.svg)
Hôtel de Crillon: Parisian History, Reimagined
A Palace on Place de la Concorde
Hôtel de Crillon sits on one of the best spots in Paris, inside an extraordinary palace on Place de la Concorde. The building itself is impressive, but what truly stayed with us was how comfortably the hotel has made the transition from historic palace to modern luxury hotel.
The renovation, completed in 2017, feels remarkably respectful of the French character of the building. The lobby is beautiful, with private check-in available and champagne on arrival if you want it. There are smaller rooms tucked throughout the hotel, giving you places to sit without feeling as though you are always in a large public space.
And then there is the bar. It is one of those rooms where the design immediately makes sense. The tables are reserved for hotel guests, which gives the space a more private feeling.
.jpeg)
French, But Not Stuffy
Hôtel De Crillon is elegant without being overly decorated. It feels modern and slightly minimalist, but everything remains firmly within a French aesthetic. On some corners in the corridors there is a table for guests with refreshments, just to be sure that all your needs are taken care of.
That balance continues into the rooms. The fabrics, upholstery and draperies are beautifully done, with furniture that feels considered rather than simply expensive. The hotel works with Godet on its signature scent, Un Jour à Paris, which appears throughout the property and in the soaps provided in the rooms.
One of the details I particularly liked was the leather bathroom kit. Every room category receives one, and guests can take it home. I had not expected it, and it was genuinely gorgeous.
The rooms looking toward Place de la Concorde are the ones I would want, especially if you are lucky enough to have a view toward the Eiffel Tower. Other rooms look into the courtyards created by the two connected buildings.
.jpeg)
Marie Antoinette and Karl Lagerfeld
The connection with Marie Antoinette makes Hôtel De Crillon particularly personal for me. She took piano lessons here, although one little mystery remains: we still do not know who taught her.
There are small references to her throughout the hotel. The Salon Marie-Antoinette is a historic space with its own terrace overlooking Paris, and the hotel also periodically hosts a Marie-Antoinette Afternoon Tea at the Jardin d'Hiver.
The history never feels forced. Even the Karl Lagerfeld suites were created with enormous respect for the character of the building. We saw one of the suites with the sales team, and the combination of antiques with contemporary comforts was particularly striking.
The bathtub in the Lagerfeld suite has its own story. It was so heavy that the floor had to be reinforced and the tub was moved into position on ice cubes. The quarry in Italy where the stone came from had already stopped operating, but Lagerfeld asked for it to reopen for this particular bathroom. Once the bathtub was finally in place, it certainly was not going anywhere.
.jpeg)
A Hotel That Lets You Disappear From Paris
The most surprising thing about Hôtel De Crillon is how quiet it feels. Place de la Concorde is one of the busiest locations in Paris, yet inside the hotel we did not hear the city.
The small rooms and different corners throughout the property create a sense of privacy without making the hotel feel formal or closed off. We found ourselves wanting to linger in the suite and use the bar rather than immediately heading back outside.
That same balance appears in the service. Everyone was exceptionally kind and attentive, but there was nothing stiff about it. During lunch, our glasses were quietly refilled while we were talking. I asked for a Sauvignon Blanc that was not on the regular menu, and they made it possible.
We also noticed how personal the staff looked. The clothing was beautifully styled, but not completely uniform in personality. One man was even wearing an ascot.
For clients who appreciate French style but do not want an old-fashioned palace experience, this is a particularly easy hotel to recommend. And with our Rosewood Elite relationship, the experience becomes even more interesting: guaranteed room upgrades at booking and all day complementary breakfast, alongside the standard Virtuoso benefits. For a hotel at this level, that difference matters.
.jpeg)
Experience Hôtel de Crillon with DeSalvio Travel
Our relationship with Hôtel de Crillon goes beyond simply booking a room. As a Rosewood Elite partner, we can secure a guaranteed room upgrade at booking, alongside Virtuoso benefits including daily breakfast, a $100 food and beverage credit, and priority early check-in or late check-out when available. We know the property, its rooms and its team, and can help match the right experience to your Paris stay.
Marisa DeSalvio
CEO DeSalvio Travel
Travel design specialist
Adventure Travel Specialist
Asia/Pacific specialist
Some other impressions of Hotel Crillon:
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Suite Impressions:
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
_Black.png)