8th Arrondissement (Champs-Élysées)
Hôtel Plaza Athénée Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Plaza Athenee
Paris, 75008, France
TEL: 33-1-53-67-66-65
This hip yet plush hangout between the Champs-Élysées and Eiffel Tower is as au courant as it was when it opened in 1911, thanks to a 2000 refurbishment courtesy of its new owner, the Sultan of Brunei. Today, the balconied freestone front is covered in signature red awnings; inside, bouquets enliven nearly every surface. The bar, with a long glowing glass counter meant to resemble an iceberg, is one of the city’s hottest scenes. At the Dior Institut spa treatments incorporate the fashion house’s products. The high-ceilinged rooms mix classic marble baths and Regency- and Louis XV-style details with modern touches like remote-controlled air-conditioning and a music library with 5,000 song choices. For a fee, the hotel also offers tours of its 35,000-bottle wine cellar, led by Alain Ducasse’s head sommelier, complete with a tasting.
Room to Book:
Light sleepers who want romantic seclusion should ask for one facing the expansive vine-covered, geranium-planted interior courtyard. For less silk and more streamlined furnishings, request a room on one of the top two Art Deco–designed floors.
Insider Tip:
Ride along the Seine on one of the hotel’s red bicycles, tricked out with a basket and saddlebags, perfect for toting lunch.
Amenities
Open / Closes- Adjoining Rooms
- Accessible by Public Transportation
- Concierge
- Family Friendly
- Gym/Fitness Center
- Handicapped Accessible
- Kids' Programs
- Luxury Boutique Hotel
- Meeting Room
- Maid Service
- Pet Friendly
- Room Service
- Spa
- WiFi
Number of Rooms: 146
Number of Suites: 45
Number of Restaurants: 5
Year Opened: 1911
Other:
