24 hours in a Palace: Le Bristol Paris

The streets of Paris are buzzing with life in the fast lane. But the moment you cross the threshold of Le Bristol... the world changes. Who could imagine that behind the grand façades of 112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré lies a beautiful and classically French garden? The moment the parasols unfold their fresh white blooms between the box hedges and floral parterres, you know that summer has returned...

Before going to your room, you should take a little time to soak up the spirit of this very special place. A Palace? Yes! But with all the comforts of home. It was always the wish of its founder Hippolyte Jamet that Le Bristol Paris would offer his guests an elegant, modern and sophisticated hotel, but also, and more importantly, a place where they would feel valued, cosseted and protected. That wish has been fulfilled ever since, through successive expansion and refurbishment projects.

Occupying the historic building known as the Matignon Wing or La Résidence, Le Bristol's 190 rooms and suites are all different. But in addition to their pure 18th century decorative style, they all have two things in common: generous amounts of space and daylight. That’s another reason why everyone feels good here!

“I cook what I like to cook, what I like to eat and what I like to share”. The words are those of Éric Fréchon, the 4 Michelin starred Chef at Le Bristol Paris. Éric joined the hotel in 1998 to lead and coordinate every aspect of its culinary identity: the Epicure restaurant (3 Michelin stars since 2009), the 114 Faubourg brasserie (1 Michelin star since 2013) and the Café Antonia; even the bar and room service menus give a taste of his virtuoso cuisine.

It seems that all it takes is one session at the Le Bristol by La Prairie spa to become addicted to the infusion served with each treatment. A marriage of fresh ginger, honey and lemon, it creates an amazingly gentle warmth that envelops, soothes and revitalises just like the spa itself: 8 treatment rooms, some opening onto their own private terrace, and all with views of the courtyard garden. Is it all a dream? Thankfully, no!

You have to ascend to the 6th floor to find it, and once you’re there, you’ll hardly believe your eyes! Flanked by two long glass walls, one of which opens onto the sunbathing terrace, and surrounded by solid teak decking, the Le Bristol swimming pool is like the bridge of an enormous luxury yacht of the 1920s. Two trompe-l’œil frescoes representing the bow and stern create a real impression of sailing in style, without taking your eyes off the roofs of Paris to starboard and the skies above the capital to port. Magical!

Le Bristol Paris is home to a very special guest that you may come across, perhaps on the concierge’s desk or the bar sofa, but wherever you come across him, you’ll be struck by his impeccable distinction. Fa-Raon, the famous Birman cat and Palace mascot, has his own private apartment here... Although they may not aspire to this exalted level of pampering, cats and dogs are welcome to accompany their masters here.

It's one of the legendary bars of the French capital, a glamorous and intimate refuge whose bold and elegant eclecticism of style gives it the appeal of a cabinet of curiosities. The cocktails here are as famous as the ambience, which is totally unique even through to the sound colours crafted by the DJs behind the stunning mirrored mixing desk.

Is breakfast your favourite meal? For those who love the first meal of the day, crusty baguettes, golden croissants, soft, fluffy brioches and melting pains au chocolat are all on the menu. Every pastry and every kind of bread served in the restaurant of this Palace is handmade right here in the Le Bristol Paris bakery. Pure delight!