Hotel Ritz Review

Visit the neoclassical palace where Marcel Proust wrote parts of In Search of Lost Time and Hemingway famously drank 51 cocktails in celebration of France’s IIWW victory over Germany. Established more than a century ago, Hotel Ritz remains the epitome of high-class, extravagance, and luxury.

Location

Located on the exalted Place Vendôme, this monumental palace shares its address with the creme de la creme in the world of fashion – prestigious names like Louis Vitton and Chanel. With its eminent boulevards, gleaming street lights, and moonstone white facades, it’s one of the city’s most affluent areas. This is the home of the world’s top watch and jewelry brands including the truly royal Chopard, Piaget, and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The hotel is a stone’s throw away from rue Saint-Honoré and rue de Rivoli, two of Paris’s most exclusive shopping streets where visitors come in droves to shop at the Carrousel du Louvre or immerse their senses in the perfumes of Fragonard and Jo Malone.

Surrounded by some of France’s most grandiose landmarks, visitors can take a stroll down and visit Palais Royal, get bewitched by Mona Lisa’s extraordinary beauty at the Louvre, or lose themselves in the mysterious pathways of Tuileries.

Style and Character

This massive palace promised opulence since the day it first opened its doors to guests in 1898. The owner at the time was César Ritz. The hotel’s facade dates from 1705 and was designed by one of Louis XIV’s most prominent architects – Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

After the Ritz got its recent 27-month $450-million makeover under the watchful eye of world-renowned architect Thierry Despont, this Parisian pearl now boasts more glamour than ever, where the classic old-world french decor, unique pieces of furniture, and enchanting magnolia gardens meet the latest in contemporary comfort.

From the opulent neoclassical rooms to the mixture of royal blue and scarlet gold, the unique artworks, and the grandiose Art Deco chandelier in the lobby, every “Ritzy detail” is polished to perfection.

Services and Facilities

One of Hotel Ritz’s unique facilities is the Grand Jardin, the 17,222 square foot garden where the perfectly manicured fountains and ridiculously ravishing magnolia trees relay the very essence of the French formal garden to the lucky visitor from abroad.

Staff are at the top of their game, attentive, well-mannered, and gracious. They are dressed elegantly and always there to meet guests’ expectations.

The recently reinvented ballroom has reemerged as the Ritz Club Casino, a spot where guests can enjoy a splendid cocktail at the gaming tables. The Art-Deco-styled cigar shop offers a refuge for cigar lovers and the Bar Hemingway is all about serious cocktails in an intimate atmosphere.

At the heart of Hotel Ritz is the Roman-inspired azure blue pool where visitors relax after a treatment at the world’s only Chanel Spa. To add even more glamour to their stay, guests can rejuvenate themselves with a $650 hair treatment at the Ritz Salon.

The Salon Proust pays tribute to one of literature’s most grandiose names – Marcel Proust. Here guests can revel in french-style teatime with some of Proust’s cherished madeleines.

Rooms

There’s a reason why Coco Chanel entered Hotel Ritz and stayed there for 35 years – all 159 rooms at the hotel are the epitome of affluence, with their 1950-style furniture, historic artworks, and almost whimsical woodwork.

The vast Suites are an invitation to experience the spirit of Paris in its essential neo-classical style. Guests can expect Maison Pierre Frey carpets, decadent Louis XIV furnishings, and majestic wallpapers in subtle yellow tones.

Gold swan faucets, a delicate scent of amber in the restrooms, and peach-colored towels embroidered with frequent guests’ initials are placed with the intent to remind visitors that they are, indeed, at The Hotel Ritz.

The truly grandiose Suite Impériale bedroom resembles Marie Antionette’s room at Versailles. Here guests can bask in luxury for €18,000 a night.

Food and Drink

Bar Vendome, sitting comfortably on the vast and sublime glass roof that overlooks some of Paris’ signature landmarks, calls to mind the atmosphere of the Belle Époque. Here the pastry Chef François Perret satisfies the delicate tastes of his guests with tartlets, millefeuille, cheesecake, and madeleines.

Mornings at the Ritz Paris are best spent at Les Jardins de l’Espadon where chef Nicolas Sale’s serves his specialties. To bring you a taste of his authentic cuisine we’ll use his own words: “My cuisine? Terroir in a velvet glove”!

Tea lovers won’t feel left out with the array of extravagant blends served in luxury ceramics in the Salon Proust. When the time comes for guests to indulge themselves with some old-age cocktails they head to the Bar Hemingway. Here the twice-named “Best Head Barman in the World” – Colin Field serves his glorious cocktail creation Serendipity.

Value for Money

The prices at Hotel Ritz are in line with its second name – “The world’s most luxurious hotel”. Double rooms start at €1000 a night and can go up to €1500. Breakfast not included. The most expensive suite at the hotel can cost up to €26,000 per night in high season.

Guests

The list of guests that had a love affair with Hotel Ritz is endless. Here Marcel Proust had written parts of À la recherche du temps perdu, Coco Chanel rarely left the halls, and Ernest Hemingway famously drank 51 cocktails celebrating Paris’s victory over Germany. 

Sir Roger Moore spent some time at the hotel when he was knighted, while King Edward VII was a regular. Jackie Onasis, Paul Gerry, Charles de Gaulle, Aga Khan, Winston Churchill, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charlie Chaplin  – they’ve all experienced the glamour of Hotel Ritz.

To add even more extravagance to this list, we’ll let you know that at the bewitching rooms of Hotel Ritz, Dodi Fayed spent nights with Princess Diana.