Hotel Le Bristol Paris

France
Europe

The Experience

Le Bristol manages to distinguish itself from the other grand hotels in Paris with an elegant-but-quirky character. Blame that on its history—the mid-18th-century building was originally a home and didn't become a hotel until 1925—and on the fact that it's a favorite with those in the city's omnipresent fashion industry (especially as it's close to shops like Hermès). Today, Le Bristol successfully bridges the gap between its more traditional clientele and the hip trendsetters who set up shop here.

The Rooms

With rooms starting at 325 square feet, Le Bristol offers a fair amount of space for a Paris hotel; for more elbow room, upgrade to the Prestige category, which tops out at 540 square feet. No matter what, be sure to reserve a room facing the garden courtyard, where you can trade the Parisian traffic for blissful quiet. Though each room is unique, the decor is uniformly traditional, varying from toile in vibrant colors to more subtle, smaller chintz or silk florals in gold and creams or muted roses or blues. Persian carpets, chandeliers and carved wood molding add to the feel of being a guest in a palace. A 2007 expansion made it possible to reserve a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

The Service

Service here is impeccable. Staffers are accustomed to a steady stream of celebrities, and nothing seems to ruffle them--not even foreigners confused by the menu. The hotel claims that if you leave anything behind, on your next visit you'll find the maid has replaced it in exactly the spot where you left it.

The Highlights

The hotel continues its clientele-straddling by offering formal afternoon tea as well as "Fashion Saturdays," a show of revolving designers for which the pastry chef creates a cake inspired by the collection. But you can escape that scene by heading off to the nautical-themed indoor pool, surrounded by teak decking and set against a backdrop mural of the south of France. Continue on to the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, where chef Eric Frechon revisits the basics of French cuisine with style, assisted by a selection of 30,000 wines. Then stroll off to the outside deck, with its views across the mansard roofs to Sacré Coeur. It's very romantic. And very French.

 

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