LOCATION: Le Royal Monceau Raffles is situated on Avenue Hoche, a quintessentially Parisian street – the kind your imagination instantly conjures up when you think of the charming French capital. Hoche is one of the 12 avenues that stem from the iconic Arc de Triomphe, making the hotel just a short amble from one of Paris’s most famous monuments.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The welcome we received from the staff was low-key but attentive, and instilled a feeling of warmth. We were instantly made to feel relaxed and at home, a sense that continued throughout our stay. On walking through the property’s grand doorway, you get an immediate sense that culture and art are extremely important to the essence of the property. The walls are adorned with more than 350 works of art from the property’s private collection – guided tours of which are available – and I lost count of the number of chandeliers hanging throughout the hotel. The artistic influence continues with an art gallery and a private cinema.

THE FACTS: Le Royal Monceau opened in 1928 and has welcomed countless esteemed guests over the years, from Winston Churchill to Michael Jackson. It reopened in 2010 following a two-year refurbishment carried out by renowned French designer Philippe Starck. The hotel has 149 exquisitely designed rooms, each unique and full of character. Guests get first-class comfort in luxury surroundings that radiate a sense of a private French residence. The property is home to Matsuhisa Paris, one of famed Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurants, which serves a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines. The Italian-style, Michelin-starred Il Carpaccio and La Cuisine, which is famous for its brunch, complete the stellar line-up of culinary options. The Clarins spa is impressive, with a swimming pool the property claims is the biggest of any of the the city’s luxury hotels. Head here for a slice of tranquillity and TLC after a long day out on the cobbled streets of Paris.

EXPLORE: Raffles’s central location means visitors can easily head out on foot to explore the City of Light’s vast number of attractions. A visit to the Arc de Triomphe is the perfect way to begin your discovery of Paris. A walk along the Champs-Elysées will then lead to Le Jardin des Tuileries, a beautiful public park that offers a refreshing change of pace. No trip would be complete without taking in the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre, all of which you can access using the transport links close to the property.

WOW: My lasting memory of Le Royal Monceau will be of feasting on the vast options served up at La Cuisine’s renowned Sunday brunch, while sitting in glorious sunshine in the hotel’s courtyard. Parisians come from all over town to sample it and with good reason. The food was divine, the service outstanding and the surroundings superlative. 

Book it: £870 a night including breakfast