Ritz Paris

At The Ritz Paris, grandeur begins long before the room key touches your hand. The hotel occupies a prime corner of Place Vendôme, where the geometry of the square already sets a tone of order, wealth, and quiet power. Behind its classical façade lies a labyrinth of salons, galleries and courtyards that feel closer to a private palace than a hotel.

Opened in 1898 by César Ritz, it quickly became a reference point for modern luxury. Coco Chanel lived here for over three decades, a detail that still shapes the atmosphere. There is nothing nostalgic about it though. After a meticulous four year restoration completed in 2016, the interiors regained their 18th century clarity without slipping into pastiche. Gilded moldings, silk wall coverings and heavy drapery are present, yet balanced with light and space that prevent the rooms from feeling theatrical.

The Bar Hemingway remains one of the most convincing arguments for checking in. Ernest Hemingway famously claimed to have “liberated” it in 1944, and today it still serves impeccably precise cocktails in a setting that feels intimate rather than staged. Dining, led by chefs such as Eugénie Béziat, moves away from predictable palace cuisine and introduces a lighter, more personal approach.

What to expect? Absolute polish, a certain formality, and prices that reflect both. What you will not find is experimental design or contemporary minimalism. The Ritz remains committed to a vision of Paris that many seek yet few places still execute convincingly.