Hôtel Plaza Athénée – Hotel Review

An old-world Paris property, Hôtel Plaza Athénée guarantees a grand stay in one of the city’s most chic arrondissements. Practically everything sparkles here, from the very luxe Dior Spa to the exceptional Eiffel Tower views over red geranium-dotted balconies and the 20,000 gold leaves that adorn the rooms of on-site restaurant Jean Imbert at Plaza Athénée (the former helm of Michelin star maestro Alain Ducasse). In this 8th arrondissement classic, nothing is done by halves. Read on for the full review.

If you think you’ve seen Hôtel Plaza Athénée before, you probably have: it was the centrepiece of Carrie Bradshaw’s Parisian adventure in Sex and the City, the chosen stay of The Devil Wears Prada villain Miranda Priestly and the namesake of many a Christian Dior collection in the brand’s heyday. That’s why a stay here feels a little like stepping into a film set with flamboyant flowers, celebrity guests and all.

Where is Hôtel Plaza Athénée?

The hotel sits in a cradle of luxury on Avenue Montaigne: the same address of Chanel, Dior, Prada and Louis Vuitton stores. Steps from the Seine, a stroll from Avenue des Champs-Élysées and 25 and 35 minutes from Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports respectively, it’s perfectly central for visitors.

What’s near Hôtel Plaza Athénée?

Luxury stores, grand boulevards and iconic monuments proliferate the surrounds of Hôtel Plaza Athénée. In addition to top-tier designer stores, the area boasts department stores such as Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées, 700 metres from the hotel’s arched doorway. The stately leap of Arc de Triomphe and its chaotic roundabout is also about 20 minutes away on foot, while the exceptional Paris Museum of Modern Art is a mere 500 metres south.

Room types

Minimalism has no place in the guest quarters of Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Rooms feature either a clean Art Deco modernism or classic Louis-style furnishings (at this point, opting out of the opulence seems counterintuitive). In the latter, you’ll find armchairs upholstered in silk, crystal chandeliers, marble bathrooms and pillow menus. If you’ve come for the view, you’ll want an outward facing room, which glances straight across the Seine to the Eiffel Tower (internal-facing rooms glimpse the courtyard, a pleasant space of shade and tangled ivy).

Restaurants and bars

There are no less than five on-site restaurants and bars, each with their own excessive approach to dining. At Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée, the legendary Michelin star recipient, the heritage and rich flavours of French cuisine are thrust into the spotlight. Truffle, lobster, caviar and sea urchin all feature on the restaurant’s decadent menu, served on tables of gold gilt legs that rest under a grand chandelier.

Paris is people-watching paradise and La Terrasse Montaigne is a prime spot to indulge in this delightfully nosy pastime. The street-side tables set under the tomato-red awnings face the busy boulevard, giving you a perfect view of the passersby between bites of salade niçoise.

Travel for work

The hotel has a number of spaces to host meetings and conferences, should you be able to swing it with your boss. The setting can be as showy or as muted as you need – our suggestion is to secure La Cave du Plaza Athénée, the 35,000 bottle strong cellar that has capacity for just 20 lucky invitees.

Spa and gym

There’s more than a hint of luxury at the on-site Dior Spa (which, at the time of writing, was heading into a refurb). Housed under white arches, the soothing spa offers a comprehensive range of treatments, from foot scrubs to body polishes, as well as more clinical offerings of micro-peels and LED laser sessions. The fitness centre, complete with hammam and sauna at the time of writing, can host boxing or yoga sessions on request (for a fee) from the concierge team.

Sustainability

In addition to soft sustainable touches such as LED lighting, recycling of bio-waste and eco-friendly air conditioning, the hotel has a dedicated stream of ethical considerations. These span donations of uniforms, glasses and used soaps to local charities.

Accessibility

Adapted rooms for travellers with disabilities are available and common areas are wheelchair friendly.

What you need to know

Splashing cash? The Haute Couture Eiffel Suite is the best way to blow the budget. A silver-gilded window frames the Iron Lady in dreamlike perfection.