Ritz Paris

Overlooking Place Vendôme, this 1898 building stands 1 km from the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées shops, a historic landmark among Paris luxury hotels. Rooms carry pastel-toned French decor with artwork, antiques and marble bathrooms, while palatial suites add separate living areas, and upgraded themed suites face the square itself; some suites have private terraces with garden views.

Two bars, including the Hemingway-inspired venue, sit alongside a bistro, two upscale restaurants and several lounges. The Ritz Club & Spa houses an indoor pool heated to 30°C with underwater music and a trompe-l'œil ceiling, three fitness rooms, a sauna, a steam room and Chanel beauty treatments.

The property suits travelers weighing a storied palace address against the service and space a five-star tier promises, and those comparing historic Paris hotels on their facilities as much as their location.