Palaces are defined by their restaurants), service consistency, location, spa and wellness offering, and that indefinable quality of grandeur that sets a true Palace apart.
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