The background

When it comes to finding the best night’s sleep in Paris, look beyond the five stars and book into one of the city’s esteemed palace hotels. This distinction, awarded to just a select few, denotes an offering that goes truly ‘above and beyond’, from exceptional location and architecture to first-class gastronomy and service.

As one of the French capital’s most historic and storied hotels, Le Meurice has centuries of experience in curating the perfect stay, and indeed handling all manner of unusual requests. The grand building, which was established on its current site overlooking the beautiful Tuileries Garden in 1835, has had many eccentric characters through its doors.

Developing a reputation for lavish entertainment, it came to find favour with the aristocracy of the day. In the early 20th century, the King of Spain, Alphonse XIII, was a regular visitor, even bringing his own furniture, and after he was dethroned in 1931, he took refuge at Le Meurice under the name of the Duc de Tolède with all of the royal family. Other famous guests have included US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Dukes and Duchesses of Windsor, Kent, York, and Marlborough, Baron Rothschild and Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden.

A suite at Le Meurice

However, alongside its royal pedigree, the hotel gradually became a luxurious refuge for some of the time’s greatest artists, thinkers and writers. In 1918, it was selected by Pablo Picasso and his wife Olga Khokhlova to host their wedding dinner, surrounded by best men Jean Cocteau, Guillaume Apollinaire, Max Jacob and Serge Diaghilev. And for more than 30 years Salvador Dalí would stay there for a month every year, along with his pet ocelot. Though forever keeping staff on their toes – on one occasion they were tasked with catching flies for the artist in the Tuileries Garden – Dalí would show his gratitude by giving them precious lithographs in return.

Today, this artistic history is deeply embedded in the hotel. Its decor impresses with its historic grandeur, befitting of its unparalleled location on the Rue de Rivoli, flanked by Paris’s chicest shops and moments away from some of the city’s most important cultural institutions and museums. Yet look a little closer and a curious, playful side is revealed. In 2007 renowned architect and designer Philippe Starck was entrusted with reimagining the public areas. With this he gave the warm and welcoming spaces a unique flair, bolstered by whimsical artworks such as a frosted glass mirror in the reception on which guests, young and old, can doodle.

Le Meurice overlooks the beautiful Tuileries Garden in Paris

Rooms

Each of the 160 rooms and suites is unique, echoing the 18^th-century style of the hotel and resplendent in luxurious fabrics, sourced from fine French and Italian fabric brands as Braquenié and Rubelli. And in recent years 49 of these, on the third to sixth floors, have been carefully restored by French design duo Margaux Lally and Luc Berger. Together they envisioned a modern-day Versailles, bringing a plush feel with a fresh edge. Book one of the suites overlooking the Tuileries Gardens to make the most of the new bright and light look, particularly glorious for enjoying an in-room breakfast in the elegant living space. This revamp included rethinking every single detail, no matter how small, to ensure the most comfortable night’s sleep. This extends right down to hugely convenient but often overlooked elements such as the handy switches by the bed where you can effortlessly set the lighting mood to ‘on/off’ or ‘relax’ with zero effort – a testament to Le Meurice’s experience in anticipating every guest’s needs.

For an especially memorable stay, the hotel offers a number of signature suites that each have their own character. La Parisienne, located high up in the eaves, has a cosy atmosphere akin to having your own private Paris apartment – albeit an incredibly chic one. Meanwhile, the Belle Etoile is the height of opulence, a jaw-dropping penthouse suite with a terrace offering a 360-degree view of the capital and its most impressive sights.

Exquisite pastries by Cédric Grolet

Dining

Alain Ducasse, an undisputed titan of the French culinary scene, has overseen the gastronomic offering at Le Meurice since 2013, his vision expertly brought to life by executive chef Amaury Bouhours. The variety and quality of the dining experience the two have developed means guests can experience some of the capital’s finest food, whatever the occasion, without stepping out its doors – even despite its perfect location for discovering the best Paris has to offer.

For a truly elevated experience book ahead into the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse. The menu builds on the two chefs’ unrivalled and inherent understanding of ingredients, expertly transformed into exceptional dishes that offer a contemporary and refined take on French cuisine. Carefully orchestrated from start to finish, the surroundings bring a sense of splendour paired with more stripped-back table settings that let the food do the talking.

For a slightly less formal but equally memorable meal, the Restaurant Le Dalí serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is a celebration of the best seasonal produce, with at least 95 per cent of the ingredients expertly sourced from local producers. It also serves afternoon tea – one of the best ways to experience the sweet treats of the hotel’s pastry chef Cédric Grolet. Renowned worldwide for his intricate, and incredibly Instagrammable, trompe l’oeil pastries shaped like fruits, his impressive creations can also be enjoyed from his on-site boutique, while ordering his bread and pastries for breakfast should be an essential part of your stay.

The verdict 

Even among Paris’s competitive high-end hotel community, Le Meurice makes its own impressive mark. A sumptuous sleep, unrivalled location and superlative service are a given, and with the hotel housing some of the best culinary experiences available in the capital, its ideal for both hassle-free whistle-stop stays and longer vacations to experience the city in its full glory. Its idiosyncratic history makes the stay truly special, with Le Meurice achieving that difficult blend of paying respect to its story-filled past while bringing a revived energy through its modern decor and art.

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