Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

France
Europe

The Experience

One step inside the marble lobby, with its 17th-century tapestries, Savonnerie carpets and spectacular flower arrangements, and it's clear that despite being popular with fashionistas, this is not the hotel for fans of cutting-edge minimalism. But traditionalists will feel right at home in this restored 1928 property in the heart of the Golden Triangle. It's truly the place to have Paris at your feet, with private terraces that command views of the Eiffel Tower and the dazzling lights of the city. But of course that experience doesn't come without a price tag—you'll only find it in the highest rooms of this very high-end hotel.

The Rooms

Standard rooms, though only around 400 square feet, are still large for Paris. But sumptuousness does come standard, with beds piled high with pillows, Louis XVI-style furniture and crystal chandeliers. Views from these rooms, however, are a disappointment—there's none to speak of. In fact, if you want a skyline view, including a look at the Eiffel Tower, be prepared to shell out for a suite. Even then you'll have to make a point of asking for a view, since not all of the suites offer one. For guaranteed opulence, though, book the 3,800-square-foot Royal Suite, which features a marble fireplace, a full kitchen, a freestanding tub and a private terrace.

The Service

When you stay here, you can be confident that when you are promised your suit back, pressed, in two hours, it will happen. In a hotel whose guest profile skews heavily toward the businessman, such reliable service is valued. This being a Four Seasons, a multilingual staff is de rigueur; though this being Paris, the odd outbreak of attitude is to be expected, even if generally you are treated like royalty.

The Highlights

Insist on snaring one of the 60 coveted seats in Le Cinq for chef Eric Briffard's delectable gourmet creations. For more modest meals, the self-explanatory Marble Courtyard is visible outside the French windows; and the lobby lounge La Galerie serves the same purpose. Le Bar, with its commodious sofas and warm wood paneling, has the feel of a private club and heats up at night for pre- and post-dinner cocktails. For unwinding, the spa offers 11 private treatment rooms, a gym and an indoor pool-one of the few in Paris. Surrounded by topiary and trompe l'oeil murals, it's like doing laps in the gardens of Versailles.

 

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