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I've traveled to Paris regularly for the last 18 years. I think these 14 hotels are as magical as the city itself.

Dan Koday   

I've traveled to Paris regularly for the last 18 years. I think these 14 hotels are as magical as the city itself.
  • Paris, France, is home to some of the best hotels in the world.
  • From lavish five-star luxury to character-filled boutique inns, these are the best hotels in Paris.

When it comes to choosing where to stay in Paris, the city is filled with accommodations ranging from delightful bed-and-breakfasts to grand hotels in architecturally significant buildings.

I've stayed at many Paris hotels over the years for trips to France to visit family, and I've always found the hotels to be quite memorable, from contemporary-style wonders to exquisite five-star hotels. The following list represents the properties I think deliver warm hospitality, lots of sophisticated style, and a stay that will be worth the splurge — which may very well be required as some of Paris' finest hotels are also its most expensive ones.

As a coveted and cherished world destination, Paris hotels also book up fast, so it's advised to book as far in advance as possible to find the best selection and cheaper prices. Keep reading for more tips to know about Paris' best hotels, which I've personally researched and reviewed. Need more? Here is Insider's list of the 20 best hotels in Paris.

Madame Rêve

One of Paris's most charming and stylish hotel offerings, Madame Rêve wows with guest rooms that are heavy on smart design and filled with luxe furnishings, darker wood tones, and clean, contemporary midcentury-inspired furnishings under a glass roof that floods in light. The striking Emser-tiled bathrooms, which are covered in a fun pattern from floor to ceiling, are particularly eye-popping.

All of Madame Rêve's pleasantries are housed in the historic Louvre post office dating back to 1888, with spaces immersed in art that includes works from Olivier Masmonteil, Inès Longevial, and María José Benvenuto. Relaxing in the lobby, cafe, or separate restaurant and terrace is splendid, but my recommendation is to check out the newly minted rooftop bar, ROOF, which has panoramic Paris views and serves canapés and cocktails.

Book Madame Rêve

The Hoxton Paris

With a double-height lobby bathed in dreamy light, The Hoxton caught my eye immediately the last time I popped in while in Paris. Once a distinguished residence and later a clothing factory, the hotel is spread across three buildings that are linked by two courtyards. Two 18th-century spiral staircases are focal points; one is located in the lobby, and the other leads up to the cozy Jacques Bar serving Moroccan-themed cocktails in a room with a circular wood bar, floral wallpaper, and round comfy ottoman and couch seating.

In guest rooms, design statements abound, from herringbone laid wood floors to large leaning mirrors and pops of color. Expect courtyard or street views, and some rooms also have terraces. Three attic rooms on the 4th floor have Eiffel Tower views.

The location on the charming Rue de Sentier and prices, which start at €99 for tiny (aptly named "Shoebox") rooms, are a good value nonetheless, with prices increasing across three larger categories.

Book The Hoxton Paris

Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet's

A two-minute walk from the Champs-Élysées, the Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet's is a posh option near some of the most iconic shopping in the world, not to mention the Arc de Triomphe. So, it's ideal for travelers like myself who want to combine the best of sightseeing with Paris' famed shopping.

I'm always impressed by Barrière Group's attentive, personalized service, and this hotel stands out for newly renovated guest rooms with contemporary Parisian elegance. The Harcourt Paris Suite, which has two bedrooms, also includes beautiful photographs, marble and wood inlay floors, glass-topped coffee tables, and views of the Arc de Triomphe. Try the famed brasserie Le Fouqet's Paris, an institution in its own right that notably hosts the after-party for the César Awards. But the true hidden gems of this hotel are Le Joy, the stunning garden restaurant, the handsome underground pool, and the cozy speakeasy, Le Marta.

Book Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet's

Hotel du Louvre, part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt

In my experience, maximizing your time in Paris is all about being in the right location, especially on shorter jaunts. Hotel du Louvre is located between the Louvre and the Opéra Garnier, one of the most central places to stay to explore all of the city's sites by foot.

The hotel has 164 well-appointed rooms in neutral tones with contemporary Parisian decor, and 58 suites for every type of traveler, whether you're like me and require a view during your Parisian stay or seek an indulgent soaking tub. In common areas, the glass-roofed lounge is a comfortable place to stretch out, whether on the plush couches and club chairs or at the fashionable bar, which is adorned with plants and antique books.

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Hotel Edouard 7

Filled with je ne sais quoi French sophistication, I always recommend guests stay at Hotel Edouard 7 for the well-appointed, chic guest rooms blanketed in color, as well as its French on-site restaurant and bar. It's also located near the Palais Garnier, the majestic Paris opera house, and is within a stone's throw of the most incredible shopping in the world, including the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores.

