Walking distance from the Eiffel Tower: 17 minutes
There are views of the Eiffel Tower, and then there’s the sight that awaits beyond the thick swathes of curtain at Shangri-La Paris—the famous monument is practically peering through your window. The rest of the hotel is not too shabby either. Smack bang in the center of the well-heeled 16th arrondissement, the group’s first European outpost sits inside a 120-year-old former palace once home to Prince Bonaparte himself. Inside is befittingly swish, an eclectic blend of Chinese and 19th-century Regency style providing much pomp and fanfare—indeed, a meticulous 2009 renovation saw the palace earn Historical Monument status. The creamy-hued lobby, original floors intact, is awash with gilded sconces, statues, and several hefty oriental vases, nodding to the brand’s Asian roots. Bedrooms are huge, outfitted in blue and gold with full-width tufted headboards, walk-in wardrobes, and lavish marble bathrooms. Each of the 100 rooms is unique, with a mix of Regency-style rooms—some with mezzanines and separate lounges—through to ultra-grand suites with balconies (many a wedding proposal has been carried out here against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower).
This hotel is also home to France’s only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace. Naturally, it is the buzzier of its two restaurants, but do book in at pretty European eaterie La Bauhinia too—a sheer floral dream in red and green tones, a shiny glass atrium roof, and a colossal glittering chandelier. On sunny days, the bistro doors open onto the “secret” garden, where chic Parisians chat over marinated slivers of sea bass and honey–soy–drizzled prawns. The citrus-scented spa has a comprehensive treatment menu and a powerful steam room, but the pool is the star. Glazed doors open right onto the lawn, spilling dappled light onto the water. Note that not all rooms have Eiffel Tower views. In fact, the most lavish suite—Bonaparte’s bombastic former chambers, no less—is on the other side of the hotel. Once upon a time, the area where the tower now sits was considered the wrong side of the tracks, so anyone who was anyone stayed on the adjoining street. But that’s all in the past. For those seeking the chance to watch the Tower’s famous twinkly light show up close from the comfort of bed, the windowsill, or even the bath, there’s no better spot in Paris. —Charley Ward
