I Stayed At Four Luxury Hotels With Prime Views Of Paris — Here's What I Thought
There's something wonderfully intimate about having a hotel room with a view.
When you visit any tourist attraction, a bit of the magic gets lost when you're being elbowed out of the way by strangers.
I went to Egypt in January, I splurged on a room with a pyramid view at the Marriott Mena House, and the experience spoiled me a bit. My favorite memory throughout the entirety of that eight-day trip was having this special moment of looking at the pyramids, all to myself, with no one around.
So on a recent four-night trip to Paris, I intentionally spent a night at four different properties that would give me a bird's eye view of the most iconic landmarks the city has to offer.
The landmarks in question? The Palais Garnier, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées. I wanted the experience of having these places all to myself. Sort of.
Scroll below for the full recap on where I stayed, what I thought, and which was my favorite.
(The picture above was taken at Girafe Restaurant. I highly recommend it, but be sure to make reservations at least two weeks in advance.)
The hotel: InterContinental Paris Le Grand
First and foremost: Add InterContinental Paris Le Grand to your bucket list if you'd like to step into a world plucked out of a Wes Anderson film. As soon as your dirty sneaker passes the entrance threshold, the feeling of being transported to Paris in a different decade will be strong. This five-star hotel contains artwork in ornate gold frames, plush velvet furniture, and expansive windows that serve main character energy, plus delicious oysters and French onion soup await at Café de la Paix! It's an iconic restaurant that's been operating since 1862. I've seen it splashed across several "where to eat in Paris" articles which, to be honest, made me wary — but the food was genuinely incredible and the space (high ceilings, intricate paint) was just as gorgeous in person.
The view: Palais Garnier
When you close your eyes and think of Paris, it's the Eiffel Tower that comes to mind — and naturally, you'll feel inclined to go for a hotel that matches that vision. But lean in because I have a secret: the view I had of the Palais Garnier was my favorite in Paris. I stayed in a junior suite in which both the bathroom and bedroom was so close to the Opera House that I felt like I could reach out and touch it. And when I woke up at 6am due to jet lag, I put on a robe, made coffee, stood outside on the terrace, and it felt like magic.
Prices starting at: $364+
The hotel: Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Plaza Athénée is, as the French would say, iconique. It’s a property known for rose-covered terraces that provide unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower; there is no way you haven’t seen it. If you’re not an Emily in Paris fan (it’s where Brooklyn Clark stays in season one, episode seven), then you’ve likely scrolled past photos posted by influencers and ritzy travel publications alike. Located on the luxe avenue Montaigne, I stayed in a junior suite; the room itself was spacious with a massive walk-in closet that connected to a swanky, shiny bathroom. The property design itself can be filed under classic luxury hotel — fresh flowers, attentive service, and shiny floors. It’s a place that any guest of any age would love. It’s timeless.
The view: The Eiffel Tower
Naturally, the crème de la crème of this hotel is that some rooms offer Eiffel Tower views. Now I have never — and likely, will never again — order room service. You end up paying $50 for an overcooked burger and side of fries. But at Plaza Athénée? There was nothing more lovely than eating room service breakfast on a private terrace table staring out at the Eiffel Tower. The view was as breathtaking in person as it was in the dozens of photos I’ve seen throughout the years (I’ve stayed at many a property that looked better on Instagram). I also tucked into a massive hazelnut croissant that's been the subject of my daydreams since first bite.
The view, part deux: The Eiffel Tower at night
AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed
It was also magical to see the stark contrast between a sparkling Eiffel Tower against the night sky. I teared up, actually. That can be our little secret.
Prices starting at: $1,200+
The hotel: Brach Paris
Entering Brach Paris, your brain will call to one very specific adjective: cool. Envision a lobby designed by your most refined friend, the one who’s traveled the world and wears vintage designer clothes sans loud logos. That’s Brach. The lobby has a grand piano with melted candlesticks sitting atop, there’s live music playing nightly, and most of the guests sipping wine at the bar were chattering in French, so I’m going to assume that Parisian locals love it as much as tourists do. This property may boast similar views to that of Plaza Athénée, but the vibes feel more underground jazz club than hotel.
The view: The Eiffel Tower
AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed
My room, which was compact but had artwork and fun details splashed everywhere, technically did not have a view! However, every guest had access to a rooftop garden where ingredients are sourced for the on-site restaurant. And in addition to chickens and thyme, the garden offers one more fabulous amenity: a prime view of the Eiffel Tower. I had thought the space would be packed with people, but I sat in the garden and gazed out for an entire hour with only one guest and one worker coming up. It felt luxuriously private. There are also suites available that offer views — in suite Henry, for example, you can stare out at the Eiffel Tower while relaxing in an outdoor hot tub.
Prices starting at: $630+
Which of these Eiffel Tower hotels did I prefer?
Freeform
Verdict: I can't compare apples and oranges. Both properties were incredibly special.
The terrace view at Plaza Athénée was magical (I've had strangers DM me on Instagram to ask where I was staying) and to be able to scarf down a hazelnut croissant in private while staring at the Eiffel Tower felt unmatched. Plaza Athénée is perfection for the traveler who wants a true treat yourself moment.
The Brach Paris rooftop garden was equally as special because the experience felt ~authentic~. There was the fresh scent of herbs and squawking chickens and the environment made me feel like I was in Beauty and the Beast — except the French countryside was close enough to Paris that I could see the Eiffel Tower. Does that make sense? Brach Paris is for the traveler who craves cultural immersion and authenticity.
The hotel: Le Fouquet's Paris
If any hotelier aspires to make their property resemble a speakeasy, they might want to take a page from the book of Le Fouquet's Paris. Dim lighting, rich fabrics, and a faux bookcase that opens to reveal a cozy bar are all the ingredients one needs to have a swanky property that feels like a secret. The property has an ultra cool library-inspired space that serves meals and cocktails, plus a spacious outdoor patio if you’d like to soak up some sun. It's also the last Parisian luxury hotel to be owned by a French family.
The view: Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées
I stayed in a suite smack dab in the middle of the Champs-Élysées. Upon entering the room, mild panic crept in at the thought of all those honking cars (I have trouble falling asleep at the best of conditions), but due to dual-layered windows… we heard nothing. Absolute silence. And at the press of an iPad button, the window curtains peeled back on their own to reveal a gorgeous view of the worlds most renowned shipping district. Open both windows, step out onto the terrace, and look to your left — there stands the Arc de Triomphe. This suite was really special because I had the privilege of being able to look out at two of the busiest landmarks in all of Paris, all without having to dodge oversized shopping bags.
Prices starting at: $970
Drumroll please, because here was my favorite of the four: The InterContinental Paris Le Grand.
AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed
In addition to the gorgeous lobby, amazing restaurant, and prime location, the InterContinental was my favorite overnight because I got Palais Garnier views from everywhere in my room — my bed, the bathroom, a comfy corner chair where I took meetings, our terrace, etc. The Opera house was truly so close that we felt we could reach out and touch it, and being able to stare at it during sunrise was truly special.
A caveat that I still absolutely recommend the other three hotels, but the InterContinental Paris Le Grand was just my personal favorite.
What's the best hotel view you've had? Let us know in the comments below.
BuzzFeed was provided these hotel stays free of charge; however, we were under no obligation to give a positive review.
