Paris is no stranger to window peeping. But on the Avenue de Saxe earlier this year, nightfall went beyond the normal neighbor watching. Unfurled on the sidewalk, a red carpet ran the length of a stately 19th-century building, and a crowd gawked behind a DJ booth.
On cue, ballet dancers and violinists in gorgeous red gowns performed a spectacle in the windows — kicking off the inauguration of SAX Paris, the first European hotel for Hilton’s LXR Hotels & Resorts and one of the most talked-about openings this year.
Fun-loving Paris adores a good party, and the post-Olympics spike in tourism certainly deserves a celebration. As one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, the city’s hotel scene, peppered with palaces and personality-driven boutique properties, has always been dreamy.
Now it’s looking downright celestial. Established favorites are upping their game, while a crop of newcomers is turning heads.
(SAX Paris)
La Réserve Paris, the petite palace just off the Champs-Élysées, is marking its 10th anniversary, while grande dame Le Bristol feted its centennial with a gala dinner, garden party, and the unveiling of two newly renovated suites (the Signature Honeymoon and the Imperial). Oh, and it debuted the first-ever hotel edition of Clue, starring none other than Socrate, the property’s beloved cat.
And did you hear? The Westin Paris – Vendôme, which first opened in 1878 and is now owned by Dubai Holding, has gone dark for a head-spinning €1 billion renovation. The rumor mill is churning over which brand will operate the reimagined landmark when it reopens in 2028, with Jumeirah, also part of Dubai Holding, seen as a frontrunner after the hotel dropped its Marriott Bonvoy-affiliated flag this spring.
But back to the over-the-top launch of the SAX Paris. Picture this party: Free-flowing champagne, tasty nibbles, a star-studded guest list, and next-level entertainment — from the singers crooning in the restaurant to the DJ spinning the soundtrack on the sprawling rooftop facing the Eiffel Tower. A rooftop always brings a celebratory vibe, and this one, home to an outpost of the decadent Kinugawa family of Japanese restaurants, is slated to become a sought-after Left Bank destination.
(SAX Paris)
Indeed, SAX Paris is set to inject fresh vitality into the 7th arrondissement, that elegant, affluent enclave long underserved in luxury hotel options. Vacant for years, the former Ségur telephone exchange has been reborn after a six-year, $140 million transformation. The result is a five-star hybrid lifestyle hotel, complete with a spa and fitness club open to outside members. Even rarer for Paris: a heated pool and Jacuzzi tucked into a leafy courtyard garden. And the drama begins the moment you step inside — the Iconic Galerie, clad in more than 200 mirrors that catch the sparkle of Baccarat chandeliers, is already an Instagram darling.
General Manager Guillaume Bourniquel, previously at The Peninsula Paris and Mandarin Oriental Doha, explains the SAX Paris ambition to unlock the neighborhood’s secrets through exclusive experiences and a partnership with local landmark Le Bon Marché, the world’s oldest department store, and its foodie emporium La Grande Epicerie. (Minibars are stashed with the brand’s gourmet goodies.) The 118 rooms and suites are designed with bespoke decor and exquisite “white panda” marble in the bathrooms. The best room in the house is the Signature Suite (No. 507-509, which can connect to another bedroom), though Deluxe Junior Suite No. 103 is a favorite because of its high ceilings and big window.
A highlight at SAX Paris is the staff, who are friendly and responsive in a genuine way. Head Concierge Sebastien Munoz can even arrange an excursion on the hotel’s private jet: Depart from Paris-Le Bourget Airport for a romantic gondola ride on the Venice canals or to catch an opera in Vienna.
(Maison Barrière Vendôme)
Across the Seine River, the Maison Barrière Vendôme quietly opened in January in a prime piece of Paris real estate just a cobblestone’s throw from the prestigious Place Vendôme. This is a corner of the city known for luxury shopping and fabled addresses like the Ritz Paris and Le Meurice. The building itself was the former headquarters of Lacoste, now owned by Corinne Evens, founder of the Goralska jewelry label, who enlisted the family-owned Barrière hospitality group to orchestrate her vision.