Book Hotel Edouard 7

Hotel Lutetia

Hotel Lutetia is a palatial Art Deco-style luxury hotel located in Saint-Germain near the Luxembourg Gardens. Many guest rooms offer impressive views out of storybook-like windows, with some even featuring balconies facing the Eiffel Tower. The hotel also has a swimming pool, a sauna, and a modern full-service spa. Don't miss Bar Joséphine, an awe-inspiring jazz bar with painted mural ceilings. I like to sip the "You're Driving Me Crazy" cocktail (Tanqueray gin with apricot, plum vinegar, camomile, and Chartreuse) here and imagine the historic hotel when it was the haunt of Hemingway, Matisse, and Picasso.

Book Hotel Lutetia

Niepce Paris Hotel

Located in artsy Montparnasse, which was once another home to Hemingway, the Niepce Paris Hotel is a four-star boutique charmer from Hilton's Curio Collection.

Guest rooms have muted palettes dialed up by gold-hued accents and you'll definitely want to stay here if you're visiting to see the catacombs in the tunnels of former quarries, as they're a quick walk from the hotel.

Book Niepce Paris Hotel

Ritz Paris

This stunning and famed Place Vendôme hotel is one of the most exclusive places to stay in the world and is also one of the most expensive. I found this out firsthand when I proposed to my now-husband next to the ornate fireplace in the Salon Proust, a tea room and champagne bar where bubbly is served in beautifully-branded flutes.

Regardless of whether or not you splurge for a special occasion or forgo checking in completely, I recommend stopping by for a drink at the long-standing Bar Hemingway, a tiny haunt that was a favorite of the writer. With just 25 seats, reservations are hard to come by, but you can always fall back on the property's equally dazzling Ritz Bar, which houses a small circular bar and other cozy nooks for libations in a zodiac theme.

Upstairs, rooms have gilded furnishings, crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces, intricate crown moldings, floral print rugs, dramatic wallpaper, and some come with pianos and game tables.

Book Ritz Paris

Maison Mère

When you stay at Maison Mere, a relatively new Paris boutique hotel, you'll get a sense of what's cool and trendy thanks to rotating artwork that celebrates local artists and craftsmen alongside decorative prints, tchotchkes, and other objets d'art. The prices (as low as $160 a night as of press time) are just right, making this one of my top affordable options that won't skimp on style.

If you need to focus, sink into the rounded and tufted pink couch in the coworking cafe that's open 24/7, which is rare in Paris. A restaurant is open from Wednesday to Saturday, and beginning in September 2022, a bar will be open every day again.

Book Maison Mère

Cheval Blanc

After visiting the enchanting Cheval Blanc in St. Barth, I was excited to see how LVMH's hotel management would envision their Paris maison, which is situated in the historic building of La Samaritaine. Opening after a 15-year restoration and transformation with a strong sense of its Art Deco heritage, the hotel houses an impressive four restaurants, one of which, Plénitude, has a three-Michelin star rating. Rooms overlook the Seine and the Left Bank and resemble a beautiful French residence bathed in light all around.

Book Cheval Blanc

Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais

Located in one of Paris' most dynamic neighborhoods, Le Marais, which is brimming with trendy boutiques and buzzing restaurants, Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais is an intimate, romantic, and quintessentially French boutique hotel. I visited on one of my first-ever trips to Paris and thought the lobby parlor room was a highlight with traditional furnishings, many of which are French antiques, plus floral and vine patterned wallpapers, a working fireplace, and a charming decorative harp and pianoforte. References to the theater run throughout the property, paying homage to the 18th-century playwright for which the hotel is named, with darling — albeit smaller sized — rooms and an overall ambiance and service that feels like you're staying in a stylish, historic home.

Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais's favorable rates and value make it quite popular, so I advise choosing this hotel if you're planning a trip at least three months in advance, but ideally six or more. That's because the best rooms (in my opinion, towards the front of the hotel) book up fast, and the entire hotel is often sold out, especially during busy travel periods.

Book Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais

Kimpton St. Honoré

Be among the first travelers to stay at Kimpton St. Honoré, the brand's first outpost in France. In line with other Kimpton hotels, the property is pet-friendly, which is always important for me as a dog owner. It also has a lovely rooftop terrace with mirrors to reflect the views.

While the minimalist, muted guest rooms lack some of the Parisian flair I generally gravitate towards, they do have marble-clad bathrooms and are larger in size than most hotels with such a prime Paris location.

Book Kimpton St. Honoré

Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel

I'm a Marriott Bonvoy brand loyalist and always enjoy staying in one of their 30 diverse hotel brands across Paris. One of my favorites is Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, where I like to return to the elegant lobby filled with gold leaf chandeliers and marble floors to reflect on the sensory and cultural overload of the City of Light, and the unique power of traveling there.

The rooms at Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel have panache with additional Art Deco touches and luxe, black-marble-clad bathrooms. Some rooms and suites also have large terraces with postcard-worthy views.

Book Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel

View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting Paris.

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