Le Meurice – Hotel Review

A prestigious Rue de Rivoli address. Doormen in uniforms. Mosaic, chandeliers and gilt. Opened in 1835 opposite Jardin des Tuileries, this grand hotel exemplifies the elegance of old-world Paris. Today the plush suites, opulent salons and exceptional service of Le Meurice remain, while Phillipe Starck-designed spaces and an Alain Ducasse restaurant nod to the city’s contemporary art and dining scenes. Read on for the full review.

All of the spacious, classically styled rooms are lavish with marble bathrooms, the latest tech and flexible floor plans but park view rooms offer a precious extra: a vista that takes in the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, Tuileries and the Eiffel tower. 

Where is Le Meurice?

On Rue de Rivoli, one the city’s grand boulevards, there are few better addresses in Paris. Tuileries metro stop is across the road from the hotel, which is a 40-50 minute drive from Charles du Galle airport.   

What’s near Le Meurice?

Art lovers will relish being within easy walking distance of the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, Centre Pompidou and Musee de L’Orangerie, while those keen to shop will find Le Meurice’s prestigious first arrondissement location dangerously handy to the luxury boutiques that surround Place Vendome. 

Room types

Staying in any of the five-star property’s 160 rooms and suites is an exquisite experience – so well suited to royalty that Queen Victoria and King George VI top the list of Le Meurice’s esteemed former guests. Finished with soft pastel shades, panelled walls, plush carpets and tens of metres of rich silks, each space is unique and offers regal styling alongside modern amenities: iHome units (compatible with all smart phones and offering a charging station, alarm and audio system) are standard in every room. Floor plans are flexible, meaning rooms can become adjoining suites to accommodate families. Every category – from entry-level classic rooms to the extraordinary top-floor Belle Etoile suite with its views across Paris – features a spacious bathroom with plush robes, towels and slippers and exclusive Maison Francis Kurkdjian amenities.

Restaurants and bars

The hotel’s fine-diner is two-Michelin star Restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse, named for the master of French cuisine who oversees all food and beverage at Le Meurice. Within a salon inspired by Château de Versailles – complete with glittering crystal chandeliers, antique mirrors and artworks – the décor is almost as decadent as the sophisticated cuisine. Think langoustines with fennel and lemon or chicken with celeriac and black truffle. Guests can take their breakfast here or in the adjoining Philippe Starck-designed Restaurant Le Dali, which combines a contemporary painted canvas ceiling with century-old mosaic floors. Menus are classic (pastries, omelettes juice and coffee for breakfast; salads, beef tartare and other Parisian brasserie dishes for lunch and dinner) and, after dessert, cosy Bar 228 is a club-style retreat offering classic cocktails, Dom Perignon by the glass and live jazz from 7pm until midnight.

Travel for work

In addition to its spacious, tech-equipped rooms and suites, the hotel can arrange the use of laptops as well as secretarial and translation services. For large meetings and conferences, ground floor Salon Pompadour can host up to 500 guests. 

Spa

Created in partnership with Switzerland’s Clinique Valmont, a wellness institution since 1905, the hotel’s Spa Valmont pour Le Meurice offers a sauna, hammam, a nail bar and fitness centre. 

What you need to know 

Snuggling into a fluffy robe and gazing at the Eiffel Tower from your bedroom window is a surreal and unforgettable joy.

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