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A Taste of Paris: Luxury

By , October 11th, 2016

“A Taste of Paris” shows our readers a side of the City of Lights beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, offering insights into the French capital’s neighborhoods that are informative and inspiring.
Production: LWS Production / E-TV

Travis’ Tips for a luxury Parisian experience

Travis London A Taste of Paris

The Ritz Paris: After a four year renovation, this Paris landmark is once again open and even more glamorous than before. Come for tea, brunch or dinner for a sample of what decadent dreams are made of.

Le Jules Verne: The Eiffel Tower is the crown jewel of Paris and Le Jules Verne is its hidden gem. This Michelin starred Alain Ducasse restaurant is located on the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower. It not only offers unparalleled views of the city but also some of the best food in Paris with its contemporary take on the basics of fine French cuisine.

Avenue Des Champs-Élysées: If luxury and shopping are your game, Avenue Des Champs-Élysées is your street! Lined with luxury boutiques like Chanel and Louis Vuitton and flagship stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and Sephora, this street is a shopper’s dream and a symbol of Paris.

Avenue Montaigne: Avenue Montaigne is the Rodeo Drive of Paris. With stores like Dior and Harry Winston, the Plaza Athénée hotel and luxurious and fashionable restaurants like L’Avenue, Avenue Montaigne is the epitome of five star Paris all the way.

Hermès: There is nothing more iconic than a Birkin bag or more of status symbol than the Hermès orange box. A visit to their flagship store at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is a must for any luxury seeker.

Plaza Athenee Hotel Paris

The ultimate in Parsian hotel luxury. Photo by BiGCoB CCBY

Plaza Athénée: This was Carrie Bradshaw’s pick in Sex and the City  for where to stay when she came to Paris and this hotel is luxury all the way. If you’re not staying the night, the Plaza Athénée is one of my favorite picks for brunch or dinner.

Café de Flore: Café de Flore is one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris and attracts locals and international VIPs alike. It’s a great place to grab a coffee or lunch and people watch.

Lanvin: Lanvin is a classic French luxury fashion house. Stop at their 22 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré location to see their extravagant window displays.

Montaigne Market: This luxury concept store offers both men and womens clothing as well as accessories, books and small gifts. With everything from Fendi to Balmain, there’s something for everyone here.

Cartier: Since 1847, Cartier have been the masters of French jewelry and finely crafted watches. Their location at Place Vendôme is stunning and worthy of a browse even if you aren’t buying.

Printemps: Printemps is Paris’ leading department store with more than 44,000 square meters devoted to luxury goods, fashion, glamour and dream products. This isn’t a mall but a luxury shopping heaven.

 

Blacklane Car Service

Forget about Uber, in Paris it’s all about Blacklane. This easy to use car booking service allows you to book cars online or on their app. You get a professional driver at a great price — here’s to affordable luxury.

 

Hotel La Maison Souquet 

Hotel Maison Souquet Paris

Opulence reigns at Maison Souquet. Photos courtesy of their Facebook page.

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Dive straight into the lusty allure of historic Paris with a stay at the Maison Souquet. The former brothel is an homage to the turn of the century courtesans who once occupied the city and the minds of Paris’s bawdiest elite. Located just steps away from the sexy Pigalle district, the entrance could be easily missed but is marked by two distinct red lanterns that alert you to what could lay inside. The hotel is built upon small scale luxury with only 20 rooms sumptuously decorated with plenty of silk drapings, feathers and chinoiseries naughty artworks and perfumed with rose, jasmine and tobacco.  An air of mystery exudes from every corner and the theme here is centered around the hedonism it recalls from its very walls.

Maison Souquet lobby

An eclectic and international mix of luxury styles in the Maison Souquet lobby.

Once you get past the richness of the mosaic walk in showers, bathtubs and Hermes bath products that decorate the guest bathrooms, ask for the keys to the secret spa. A small swimming pool invites your most private fantasies under the canopy of a star shimmering cobalt blue celestial ceiling. Book in a treatment at the Hammam for the ultimate in luxury indulgence. The Maison Souquet will certainly appeal to those seeking to fulfill their most decadent whims while in Paris.

Shangri-La Hotel

Shangri La Hotel Suite Paris

No detail is overlooked at the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel. Photos taken from trivago

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The palatial Shangri-La Hotel in Paris, once the home of the nephew of the Napoleon, doesn’t attempt to hide its luxurious nature behind its decadent wedding cake facade. Through the windows you can peep at the neoclassical grand stairway and ornate wall fabrics. What is hidden from its exterior is the fantastic Eiffel Tower views from many of the room’s terraces and the opulent details, borrowing from Asian touches, modern minimalism and the pale blues and beiges of the building’s historic French past. The rooms have been seamlessly laid out to respect the original build and are large enough to comfortably entertain guests.

Shangri La Paris hotel

Shangri La Hotel Paris pool

The beautiful Shangri-La hotel pool.

The guest bathrooms are decked out in marble and feature heated floors, rainfall showers and a view of the Eiffel Tower through large windows, enjoyed best from a BVLGARI White Tea toiletry bubble bath in the bathtub. If you seek further physical relaxation, head to the CHI spa, complete with a large pool and accompanying terrace and treatments based on a holistic and organic approach to rejuvenation. Guest services are forever attentive yet never obtrusive and the Shangri-La rises high above the most demanding of expectations of a Five Star hotel in Paris.

If you want a luxury hotel experience but are working within a budget, trivago data shows the best time to book is in February when hotel prices steady around $400 per night for a five star hotel. In contrast, the most expensive time to book a five star hotel is during the months of June, September and October when prices rise to around $600 per night.

 

Luxury Experiences

Private tour Versailles

Wander through Versailles feeling like royalty. Photo by adroual CCBY

  • A personalized private tour of Versailles: Skip the ticket line ups and forgo trudging through the Hall of Mirrors with everyone else in favor of a VIP Insider’s tour of the Palace of Versailles. Wander through the private apartments of Louis XVI for a guided glimpse into his royal life with Marie Antoinette. You’ll also enjoy a guided tour through the rest of the palace, including the expansive gardens, plus transportation to and from Versailles via private mini bus.
  • Jewelry shopping at Place Vendôme: Looking to splurge on something glitzy and glittery? The address to have in your carnet is Place Vendome, the Gemstone square of Paris. Names like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dior Joaillerie, Boucheron, Bulgari, Chopard, and Chanel adorn this circular salute to all luxury accessories in Paris.
Guy Savoy

Splurge on a dinner to remember at La Monnaie. Courtesy of the Guy Savoy Facebook page.

  • Dinner at Guy Savoy’s restaurant La Monnaie de Paris: Set on the Left Bank in the renovated Paris Mint workshops and museum you’ll find master chef’s Gordon Ramsey’s own master’s restaurant, Guy Savoy’s La Monnaie de Paris. French Haute Cuisine is well represented in Savoy’s flagship restaurant. For those looking to sample the three Michelin star adorned Savoy’s slice of luxury, the fixed lunch menu brings three courses to your table at a more budget conscious $122.
  • Hot chocolate at Angelina: The thick potion of Angelina’s le chocolat chaud à l’ancienne l’Africain certainly sets a spell. Served in a pitcher alongside a cup and saucer and fresh whipped cream, the Belle Époque salon will see you transported to the golden age of Parisian luxury.

Tip: If you’d like to keep our Fashion Lovers recommendations handy during your Paris visit, click the ⭐ icon next to the Maps title to save it to your own Google Maps!


Cover image from Roman Boed