Check in to these New Paris Hotels

July 25, 2022

When traveling to Paris, it’s often a question of where to stay. To save you the trouble, here are 12 recently opened 4-star and 5-star hotels, many with stellar views, and one that will make you feel like royalty. In case you’d like even more recommendations, I wrote all about the top new design hotels. And here’s my insider’s guide including dining and shopping. Wherever you choose to lay your head, enjoy your visit to the City of Light!

Cheval Blanc Paris is the first urban address to join the prestigious Cheval Blanc hotel family. Neighboring the newly renovated Samaritaine, this hotspot is located in the heart of the city overlooking the Seine. Read all about this 5-star hotel and dining spot in my features for Conde Nast Traveller UK and Conde Nast Traveler.

Set on a prestigious corner of the Triangle d’Or, the Bvlgari Hotel Paris features 76 rooms, a 25-meter pool, bar and restaurant, and a Parisian courtyard. Designed by Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio & Patricia Viel, it combines a classic Parisian Haussman-style with a more contemporary façade. And cuisine by superstar Italian chef Niko Romito.

Art Déco-inspired Kimpton St Honoré is the first Paris address for this boutique-hotel brand. Check into one of the 149 bedrooms and enjoy an indoor swimming pool, rooftop cocktail bar Sequoia, and Californian-inspired restaurant, Montecito. Famed designer Charles Zana is behind the 1930’s interiors.

Spend the night in a former 19th-century post office when sleeping at Hôtel Madame Rêve. The sleek space features 82 rooms including 19 suites with Eiffel Tower, Sacre-Coeur, and Notre Dame views. An expansive 1,000 sqm2 rooftop provides panoramic views, while two restaurants offer Mediterranean-style dining and Japanese-influenced cuisine.

5-star address La Demeure Montaigne combines the Parisian spirit and contemporary luxury within its 93 rooms and apartments. Set in an ancient courtyard, restaurant L’Envolée is helmed by Chef Grégory Réjou while the Thalgo spa features an indoor pool.

Sleep in the heart of Saint-Germain when you check in to 5-star Pavillon Faubourg Saint Germain. Every one of the 47 rooms and suites is light and airy, some more modern than others. Dine at the restaurant Les Parisiens followed by the cocktail bar, or dip into the spa where there’s a small plunge pool and treatment rooms.

The first of the Chelly family’s collection of addresses called Les Petits Hôtels was inaugurated steps away from Bastille and Place des Vosges on Boulevard Beaumarchais. Le Petit Beaumarchais invites into 6 bright and contemporary floors featuring 37 rooms imagined by interior designer Charlotte Camus. The spa features a sauna and a double treatment room.

With 28 rooms and 7 spacious suites each offering a unique experience from spirituality to cinema and music, and some overlooking the rooftops of Paris, the refurbished Seven Hotel is located in the heart of the Latin Quarter. The Wellness Chapel offers treatments including sound healing, Gua Sha, Kobido, and body massage.

Discover the bohemian charm of Monsieur Aristide set in the hilly neighborhood of Montmartre. Each of the 25 rooms, some with large terraces and others with duplex suites, are decorated by Paris’s high-end flea markets. This 4-star address is the first eco-conscious hotel from the Monsieur hotel group.

At the heart of the bustling Châtelet/Les Halles district, the Dandy hotel invites into a bobo setting, where bourgeois-boheme décor sets the mood in each of the 36 eclectic rooms. The Parisian-style brasserie includes a terrace for people-watching.

Neighboring the historic flea market Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, cozy up in Philippe Starck-style at the MOB House. Enjoy minimal deco and maximum entertainment (including treasure hunting in the 14 flea markets). This hotel includes 100 rooms, office space, a 100% organic brasserie by Jérôme Banctel (a two-Michelin-starred chef), a gym, and an outdoor pool. As an added bonus, here are my flea market tips.

I thought I’d also share the hotel that trumps them all, especially if you’d like to play the role of royalty. Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle is set on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. Read all about this regal address in my feature for Conde Nast Traveller UK as well as Conde Nast Traveler. This was my suite!

Living like Royalty in Versailles

August 30, 2021

Just in time for our 10th wedding anniversary this past June, I was assigned a very regal assignment for Condé Nast Traveller. This included a three-day stay at brand new hotel Le Grand Contrôle, set within the grounds of Château de Versailles. WHAT A DREAM! I was thrilled to play queen for a day, or three. With my king by my side.

Immediately upon passing through the doors of Le Grand Contrôle, you feel as though you’ve entered into another era. One in which it’s easy to feel underdressed with the staff buttoned up in stately uniforms.

Upon arriving, our personal butler settled us into our room, or shall I say lavish suite, named after the Necker family. He was a finance minister for Louis XVI and his wife helped to establish a children’s hospital in Paris.

After discovering the desk I decided this would be where I’d write my memoirs. With a feather plume, of course.

