"Part of the Dorchester Collection and rooted on avenue Montaigne in the Golden Triangle, I love its deep couture connections — Christian Dior opened his first shop across the street and the hotel’s subterranean Dior Spa celebrates that legacy. The property’s 154 rooms and 54 suites channel a chic couture vibe (classical or art deco styles accented with pops of red echoing the facade’s geraniums); two floors of renovated rooms, including the Royal Suite, were unveiled in September 2024. For Eiffel Tower views consider the Haute Couture Suite or the Royal Suite (a fun bit of history: Liz Taylor lived in the Royal Suite for six months in 1971), or request an upper-floor Prestige or Deluxe suite." - Mary Winston Nicklin, Lindsey Tramuta
"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
"In Paris I experienced an itinerary that included a stay at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, the fashion‑industry hot spot once favored by Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie O, and Grace Kelly; rooms can go for more than $1,500 a night, and attendees were whisked around the city in 1960s Citroën CV2s, taken on a behind‑the‑curtain Louvre tour, and treated to a private meal in Le Jules Verne." - Anna Silman
"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