Le Bristol Paris

"A storied luxury hotel since its opening in 1925, Le Bristol has more suites than guest rooms, a stunning teak lined swimming pool with sweeping Paris views, an actual mill for producing its own flour, and a Three-MICHELIN-Star restaurant. Known for its legendary status and having been frequented by celebrities over the last century, Le Bristol is a historical and living institution in Paris." - Georges Rouzeau

"In a city that inspires millions, what makes a hotel stand out? For me it’s a property that will transport me into a new world, to live out a fantasy of a different life in a different location—a “main character moment,” as the TikTok generation might say. Le Bristol sets the scene for a stay that’s a world away from daily monotony and embraces what most hope and dream a trip to Paris will be: grand, storied, and luxurious, with Michelin-starred restaurants, top-class service, and a courtyard garden so peaceful you’ll forget you’re in one of the world’s busiest cities. Next year Le Bristol will celebrate its 100th anniversary with parties, but there’s no doubt its Parisian allure is timeless. From $2,000. —Abigail Malbon" - CNT Editors

"Tucked away in Paris' 8th arrondissement, travelers can find one of the chicest hotels in the city and quite possibly the world: Le Bristol. The 100-year-old hotel is simply the epitome of luxury, with no detail spared across its 190 suites, glittering rooftop pool, or five dining and drinking venues, which have earned it four Michelin stars, including the three Michelin-starred restaurant Epicure and one Michelin-starred brasserie 114 Faubourg. Even the in-house Birman cat, Socrate, is as an elegant creature with bright blue eyes and a fluffy white coat just dying for a pet. And while the main floors of the hotel are exceptional, its most exquisite feature is hiding in the basement. Make your way down the staircase, through the kitchen, and another set of steps, and you'll find L’Épicerie des Ateliers du Bristol, the hotel's in-house workspace for pasta, cheese, chocolate, and bread, along with an impressive wine cellar. The main event is the hotel's in-house mill, where bakers make "100% living bread," milling their own wheat and tending to bespoke sourdough starters. This work, a hotel representative explained as I deeply sniffed in as much of the scent of the bread as possible, is an homage to the French countryside and France's rich history of breadmaking. Next door is the perfect pairing to the bread — a cheese cave housing what the hotel describes as the "very height of French fromage," including rich comté, chèvre, and camembert, all sitting and maturing to perfection in a brick-walled space lined with wood that is keeping it at the ideal temperature and humidity until it's ready to be served to you. It's a process you can trust, as it was crafted by Le Bristol’s award-winning cheesemaker, Marie-Anne Cantin, and previous chef, Eric Frechon, who led Épicure to its three Michelin stars. What would cheese and bread be without a bit of chocolate? Just down the hall, the hotel also houses a small chocolate factory overseen by chocolatier Johan Giacchetti, who creates more than 3,000 tiny sweet delights each week out of grand cru cacao, Ecuadorian Jivara, Madagascan Manjari, Caribbean Bahibé, and more, sometimes paired with Piemonte hazelnuts, marshmallow, spices, citrus, and vanilla flavors. These chocolates are served in each of the restaurants and at the bar, and are available to take home in Le Bristol Paris gift boxes so you can savor your trip just a little bit longer. Next on the tour, you'll find the pasta laboratory, Il Pastificio, overseen by chef Cristina Ternullo. The workshop area is a pasta fantasyland where nothing is considered too fanciful, extraordinary, or impossible. The Italian chef has taken all the lessons her grandmother taught her in her home city of Rome to bring here to Paris, to create new shapes, flavors, and pairings that ensure every time you come back, there's something new to try. The property has a rather impressive wine cellar set among these labs, where its sommeliers house their preferred bottles from the "elite wineries" across France and the world. According to head sommelier Benjamin Formé, who manages the wine list, you'll find primarily French wines here, with Burgundy as the strongest area focus and nearly 200 grand cru reds. This is a hotel that loves a good celebration, so of course, there are plenty of bottles of Champagne among the 110,000 bottles in the cellar. Many of these goods can also be found in the hotel's L’Epicerie des Ateliers du Bristol Paris shop, so you don't even need to stay here to come in and purchase the goods. But if you do happen to check into one of the poshest hotels on the planet, ask the front desk for a tour of its lowest level. You never know what delicacies are hiding down there." - Stacey Leasca

"In a city that inspires millions, what makes a hotel stand out? For me it’s a property that will transport me into a new world, to live out a fantasy of a different life in a different location—a “main character moment,” as the TikTok generation might say. Le Bristol sets the scene for a stay that’s a world away from daily monotony and embraces what most hope and dream a trip to Paris will be: grand, storied, and luxurious, with Michelin-starred restaurants, top-class service, and a courtyard garden so peaceful you’ll forget you’re in one of the world’s busiest cities. Next year Le Bristol will celebrate its 100th anniversary with parties, but there’s no doubt its Parisian allure is timeless. From $2,000. —Abigail Malbon" - Sandra Ramani, Lindsey Tramuta

"Champs Elysées Situated in the chic 8th arrondissement—just around the corner from the Champs Elysées—a visit to Le Bristol is always a sophisticated affair, and their offering for tiny guests is no exception. Its status as one of the best family hotels in Paris has been boosted thanks to one of the world’s smartest kids’ clubs, created in partnership with luxury French children’s brand Bonpoint. Little ones will be only too happy to spend a few hours here scrawling on the chalkboard walls and lounging in the teepees, while you pop out for a spot of shopping or to check out the latest exhibition at the Louvre. There’s even a specially tailored kids’ spa experience on offer, which includes a 55-minute massage to help them unwind after a hard day’s playing. Book up the family package and you’ll be greeted by a Hippolyte the rabbit soft toy—named after the hotel’s founder, Hippolyte Jammet—as well as cat-shaped cookies (a nod to the hotel’s famous resident feline, Socrate), a mini bathrobe, and a book that includes activities and suggestions for fun-filled walking tours around the city." - Luciana Bellini