It’s a discreet address (blink and you might miss the entrance) with just 26 rooms, suites, and apartments. Each is named for an inspiring woman, with design touches evoking Joséphine Baker, Sarah Bernhardt, and George Sand. Antiques were handpicked from dealers across Europe, while leading French maisons lent their savoir-faire: fabrics by Pierre Frey, sconces by Lalique, curtain trimmings by Declercq (which also outfits Versailles). Bathrooms are kitted out with high-tech Toto toilets and amenities by Officine Universelle Buly.
Among the accommodations, the light-filled Agatha Christie apartment is a guest favorite thanks to its killer views of Place Vendôme. Apartments also feature a fully equipped kitchen and wine fridge; guests can even request a basket of ingredients to re-create a chef-designed recipe.
(Maison Barrière Vendôme)
The feminine homage extends to the bar, where mixologist Alexandre Terwagne shakes up signatures like the Edith (coriander-infused gin) and the Audrey (a cognac-and-absinthe number). The colorful Frida restaurant, named for the famed Mexican artist, features desserts by pâtissier Christophe Adam, the maestro who turned the éclair into Paris’s “it” pastry. A jewel-box spa is slated to open later this year.
Maison Barrière Vendôme also marks a new chapter for Barrière: a collection of intimate retreats offering deeply personalized experiences. Service is paramount: Guests enjoy perks like baggage unpacking and packing (with empty luggage whisked away from the room). Need opera tickets or a private Louvre tour? Concierge Pierre Vanzieleghem is on it. Positioned as the yin to Barrière’s palatial Fouquet’s on the Champs-Elysées, Maison Barrière Vendôme caters to clients who prize privacy above pomp.
One of the most thrilling recent debuts isn’t in Paris proper, but 30 minutes outside the capital in Versailles. Les Lumières Versailles opened in time for the Summer 2024 Olympics just in front of the palace gates. A member of Relais & Châteaux, the 31-room hotel occupies two centuries-old mansions and takes its inspiration from the Age of Enlightenment (hence the name Lumières). Guestrooms are named for great thinkers and explorers, a library beckons with volumes to browse, and the overarching theme reflects a philosophy of mindful living — a hallmark of the 2L Collection, whose distinctive portfolio also includes the 11th-century Château d’Audrieu in Normandy and Château de Fonscolombe in Provence.
(Les Lumières Versailles)
Here, mindfulness is more than a buzzword. Guests can meditate with a Morphée relaxation device in their room, try sophrology, or learn traditional crafts such as calligraphy, leatherwork, stained glass, and perfume-making from Versailles artisans. At La Table des Lumières, chef Erwan Le Thomas champions vegetables as star ingredients. To encourage guests to be fully present, each marble table has a built-in wood box for locking away cell phones.
The spa, meanwhile, breaks new ground with the first-ever collaboration between a hotel and Beau Domaine, Brad Pitt’s cosmetics brand, created with the Perrin Family of Pitt’s Miraval rosé fame. Treatments harness grape-derived antioxidants for anti-aging benefits.
Rooms are tastefully appointed with thoughtful touches — weighted blankets among them — and about a third interconnect. The largest, the Gramont Suite, is tucked under the eaves.
Naturally, the Château de Versailles remains the main draw, and the attentive front desk team can secure tickets. But there’s also the Café Pierre Hermé, where guests sink into pink velvet sofas under glittering chandeliers and munch on Mogador macarons like Marie Antoinette, with an eye on the palace gates.
(Claire Cocano via Le Bristol Paris )
For VIP bookings at SAX Paris, reach out to Director of Sales Sophie Jacou at [email protected]. Head Concierge Sebastien Munoz can be reached at [email protected].
For VIP requests at Maison Barrière Vendôme, contact Sales & Marketing Manager Marie-Alice Moisdon at [email protected].
For VIP requests at Les Lumières Versailles, contact Director of Sales Adrien Kobeh at [email protected].
Related Stories
The Perfect Day in Champagne, France
French Riviera: Hotels Breathe New Life Into Historic Buildings
