"An early recipient of the Palace distinction when the classification began in 2011, this property is recognized among Paris’s top‑tier luxury hotels for meeting the rigorous standards that define the Palace rank." - Mary Winston Nicklin
"Sitting behind towering walls of ivy with Juliet balconies and bright red awnings, this iconic luxury property feels like the French countryside despite being just steps from the River Seine. It offers sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower and the shops along Avenue Montaigne in Paris’s 8th Arrondissement, and is popular with Instagrammers for its photogenic rooms and vistas and with celebrities for its luxe offerings. The châteaux-like entryway, impeccably dressed staff, rows of ornate furnishings and glass double doors lead into a bucolic, serene atmosphere ideal for guests seeking a peaceful retreat." - Sean Flynn
"Don't let the aura of sedate elegance fool you: there's always been a playfulness at the heart of this grande dame. Opened in 1913, with its signature red awnings facing the stately Avenue Montaigne, the Plaza Athénée has long had ties to the fashion world, from the days when Christian Dior named collections after the hotel, to its appearance in fashion-themed favorites like Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada. Decor-wise, that translates to classic, chandelier-heavy public spaces that give way to contemporary flashes, like the futuristic, chrome-covered banquettes of an Alain Ducasse restaurant, and the blue velvet-covered ceiling of Le Bar; and guest-wise, it means you're likely to spot some fashion editors and design house execs circling the lobby." - Sandra Ramani, Lindsey Tramuta
"Avenue Montaigne There are few addresses in Paris more fashionable than the Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Located on the impossibly chic Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement, this is the hotel of choice for tout le monde when fashion week descends on the City of Light, and you can expect to see glossy magazine editors and A-listers rubbing shoulders in the lobby or the newly-revamped Dior spa. All that might make you think this isn’t the sort of place you could bring your sticky-fingered sprogs—but you’d be wrong. The hotel is more than happy to welcome little ones, who’ll be delighted with the kid-centric amenities left in their room, from miniature toweled bathrobes and matching slippers to a teddy bear in the Plaza’s iconic shade of red. Winter is a particularly magical time to come when the hotel’s famous courtyard is lit with thousands of twinkling lights and covered over with an ice-skating rink, open for free to the hotel’s youngest guests every afternoon. Ask for a room on one of the higher floors for breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower, just across the Seine. —Luciana Bellini" - Luciana Bellini
"Walking distance from the Eiffel Tower: 19 minutes Sheer luxury hits you in its grandest form at the Plaza Athénée, one of the best hotels in Paris. Immortalized as the glamorous backdrop in the season finale of Sex and The City, the hotel has 145 spacious rooms and 43 suites, all impeccably furnished—some in Louis XVI and Regency style (six floors) and others in Art Deco style (two floors). Some rooms overlook Avenue Montaigne, and others face onto a peaceful internal courtyard, where an ice-skating rink is erected in winter. Rooms are beautifully decorated, with elegant furnishings, marble bathrooms, and every comfort imaginable: from plasma screen TVs and high-speed Internet access to a pillow menu, hypo-allergenic linens, and the Berluti Service, bespoke grooming for the well-being of your shoes. The sleek bar serves some of the best cocktails in Paris; all perused on mini hand-held digital screens by an improbably glamorous clientele." - Lauren Burvill