Top Hotels in Paris – A Comprehensive Guide

There are great philosophical arguments about which people feel passionately (think cats versus dogs, Rome versus Florence), but few incite the same vehemence as naming the finest hotel in Paris. This delightful disagreement offers an excellent opportunity to experience each of these hotels, ensuring a fair comparison.

Every year, for the World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels are rated based on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties are classified as City or Resort based on their locations and amenities.

This year, grandes dames such as Le Meurice share the honors with good newcomers like La Réserve — Hôtel & Spa, the Shangri-La Hôtel, and the Peninsula. Each of these venues offers discreet service, and the Shangri-La, located in the 16th Arrondissement, provides unbeatable views of the city’s most iconic monument from many of its rooms. One fan remarked, “The Eiffel Tower views are absolutely stunning. We are returning to Paris for the third time in three years, and we are going back to the Shangri-La because of those rooms.”

The Hôtel Plaza Athénée also received high accolades for its accommodations, styled in a French Regency or Art Deco-inspired design. One reader stated, “This is what greatness looks like,” while another praised the Avenue Montaigne property as “the epitome of Parisian chic.” Fans of the Ritz were thrilled to see the Place Vendôme hotel reopen after a near four-year closure and $200 million renovation. “Simply brilliant in all respects,” one reader commented, while another noted, “One of the world’s most iconic hotels; the renovation maintained the character and history of the hotel while providing beautifully decorated rooms and suites.” Meanwhile, the fabled Le Bristol climbed from No. 2 last year to No. 1, swapping spots with last year’s favorite, La Réserve. Regardless of which of these hotels you choose, you are sure to enjoy an incredible vacation.

10. Saint James

Score: 91.32

9. Le Meurice

Score: 91.37

8. Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Score: 92.18

7. Shangri-La Hôtel

Score: 92.74

6. Hôtel Plaza Athénée

Score: 93.03

5. The Peninsula

Score: 93.12

4. Four Seasons Hotel George V

Score: 93.65

3. The Ritz

Score: 93.86

2. La Réserve — Hôtel & Spa

Score: 94.37

1. Le Bristol

Score: 94.82

The only downside to staying at Le Bristol, as its admirers will argue, is that there is no going back to another hotel of choice. This Faubourg Saint-Honoré icon is intimate in scale yet grand in service and luxury. It features a private courtyard and a rooftop pool that overlooks Parisian rooftops. The sumptuous rooms, accessed via a wrought-iron elevator, make you feel like royalty, as does the extraordinary service offered by the keen staff. One reader wrote, “Superb property in every respect. I wish I could move in!”