Le Meurice

"Located in Paris, France, breakfast is served in a gilded dining salon with pastries by Cédric Grolet, strong black coffee, and scrambled eggs with spinach. The elegant setting enhances the Parisian experience."

"Ageless Le Meurice has always been tolerant of experimentation and eccentricity. No wonder it was Salvador Dalí’s favorite. Most of its suites, including the penthouse, Belle Étoile, have been redone in silk and velvet. Set just off the Tuileries Garden, the iconic spot—considered one of the first luxury hotels in the world when it opened in 1815—has a long history with the art world, from hosting Picasso's wedding dinner to, most famously, serving as the Persistence of Memory painter's Parisian home for over three decades. When renovating the Dorchester Collection hotel in 2016, father-daughter design duo Philippe and Ara Starck looked to Dalí for whimsical inspiration, so you'll now find classic elements like stately columns, marble-topped tables, and copper-rimmed mirrors balanced by original Eero Saarinen Tulip chairs and portraits of 18th-century personalities traced on the backs of leather seats. If you value location, are interested in design, and appreciate service that puts a premium on privacy, Le Meurice is worth the splurge." - Sandra Ramani, Lindsey Tramuta

"Tuileries Garden There are plenty of stylish touches for kids at this Parisian grande dame of a hotel, starting with the fact that the hotel’s high chairs are designed by none other than Philippe Starck. You’ll find the designer's touch throughout the property, including in the whimsical Le Dali restaurant, where the ceiling is painted with ethereal clouds—Salvador Dali used to spend a month at the hotel every year. Taking a leaf out of the surrealist artist’s book, the emphasis here is firmly on the fun—the staff will set up treasure hunts around the hotel with their in-house mascot, Pistache, on rainy days, and when the sun shines you can pack the kids off to the Jardin des Tuileries across the road. There, the hotel can organize carousel rides and custom-made toy wooden boats to sail on the boat pond. And when the grown-ups want to treat themselves to a night in the hotel’s Versailles-esque restaurant, helmed by three Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, the concierge will hook you up with one of the city’s finest babysitters." - Luciana Bellini

"Institutions like this tend to keep their guest lists private. But when you've been open since 1835, you can afford to let some names slip. Queen Victoria, King George VI, Picasso, Coco Chanel, and Dalí are among them. Today, come for the Versailles-inspired opulence, where the smallest rooms are still large enough, and the highest level suites can face the Jardin des Tuileries. Of particular note is the seventh-floor Belle Étoile suite: with its own terrace and a view of the city in every direction." - The MICHELIN Guide

"Le Meurice has hosted a long list of luminaries since its 1845 opening, and today it's no less prestigious. Bar 228 is a draw in its own right, a place for craft cocktails and seasonal antipasti in deep leather chairs – in a former library redesigned by Philippe Stark." - The MICHELIN Guide