The Ritz Paris: The World's Most Famous Hotel, Honestly Reviewed

The Ritz sits on the north side of the Place Vendôme, and its entrance — a revolving door of burnished brass opening onto a corridor of mirrored panels and Corinthian columns — has not fundamentally changed since César Ritz opened the hotel in 1898. This permanence is not accident; it is policy.

The Rooms

The 142 rooms and suites divide into Classic, Deluxe, Prestige, and Suite categories. The entry Classic, at around 35 square metres, is impeccably appointed but not large by today's ultra-luxury standards. The Prestige rooms on the upper floors — facing the Place Vendôme — justify their premium entirely through the view: the Napoleon Column at eye level, the ochre stone of the facades bathed in afternoon light.

“Hemingway claimed to have liberated the Ritz bar personally in August 1944. The bar has been serving his preferred mojito ever since.”

• The Bar Vendôme: breakfast institution of Paris
• L'Espadon: two Michelin star restaurant, jackets required
• The Ritz Club: private casino and bar, members only
• Chanel Spa at The Ritz Paris: the finest hotel spa in Europe
• Ritz Escoffier: cooking school in the original kitchens