Hot hotels: five-star stunners
Putting the grand into the European grand tour, these star-studded hotels deliver levels of opulence that more than do justice to their historic locations. Sarah Jappy swoons her way from Santorini to Seville…
01/10/2022
Le Bristol Paris
Socrate, Le Bristol’s resident feline, lounges languorously across the polished concierge counter with an air of regal disregard. His face exudes carefree satisfaction, while his body – an impossibly fluffy fur cloud – positively radiates relaxation. The Oetker Collection has picked its fuzzy French mascot perfectly, his bright-eyed, laissez-faire attitude mirroring the laidback elegance of this highest of high-end Parisian hotels.
Stepping off the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, just north of the Élysée Palace, guests of Le Bristol have the red carpet literally rolled out for them. Inside, the rich textile cascades over marble floors, between stone columns and beneath dangling crystal chandeliers (a signature feature of MM Design’s interior look). It’s just the beginning of a distinctive cold-meets-warm aesthetic: tapestries cover every other wall and plumped, autumnal-hued seats soften dark wood furnishings and delicate mirrored tables. There’s a freshness to it, accentuated by flowers placed in rooms daily, bread made each morning in the hotel’s own mill (housed underground in one of the property’s many subterranean floors) and a light breeze that sweeps through from Le Jardin Français, a central courtyard bursting with more than 5,000 species of native plants.
And, while everything else is as perfectly ‘just so’ as you’d expect – the sumptuous spa, the top-notch eatery Epicure, the in-house macarons – it’s the unexpected that makes a stay here truly memorable, namely, the sixth-floor haven that is the rooftop pool. Imitating the interior of a galley ship (albeit one with views of both the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Cœur), it is ensconced by slanted, wood-framed windows, polished decking underfoot and portholes on every visible door. It’s a playful place that feels both escapist (sun-loungers lie outside on a terrace overlooking the courtyard) and family friendly; an area guests can bring their children to without worrying about disrupting the restorative quiet of other inhabitants – including our sleepy Socrate, of course.
SLEEP SATISFACTION
Le Bristol was the first hotel in France to receive the ultra-prestigious ‘Distinction Palace’ status back in 2010 – only 24 others have achieved such an honour since – which should give an indication of just how parfait everything here is, including a good night’s sleep.
HIGH LIFE SAYS
There’s something gorgeously charming about Le Bristol’s decorous central elevator, complete with cushioned seat, floor-length mirrors and a classic corrugated iron gate closing. Instant Insta-fodder.