The heavenly view from the bathroom looked directly onto Château de Versailles. Even from my morning bath.

The rest of the antique-filled hotel proved just as well-appointed as our suite. From the game room to the downstairs lounge to the dining salons. And might I add that dinner set quite a theatrical stage!

The privilege of staying at Le Grand Contrôle, in addition to feeling like part of the royal court and dining at the helm of Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, is an after-hours guided tour of Château de Versailles.

One of the most magical moments, other than a behind-the-scenes look at the Queen’s Chambers, was walking through an empty Hall of Mirrors. The perfect photo op! It was our wedding anniversary, after all.

Mornings at Le Grand Contrôle included a private guided tour of the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, or the Queen’s Hamlet. Following each visit, I was beginning to understand Marie Antoinette on a much deeper level.

The stay at Le Grand Contrôle felt like living in the most regal period in French history. From a picnic on the grounds of Versailles to a candlelit dinner in our chambers. And let’s not forget the subterranean spa. Read all about my experience in the September issue of Condé Nast Traveller, October issue of CN Traveler US, or online.

Discovering Warsaw

February 3, 2019

A few weeks ago I ventured to Warsaw, I city I had often visited as a child en route to summers in Sanok with family. Having not been to Warsaw in well over a decade, I was eager to discover Poland’s vibrant capital city as an adult. What’s more, the most luxurious hotel in all of Poland, Raffles Europejski Warsaw, had just opened its doors. Where better to stay, just minutes away from the city’s Old Town.

Arriving to Raffles Europejski Warsaw, a short drive from the airport, I was in awe at the level of refinement in this over 160-year-old neo-renaissance palace built by Enrico Marconi, dating back to 1857. Far surpassing its former glory, this lavish hotel has redefined Polish luxury, combining historic elements with modern amenities.

Along with my cousin Dagmara who joined me from Kraków, we settled into Hotel Europejski, from the elegant Europejski Grill where we dined on modern Polish cuisine (including a decadent dessert of burnt butter gelato), to a signature drink at the stylish Long Bar, one of Raffles defining features. We also glanced into the humidor, eyeing the selection of single-malts and Armagnac.

Our spacious suite was fit for a queen, or two in this case. Even the marble bathroom was awe-inspiring. Not to mention the unique and inviting design of each room, making you feel very much at home, especially for an artist’s soul such as my own. Each room features original artwork by 120 Polish artists. With almost 500 works, Hotel Europejski contains one of the largest art collections in Poland. I couldn’t resist taking a tour, akin to a museum. Even the spa boasted a mosaic recovered from the hotel’s earlier days, as well as a menu filled with revitalizing treatments. (I recommend the signature massage using essential oils.)

A fan of all things sweet, we quickly discovered Lourse Warszawa patisserie, once the city’s most famous spot for confections and tea. The cakes looked as good as those in Paris, so of course we had to try a few, including Lourse’s signature chocolate cake. Pure heaven!

Minutes away from the hotel sits Warsaw’s Old Town. We spent an afternoon charmed by this medieval neighborhood reconstructed after World War II, also home to the Royal Castle. One of the most well-known restaurants Polka, served us a savory plate of pierogi. Craving more of this Polish specialty, the following day Dagmara and I dined at Stolica, a top spot for traditional Polish cuisine. Even better for something more refined. Another meal was enjoyed at Warszawa Wschodnia at the helm of rising star chef Mateusz Gessler. Open 24 hours and 7 days a week, it’s set in what’s called the Soho Factory, a more industrial part of Warsaw.

There’s no lack of culture in Warsaw, but this quick trip was more about enjoying the lavish comforts of Raffles Europejski Warsaw and the neighborhood. We did make it to the Fryderyk Chopin Museum for a lesson in classical music. The rest we’ll leave for the next visit.

Faena District

March 1, 2017

Having been to Miami over a dozen times for both work and play (namely Art Basel for the latter), I usually found myself nestled into a hotel in South Beach, along with everyone else who escaped to this sunny enclave. This time however, I explored a new area, removed from the crowds and with a charm and distinction all its own. Ten minutes north of South Beach in Mid-Beach sits the recently coined Faena district, Miami’s latest It spot. Having experienced the Faena Hotel in Buenos Aires, I could already envision the artful grandeur. Making a name for itself in late 2014 thanks to Argentian entrepreneur Alan Faena and his NY based business partner, this district includes two hotels and a performing arts theater. I was eager to discover the historic boutique hotel Casa Claridge’s, or Casa Faena, once an apartment building built in 1926.

Upon entering you feel transported to another world, one in Spain or even Morocco. The luminous library in the hotel’s inner courtyard is well-equipped with literature and design books. I could easily have spent the afternoon here, or reading on the roof deck, but there was a beach umbrella calling my name. We quickly settled into our room, a spacious King with balcony and views to the beach, the next stop.

