"Paris has more than its fair share of hotels to see and be seen in, from buzzy hot spots with Studio 54-style wait lists to storied suites that keep the visitors coming. Countering that razzle-dazzle with stealthy elegance that’s quintessentially Parisian but infinitely more homely (especially for those accustomed to the accouterments of butler service) is 1 Place Vendôme: the first hotel from Swiss fine jewelry and watchmaker Chopard and the Scheufele family, who have owned the company since 1963. This jewel of the regal 1st arrondissement is situated amid Place Vendôme’s murmur of luxury labels and directly above the Chopard boutique, and guests enter through an imposing blue door—unbranded except for an enigmatic cursive C. More akin to a member’s club than a hotel (it’s only accessible to guests and their visitors), several conventions stop here: There’s an 18th-century stone fireplace and sweeping staircase instead of a lobby, and check-in (as with dining) happens whenever and wherever guests please, whether it’s in the library, lounges, or in one of the five rooms and 10 suites—including the double-height, Versailles-worthy Appartement Chopard. Other decor delights include a glass-walled table d’hôte that allows guests to peer in on the chefs while dining; a Winter Garden conservatory with a jungle-themed mosaic mural crafted from thousands of cabochon gemstones; and a Chinese-inspired fumoir with innovative, almost-imperceptible scent-extraction perforations. This is classic Paris, but cut with a haute private edge. From $1,525. —Katie Baron" - CNT Editors
