Paris: Palace Hotels: City Guides : gourmet.com

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These luxe accommodations are certainly a splurge—but if you want a palatial home base for your stay in Paris, they can't be topped.

Of all the palace hotels in Paris, Le Bristol is the most discreet. The elegant limestone facade decorated with wrought-iron balconies overlooks the swanky rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and from the minute you come through the revolving doors into the white-marble floored reception, all is luxe, calme, et volupte. Rooms are spacious, immaculate, and cozy—their decor was done by Madame Oetker, the wife of the German owner, in attractive, traditional haute-bourgeoisie style.

112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 8th; 01-53-43-43-00; hotel-bristol.com

Photograph Courtesy of Hôtel Le Bristol

Maybe because it serves up such an alluring alternative reality—life here is delicately perfumed, gently lit, and all about sinking back onto recently fluffed-up down-filled pillow—we've always had a soft spot for Paris's grandest luxury hotel. The Place Vendôme location means it's an easy walk to a clutch of the world's most famous luxury boutiques, the Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre, but the wonderful thing about staying here is, after 24 hours, you'll find you don't want to go anywhere else. If you love la vie en rose and don't mind breaking the bank, this is the ideal address in Paris.

15 Place Vendôme, 1st; 01-43-16-30-30; hotelritz.com

Photograph Courtesy of Ritz Paris

This purring machine delivers a brand of nearly flawless luxury that's a brilliant hybrid of old (elegant, glamorous) and new (efficiency, friendliness) styles. Stunning flower arrangements by American-in-Paris Jeff Leatham (his minimalist style's been widely copied all over the world) decorate a sublime restaurant, where chef Philippe Legendre serves up exquisite 21st-century haute cuisine to please all comers, and a delightful spa. Rooms are trés Park Avenue—pastel and with French-reproduction furniture—but extremely comfortable, and this place has the best overall service of any hotel in town.

31 avenue George V, 8th; 01-49-52-70-00; fourseasons.com

Photograph Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel George V

Since the Place de la Concorde is Paris's grandest open-air salon, the Crillon has one of the most enviable locations of any hotel in the world. This grande old dame with black-and-white marble harlequin floors in the lobby has a sumptuous restaurant (Les Ambassadeurs) with a talented chef, Jean-Francois Piége, and an aura of ineffably Gallic glamour. Rooms are trés française, with Louis XV reproductions and silk damask and taffeta galore, and the service is impeccable.

10 Place de la Concorde, 8th; 01-44-71-15-00; crillon.com

Photograph Courtesy of Hôtel de Crillon