Le Meurice

Passing through time with an unalterable youth, the Meurice is the incarnation of a luxury hotel done the French way: extremely sumptuous, flamboyant, a charming air of the past remains whilst the hotel is still indisputably light hearted and alive.

Under the archways of the rue de Rivoli, between the Tuileries Gardens and the antique dealers and jewellers of the rue Saint Honoré, the Meurice lines its solid façade with 160 bedrooms and suites in a classic Louis XVI style.

Placed under the flag of the Dorchester group, the hotel has been able to carry out thorough renovations whilst still maintaining its own style and personality.

The most recent renovation was that of the large lounge, which saw "Le Jardin d'Hiver", become "Le Dali", redecorated by Philippe Starck, who most notably hid the historical glass roof under an artistic veil and replaced the antique furniture with an eclectic and elegant furnishing design. Less formal, more welcoming, the fashionable Parisians received it well.

For somewhere more intimate, opt for the Bar 228, adjacent to the lounge, with padded leather, welcoming woodwork and large frescos.

Under impressive chandeliers and mouldings, the Meurice's restaurant, directed by Yannick Alleno, provides an exceptional setting for dining in Paris, as much for its history, as for its sumptuous décor, and of course for the cuisine, one of the capital's most highly reputed.

As a counterpoint, the hotel offers a top of the range health care centre, the Valmont Spa, directed, as the name suggests, by the discreet Swiss brand Valmont, present in all the world's best spas.

Extremely spacious, the 160 bedrooms and hotel suites have a traditional Parisian style, classic, with discreet elegance, both fresh and full of charm, where the wood panels have been carefully painted pale beige, which is both soft and warm. The carpets, always soft and light, work perfectly with the beautiful fabrics used for the sofas and the stylish armchairs.

Having succeeded in integrating modernity without changing its history, the Meurice provides dial-up internet, flat screen television and an Ipod station in every room. Except for the Ipod stations, clearly visible on the bed side table, the televisions and DVD players are neatly concealed inside a cupboard.

The bathrooms are sumptuous, in white and black marble, most often with a double basin, and in the deluxe rooms there is systematically a shower and a bathtub. Penhaligon's bathing products are provided.

The most beautiful bedrooms look over the Tuileries Gardens; the quieter rooms, notably the Junior Suites, look onto the interior patio or the rue Mont Thabor.

It goes without saying that the bedrooms near to the top and on the gardens side are some of the most beautiful in Paris. The view there is large, spreading from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, and the rue de Rivoli becomes nothing more than a murmur slipping by the hotel's feet. The bathrooms can also have a window with a view, which is a must.

Immense and exceptional, the "Belle étoile" - ("Beautiful Star") suite offers, in more than 210m2, a private 300m2 terrace, situated on the hotel's roof, the view here is unrivaled throughout Paris.

With a high quality international service, assured by more than 400 employees, the Meurice continues to sparkle like a diamond opposite the Tuileries Gardens.