Raffles Paris (Le Royal Monceau)

Raffles Paris (Le Royal Monceau).  On Avenue Hoche, moments from the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe,  Raffles Paris re-opened in October 2010 as a new generation palace, after a dramatic and complete two year transformation by designer Philippe Starck.  It shot straight onto the 2011 Condé Nast Traveller Hot Lists, both in the UK and USA.  The 149 rooms and suites are inspired by the French adventurer, award-winning author and statesman André Malraux, who liked to gather around him objects that inspired or moved him.  Art is key and Starck’s intention is to give the feel of staying in the home of a particularly creative friend.  In the rooms one might find, pieces of art propped up against the walls, an acoustic guitar, books dedicated to art and photography from the hotel’s collection.  As one would expect, food and drink are an art form here too – from the buzz of the Long Bar on the ground floor, to the two restaurants, La Cuisine for gourmet French food and Il Carpaccio for the best Italian in Paris.  And don’t even think of turning down a creation by pâtissier Pierre Hermé, the Picasso of patisserie. A meeting place for artists, intellectuals and travellers, the Raffles Paris also has a bookshop, ‘La Librarie des Arts’, a screening room ‘Le Cinéma des Lumières’, five press rooms, and an art gallery ‘Art District’. The transformation will be completed throughout 2011 with the opening of 10 new apartments measuring up to 380sqm; Le Royal Eclaireur – a concept store; Spa My Blend by Clarins and The Kids Club. 

At a glance: 149 guestrooms, suites and prestige apartments; 2 restaurants; 2 bars; art gallery; bookstore; screening room; spa; fitness centre; indoor swimming pool; Wi-Fi  www.raffles.com/paris