The first Raffles Hotel opened in Singapore in 1887, and since, the Raffles name has become synonymous with glamour, heritage, and legendary service. As the heart of every destination in which the brand features its luxury hotels and resorts, a Raffles property is associated with authenticity, and of course, pure luxury. In France, that heart is Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris. The hotel is one of 12 in the City of Lights that hold “Palace” distinction, an establishment at which five star service is exceeded. This is reason enough to make it your Parisian hotel choice. But if you require further persuasion, consider these aspects:
Personalized Pillow Cases. Imagine my surprise when I noticed my and my husband’s initials delicately embroidered on the corner of our French linen Garnier-Thiebaut pillowcases. Le Royal Monceau’s dedication to its guests is illustrated in this “next level” hospitality gesture. Our personalized pillowcases are then stored upon our departure, for future use—a luxe “welcome home” for when we return. These elegant pillowcases also feature embroidered Jean Cocteau-illustrated visages; the iconic artist served as a muse of sorts for designer Philippe Starck in his reimagining of the hotel’s interiors. Additionally, Starck has hung replicas of Cocteau’s love letters on either side of every bed, the better to inspire romance. Hundreds of Cocteau’s letters to his beloved Jeannot have been catalogued, and every bedside copy is unique.
A room with a Parisian view
Guest rooms at Le Royal Monceau resemble private pieds-à-terre
Pied-à-Terre Vibes: If a private Parisian pied-à-terre is not in the cards, then Le Royal Monceau is the next best thing. The hotel is located in the chic 8th arrondissement, surrounded by some of the city’s most enviable addresses. Starck designed each of the 149 bedrooms and spacious suites as a full-fledged private space with individual character, original architectural features, and contemporary French design. I loved the acoustic guitar, placed in a corner, and the decadent Clarins bath products within my exquisite crystal and glass bathroom.
The Longest Palace Pool in Paris: Few activities are as rejuvenating as a swim after a day of sightseeing, and the Le Royal Monceau’s Clarins & myBlend Spa is home to a spectacular 23-metre swimming pool, bathed in natural light from above, and the perfect temperature in every season. Take relaxation a step further and book a spa treatment that utilizes indulgent Clarins products. The spa also features the groundbreaking myBlend revolutionary concept by Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins: a range of tailor-made treatments and high-tech tools, such as a futuristic LED facial mask, one of which was placed within my room for a rejuvenating sampling.
Le Royal Monceau’s Clarins Spa features the longest Palace pool in Paris
The Best Italian Restaurant in Paris: Having earned a Michelin star in 2022, and awarded a spot on “The Best Italian Restaurants In The World” list by 50 Top Italy in 2024, Le Royal Monceau’s Il Carpaccio is considered the best Italian restaurant in Paris. Nearly mythical in its accomplished mission of “complexity presented in simplicity,” Il Carpaccio is the definition of destination dining. The hotel is also home to Matsuhisa Paris, iconic Chef Nobu Matsuhisa first restaurant in France. The contemporary Japanese/Peruvian hot spot, with its large dining room and sushi master-led open kitchen is one of Paris’ greatest “see and be seen” destinations. Elegant Le Bar Long is a sophisticated gathering spot day and night, for breakfast, lunch, elegant desserts, and classic and creative cocktails. (Order a cappuccino for some fun, milk foam art.) Bathed in soft illumination, the space highlights an eccentric curio collection. And La Cuisine is where guests can indulge in a bountiful buffet breakfast (shout-out to the salmon and avocado filled croissant, made-to-order crepes, and French press coffee) and over-the-top Sunday brunch.
The elegant Le Long Bar. Photo, Fran Miller
Art: Beyond the Jean Cocteau inspired pillowcases, Le Royal Monceau surrounds its guests in art. The hotel features both a permanent and rotating collection of more than 350 works, the likes of which no other Parisian hotel compares. The foyer, the hallways, and the restaurant spaces feature specially commissioned works by international artists, and the hotel’s dedicated, in-house Art Concierge offers private tours of the collection; she can also organize access to the city’s most vibrant galleries and museums. Additionally, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris is home to Art District, in partnership with Bel-Air Fine Art—a space dedicated to premiere exhibitions with presentations of new and previously unseen collections. The hotel is also home to its own leading art bookstore, La Librairie des Arts, featuring more than 700 titles, as well as purchasable objects by artists, architects, and designers. Guestrooms also features important art works, notably fine-art photography. Finally, the hotel’s 99 seat Katara Theatre, considered the best private theatre in Paris, hosts screenings and tailored event programming such as concert broadcasts and auction viewing.
Le Royal Monceau features a stellar collection of permanent and rotating art exhibits. Photo, Fran Miller
Location: Steps from the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysée, the hotel is well positioned for sightseeing. But, it’s just off the most beaten of paths, in a quieter part of the city—a region that is much more neighborhood than it is tourist destination. It’s where you’ll find rich and varied cultural attractions and authentic gathering spots that somehow elude the tourist crowds. Parc Monseau and its lush gardens, exhibit A. You’ll recognize the neighborhood distinction by the groups of uniformed school children that joyfully congregate for daily recess at the park’s regal entrance gates.
Stellar Service: My guest room came with the services of a butler, able to handle all manner of requests. While I did not find need to utilize such service, it was nice to know it existed. But, I did enlist the concierge desk to help me locate a very particular pair of shoes, which were ultimately found on chic Avenue Montaigne. Entering the boutique, I was greeted with, “Ah, yes; from Le Royal Monceau!” The discernible veneration further testimony to the hotel’s regal status within a Palace-filled city.
Photos courtesy of Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, unless otherwise noted
