When it comes to The Ritz, the girl serves, and harder than the latest Drag Race. She’s like your gay best friend: camp, fabulous, chic, sexy, and oh-so provocative (and in all the good ways). Her image was conjured up way back in 1898 when Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz teamed up with French chef Auguste Escoffier. Their match was one truly made in hotel nirvana, and as such, created a bastion of gratuitous luxe that has been setting the bar for Paris’s hotel scene ever since. Celebrities adore her, and so do the royals, and it has been Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s hotel of choice for yonks. Style-wise, it’s a grand old mix of Belle Époque and classic Baroque regency that is timeless in every sense of the word.
Following a fantastically expensive makeover back in 2016, the hotel still retains its glorious old-world charm. Hardcore gilded nick-nacks in the form of crystal-dripping chandeliers, velvet drapery, moody parlors, period furniture, and gilded mirrors give it that Beauty & The Beast feel. It’s unapologetic maximalism but done well and not at all gaudy or intimidating. The hotel brings in all sorts. The fashion crowd loves it, as do all the jewelry glitter bomb freaks who pour into gawp at all the latest Ritz collabs. But don’t be mistaken, this hotel is made for the world’s deepest pockets, so don’t turn up thinking you can dunk a Twinkie into your cup of tea for five bucks.
Elsewhere the vibe is very Disney-esque, especially in the surprisingly cozy rooms. There are 142 of them, including the mighty Prestige Suites named after some of the hotel’s most famous guests, including the likes of Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway. As in the rest of the hotel, Empire Style is mixed with a dash of Parisian flaneur. Glorious color palettes of light dusty pinks, creams, and duck egg blues wow, alongside beautifully rich Louis XV furnishings, rich brocades, luscious fabrics, and signature curlicues from tulip-shaped lampshades and key-shaped light switches. It’s all very regal and in the best way possible. Bathrooms? Visions of marble with sinks crowned by the legendary jeweled golden swan taps. The peach towels and bathrobes, a signature hallmark of César Ritz, still adorn the racks, alongside some very fluffy and cushy slippers come bedtime.
In terms of grub, you are well and truly sorted. While Michelin eats is up for grabs, ditch the starry-eyed for the more casual Bar Vendôme to get a feel for how your regular Parisians choose to splurge. Dinner is a mix of haute brasserie and caviar deluxe. In true French style, precision is everything and each dish served is as detailed and considered as it is richly delicious. Sadly, I was sick come my visit, so I could only munch down some chicken slathered in a copious amount of jus. Regardless, it was lush, as was the waiter who served it. Wash it all down in Bar Hemingway for cocktails until the early hours. Breakfast? It’s all lovely, but just spend your time scoffing at all the pastry. Delicious. If you are not a foodie and oxygen is your preferred calorie of choice, head for The Ritz Health Club and Spa. The underground sanctuary is a little touch of R&R heaven wear guests plop around in their robes to the spa. The pool is stunning and worth a few laps, as are the sauna and steam bath.
Summed up, The Ritz is one of those hotels you just have to say yes too. Yes, it is eye-wateringly expensive and gloriously ostentatious, but that’s the point. Bankruptcy is worth it, but at least you’ll be serving the chicest prison sentence known to man. Et voila.
Top Takeaways:
Location: Place Vendôme, Paris, France
Rating: Five-star
The vibe: Beauty & The Beast castle meets Belle Époque and classic Baroque regency.
Food + drink: Haute, haute, and more haute. You will eat some of the best hotel food of your life here, and you will remember it, vividly in your wild foodie dreams.
Amenities: Restaurant; Bar; Spa; Hair salon; Boutiques; Pool; Gym; Sauna…the list is infinite.
Our favourite thing about the hotel: The staff. They are impeccable and know their stuff. Plus they are cheeky, when needed, and I personally love that. Top marks.
What’s nearby? the fruits of central Paris, plus every major tourist attraction from the Louvre to the Opera.
Any personal neighbourhood recs? Wake up early and stroll through Tuileries Gardens. It’s pure magic.
Rooms: 142
Pricing: From about 2130 USD per night.
Closest airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle
