Paris je t’aime: Why Le Meurice is the definitive place to stay in the City of Lights

Paris’s original palace hotel, Le Meurice is a destination that has it all: perfect location, resplendent history, contemporary amenities and exceptional service. 

Now part of the Dorchester Collection, this 200-year-old grand dame overlooks the Jardin Tuileries and is a mere stone’s throw from the Louvre, Rue Saint-Honoré and Place Vendôme. The interiors of Le Meurice are designed to reflect an uninterrupted attachment to the French art of living and an homage to Versailles. 

Walking through the doors, guests enter a serene and elegant world, where the refined splendours of 18th-century architecture have been flawlessly updated by industrial designer-architect Philippe Starck and Charles Jouffre the French artisan-designer who created the sumptuous drapes and hangings of the Grand Foyer at the Opéra Garnier. One only needs to look up to see the same influence here: stunning, atmospheric tapestries adorn the ceilings of Restaurant Le Dalí and Bar 228.

The rooms and suites are equally impressive not to mention particularly spacious for the French capital. The hotel’s statement penthouse suite, the Belle Etoile suite, boasts 250 sqm and a 360-degree view of the world’s most romantic city – including the Eiffel Tower – from the wraparound balcony.For les gastronomes, Le Meurice has much to offer. The hotel’s two Michelin star Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse is overseen by chef Amaury Bouhours, who masterfully lifts fresh and local ingredients — so local, in fact, that the restaurant is awarded by the sustainable label Ecotable — to something very special indeed, balancing a relaxed but refined ambience that is central to the hotel’s approach. 

Fresh, seasonal produce bursting with French flavour is very much at the heart of the restaurant concept, paired, of course, with exceptional wines from the hotel’s generously stocked cellar.

But for those with a sweet tooth, it is worth staying here solely for the genius desserts of La Patisserie du Meurice par Cedric Grolet, whose decadent fruit sculptures are flavours for the soul. Finally, Bar 228 is the ideal destination to while away an evening: rich, moody lighting, impossibly comfortable armchairs, and live jazz music to entertain as you enjoy a cocktail, conversation or a good book.

Here, Le Meurice general manager Franka Holtmann shares her favourite elements of the hotel’s sensational savoir faire.

Related: Read more in our Summer IssueFranka, what makes the rooms and suites so special?

All rooms have incredible views, and we balance the best of French heritage with the most modern features. The executive balcony room 605, facing the Jardin Tuileries, is our most requested – an attic room on the sixth floor kept as a Parisian apartment. The unique twist of this room is the beautiful hand painted wallpaper from de Gournay of exceptional quality with themes and patterns of the natural world, as an echo to the Tuileries. I’d also recommend booking a night at our Belle Etoile suite to enjoy a glass of Champagne on the 250 sqm terrace with 360° views.

Tell us about your typical guests?
Some of our guests have been coming to Le Meurice for more than 30 years. The hotel is ideal for both individuals and families – even larger ones – as the rooms facing the Tuileries Gardens on each floor can be connected to form a typical Parisian apartment with up to five bedrooms. A lot of our guests come for leisure, either taking time to discover the French capital, or as a stopover before going to Normandy or the South of France. Our guests know in advance that the employees will take care of them, always be available for special requests and make them feel secure. We create a home away from home.What about Le Meurice’s various culinary offerings?
We’ve always stood out among the best. It is my second experience with [chef] Alain Ducasse and I would consider him a pioneer and visionary. His culture and curiosity allows him to always be ahead of the curve. As a skilled and decisive captain he federates our teams, led by executive chef Amaury Bouhours, who takes them constantly up to the next level by proposing new challenges. Alain prefers seasonal culinary experiences to exotic creations and every detail counts. We have Le Dalí restaurant (run by Clémentine Bouchon), Bar 228 and our banqueting service.

How would you spend a perfect day in Paris?
After breakfast I’d head to rue Saint-Honoré – right behind the hotel – the best neighbourhood to find chic and classic French boutiques. I would make a quick detour to the Palais Royal, strolling around this very typical Parisian area lined with exceptional shops and authentic cafés, facing the apartment of French Gigi author, Colette.

After lunch at Allard, on the left bank, I would visit the Fondation Pinault at the Bourse du Commerce to see an amazing contemporary art exhibition. Art gives Paris a new poetry. Then, head to Spa Valmont pour Le Meurice to get pampered before ordering a tea and some Cedric Grolet pastries. To end the day, I’d see an opera at Palais Garnier followed by a sparkling midnight drink at their CoCo bar – and I’d spend a night at our Belle Etoile Penthouse suite with a view of Paris’ monuments from Sacré-Coeur to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. 

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