

A Weekend In…
Le Bristol, Paris
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Where do you go when you want the full, traditional European luxury experience—and also want to switch off? Le Bristol in Paris is the answer. One of the French capital’s grandest traditional hotels, it has gradually evolved and been renovated so it retains the beauty and charm of its storied past, but with a playful, modern edge. Steeped in art, fashion, design, and beautiful food, Le Bristol lets you spend a weekend feeling as though you’re living in a classic French film.

My backstory
A fixture of Parisian hospitality since opening in 1925, Le Bristol’s past notable guests include Rita Hayworth, Charlie Chaplin, Carla Bruni, and Dita Von Teese. Under the watchful eye of resident Birman cat, Socrate, Le Bristol manages to be picture-perfect Paris (wrought-iron elevator, plushly carpeted corridors, shuttered windows, uniformed door staff, and chic courtyards) without ever feeling like a period piece. A full renovation in 2018 has ensured that Le Bristol is still glamorously old-fashioned, but the last word in modern comfort.
The classic Parisian experience is right on your doorstep
What makes me special
My cat
The most popular member of staff is unquestionably Socrate, Le Bristol’s resident Birman cat. Son of the original in-house feline, Fa-Raon, Socrate was born in June 2021 and “is free to roam wherever he wants inside the hotel and common areas,” explains guest relations manager, Jean-Marie. “He can often be found draped over the concierge’s seat.” He accompanies guests on their walk to the elevator and is the regular recipient of drawings and gifts from loyal fans. His admirers include French President Emmanuel Macron, who sent Socrate his congratulations on taking residence at Le Bristol.
My watchful peacock
The peacock motif is more broadly associated with Le Bristol—the hotels’ owners sell made-to-order luxury backgammon boards incorporating the bird’s plumage in their design. But it’s most obviously on show at Le Bar du Bristol, where a magnificent specimen has long stood guard at the entrance and features in the delicately illustrated wallpaper.
My next-level pasta
Le Bristol is steeped in the traditions of French cuisine, but at Epicure other influences are subtly introduced and surprise ingredients elevate classic dishes. Frédéric, head of the food and beverage department, singles out one that has attained cult status: Macaroni stuffed with black truffle, artichoke and duck foie gras, baked with aged Parmesan.
Old-fashioned glamour meets modern comfort

My room
The immediate impression of Le Bristol’s 190 rooms is that by Parisian standards—which can famously be a little compact—they are seriously generous. One hundred of them are Signature Suites: private apartments bathed in natural light, quiet and secluded with Louis XVI furniture and an individual art collection in each. Interior design by the likes of Pierre Frey, Colefax, and Jane Churchill completes the sense of reclining in the setting of an impressionist painting (or indeed Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, from which you’ll recognize the Panoramic Suite—hotel manager Leah recommends this as her favorite room).
My neighborhood
If you can lever yourself from the chaise longue, the classic Parisian experience is right on your doorstep. In the heart of the 8th arrondissement, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is synonymous with fashion and luxury; the boutiques of Hermès, Chanel, Lanvin, Comme des Garçons, Dolce & Gabbana and many others line the street along with the Élysée Palace, the American and British embassies, and the church of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule with its stunning stained-glass ceiling.

My pool
With a semi-nautical interior, the rooftop pool at Le Bristol is the perfect place to start your morning from 6:30am onwards. Designed by the architect responsible for Aristotle Onassis’s yacht and flanked by Pierre-Marie Rudelle murals, the pool is bathed in daylight with expansive views over the city six stories below and the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur all in sight. In-house personal trainers offer aqua-training classes, while the outdoor sun deck is the perfect place to pull up a blonde-wood deckchair and dry the natural way. The pool is available until 10:30pm for an atmospheric evening dip.

My food & drink
Le Bristol trades deservedly on its restaurants’ culinary reputation. 114 Faubourg is Michelin-starred, while Epicure has three stars. Epicure offers classically French dining with tables throughout the hotel’s gardens, 114 is a more relaxed experience (think scrambled eggs with lobster, sea scallops etc.), open from noon–2pm and 7–10pm. Correctly, breakfast here means salted butter, brioches, and perfect flaky pastries, while Le Bar du Bristol pairs curiosity cabinets with a Sienna marble fireplace.

My must-do activities
You could easily spend your entire weekend within Le Bristol and leave rejuvenated. There are fitness sessions from rehab stretching to Pilates, while Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie opens onto the hotel’s courtyard garden (all the plants are native to Paris, aiding biodiversity). Tata Harper natural skincare products are used throughout “sensorial reset” treatments, and there’s a super-steamy hammam, while spa manager Aurélie recommends a session with the dermal reset skincare machine to restore radiance. For something less wholesome, Le Bar du Bristol comes alive after dark—think mirror balls, purple lights, Italo disco, and cocktails until 2am.

Justin Quirk
Writer
Justin Quirk is Associate Creative Director of Editorial at Expedia Group, as well as a writer and editor who has worked for titles including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Esquire covering music, design, and current affairs. He is also the author of Nothin’ But a Good Time, an acclaimed cultural history of 1980s heavy metal.

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