Location:Situated in Paris’ fashion and design heartland in the 8th arrondissement in the west of the city, Le Bristol occupies a prime spot on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The street was home to mansions of the French elite in the 18th and 19th centuries and is now synonymous with luxury shopping, counting Saint Laurent, Hermès and Prada among a string of high-end boutiques located on the street. It is also home to the official residence of the President of France – the Élysée Palace – and within 10-15 minutes’ walk from both the Champs-Élysées and Musée d’Orsay.

First impressions:Grand, opulent and quintessentially French, subtle and minimalist this is not. Marble floors, stained glass windows, old tapestries and beautiful staircases adorn the hotel while a grand piano and a dramatic floral display are the centrepieces of the huge lobby. Rooms feature lush, heavy, floral curtains and bedspreads, antique art and Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture. The overall feel is one of grandiosity with meticulous attention to detail.

The facts:The hotel is made up of two buildings, joined by a glass hallway that runs through one side of the garden. The property has 188 rooms and suites, a stunning indoor pool on the sixth floor fitted out in the style of a ship with large windows offering views of Paris, and an Alice in Wonderland-style manicured courtyard garden with a large mirrored wall at one end. The hotel opened in 1925 after it was converted from a mansion and was briefly home to the US Embassy during the Second World War. It was purchased by Rudolf August Oetker, founder of the luxury hotel group the Oetker Collection, part of the Oetker Group, in 1978. Le Bristol is home to four restaurants, with executive chef Eric Frechon holding four Michelin stars since joining. The Epicure has three of these and serves high-end traditional French fare, while one-star 114 Faubourg, is a more casual set-up serving modern dishes.

Explore:Venture out for a spot of designer shopping. Or take in art exhibitions such as those at the Grand Palais before visiting the French capital’s top sites including the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde.

Wow: The Signature Suites. Each of these eight individually designed rooms has its own unique decor. The Panoramic Suite is the ultimate room with Paris’ landmarks stretched out before you and a dining room to boot. The Terrace Suite has its own private garden with a bird’s-eye view of the courtyard below, a living room and two huge marble bathrooms. Make the most of the space and surrounding and order the American breakfast to your room – it doesn’t get much better than this!

Book it:A superior room at Le Bristol Paris leads in at €1,300. Continental breakfast is an additional €45 per person, per day, or an American breakfast is €60 per person, per day.

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