Little makes me happier than a shady spot in front of the sea. With so many festivals and activities going on during Miami’s high-season, we were still able to avoid the crowds and revel in what felt like a private beach. Once the sun set we headed to the laid-back Broken Shaker, a stellar bar nearby that opened in 2012, and dined at their new 27 restaurant. The next morning we were back on the beach, with just a quick walk to the Faena family’s latest addition, Hotel Faena, opened a year ago.

This modern hotel, a contrast to complement its historic predecessor, was just the place I’d like to check-in to for a few more days. Complete with gym, spa, pool and two gourmet restaurants, there was much to discover. And let’s not forget the neighboring Faena Theater, reminiscent of Old Hollywood. A destination unto itself, was there really any reason to ever leave the Faena District?

Le Negresco

October 28, 2016

My last trip to the Côte d’Azur was in March. I spent a little time in Nice but was eager to become better acquainted with this, the region’s capital. Aside from its Mediterranean climate, it’s a city of art and culture, another reason to fall in love with it. To properly immerse myself in the world of French art, where better to stay than at the historic hotel Le Negresco. Centrally located between Cannes and Monaco, it sits on the famous Promenade de Anglais. It is here in this National Historic Monument, that the French works of art from Louis XIII to modern art, have a home. I knew I would be in good company.

Upon entering, the grandeur of this hotel is hard to describe. I’ve stayed in many beautiful hotels around the world, but Le Negresco is in a class of its own. The Versailles Lounge alone takes your breath away, with Louis XIV’s portrait, marble floors, hand-painted ceiling, and elegant furnishings. The fireplace too, is original. I could imagine the decadent events having taken place in this salon since Henri Negresco opened the hotel in 1913, now over 100 years old.

Next I entered the Royal Lounge, centrally situated beneath a large glass dome. This is Negresco’s soul, and you can certainly feel it. Once an elegant ballroom, it’s now an elaborate event space, displaying portraits of French royalty, including Napoleon III. A stunning Baccarat chandelier provides the centerpiece. Fittingly, the hotel’s 93 year old owner Jeanne Augier’s portrait also has a place on the wall. After all, it is she who welcomes each guest to her home, which she has taken great pride in decorating. She lives on the top floor with her cat, and ensures that this private, family run hotel remains at the highest 5-star level in comfort and cuisine.

A good friend from Nice had often spoken about the restaurants at Le Negresco, particularly the vibrant and colorful La Rotonde. It’s in fact an 18th century carousel with wooden horses circling the restaurant. My eyes opened wide in amazement as I entered this space and understood immediately why it’s such a warm and welcoming place dedicated to families. The terrace opens up to the sea and this is where I chose to have lunch, accompanied by the sun. Breakfast would be enjoyed in the carousel.

Le Negresco is also known for its haute cuisine. Le Chantecler is Nice’s finest restaurant, with two stars in the Michelin Guide under the culinary expertise of chef Jean-Denis Rieubland. He defines his cuisine and style as “inspired by Provence, with the respect of its products and traditions”. This is THE place for French gastronomy, boasting a wine cellar of over 15,000 bottles, with woodwork dating back to 1751. After dinner you can unwind at the neighboring bar with live music and a good digestif.

With each of the 96 rooms and 21 suites uniquely decorated with period furniture, I was eager to take a closer look. Mrs Augier being an art connoisseur and collector, walking through the hotel and up the four floors feels much like being in a museum, with artwork from Salvador Dali and Sonia Delaunay, tapestries from Raymond Moratti and sculptures from Niki de Saint Phalle, to name a few. And the rooms? Timeless perfection.

I felt very much at home in my room overlooking the Bay of Angels and knew I would return to this Art Hotel called Le Negresco.

high tea time

November 13, 2015

As the days turn shorter and winter begins to make its presence known, I turn towards the sweet side of life in Paris. Having sipped chai in nearly all of the five star tea salons, each one is an experience in itself. France does excel in its pastries after all, and having a sweet tooth, I’ll try any sugary concoction whipped up by a respected pâtissier. My most recent experience in l’heure du goûter, as the French call snack time, was by the skillful hand of Pastry Chef Cédric Grolet at Le Meurice, with world renowned Alain Ducasse at the helm.

Joined by two gourmand friends, we sat in the elegant restaurant Le Dalí, and started our high tea with a glass of bubbly, French style. What I immediately noticed were Christophe Robin’s Little Indulgences, warm finger sandwiches prepared to order. How divine! And I hadn’t even brought my attention to the sweet portion yet.

The trays were stacked high with homemade sweets and scones with cream, each more delicious than the next.

As an unexpected bonus, the most delicious madeleines were served to us, fresh out of the oven. But what took the cake was the Hazelnut, a rich and chocolaty dessert that must be tasted to be truly understood.

The afternoon was long and luxurious! Leah Walker, fellow traveler, donned her new rive droite tote in high style. Along with writer Mary Winston Nicklin, we indulged in a tea time to remember. Until next time, ladies!

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