Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

Character and identity

Set on Place de la Concorde in an 18th-century palace originally commissioned by Louis XV, the Crillon reopened in 2017 after a four-year overhaul led by architect Aline Asmar d'Amman that brought modern residential warmth to its gilded bones. Expect pink marble floors, wrought-iron rails and painted ceilings alongside softer contemporary salons. The 124 rooms and suites lean residential, with antique and bespoke pieces. Dining spans Paul Pairet's brasserie Nonos & Comestibles, the Jardin d'Hiver lounge, Butterfly Pâtisserie and the Bar des Ambassadeurs, whose Champagne list is among the city's deepest. Sense spa and a small but striking subterranean pool complete the picture. Butler service comes with every room.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The draw here is the address and the artisanal restoration: staying inside a Louis XV palace on Place de la Concorde, with butler service standard even at entry level, is the experience you're paying for. Splurge if French history and craft are the point of the trip; book a Specialty Suite such as the Duc de Crillon or Bernstein for the real payoff, and avoid the fashion week peaks if rate matters.