The Mesmerizing Luxury of Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
Hôtel de Crillon, a five-star Rosewood Hotel, has for decades been an illustrious and elegant landmark overlooking the Place de la Concorde. In 2018, it received the Palace designation from Atout France, recognizing it as one of France’s most luxurious hotels. Forbes Travel Guide also awarded it a Five-Star Distinction in 2023.
The Crillon stands at the foot of the Champs-Élysées on Place de la Concorde. The building dates back to 1758 and was originally designed as one of two neoclassical palaces by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, commissioned by King Louis XV.
The other palace located just across the street is Hôtel de la Marine. Both buildings were meant to house French state offices, with Hôtel de la Marine serving as the French Navy’s headquarters until 2015.
In 1778, the building hosted an important event when the United States and France signed their first treaties, recognizing America’s Declaration of Independence. By 1788, François Félix de Crillon, from the prominent Crillon family, bought the property.
During the French Revolution, the building was seized and briefly used by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, just before their executions in the nearby Place de la Concorde in 1793.
In 1907, the Société du Louvre bought the property and transformed it into a hotel. Over the years, the hotel has hosted notable guests including Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and stars like Madonna and Taylor Swift. From 1992 to 2012, it was also the location for the annual Bal des Débutantes, a famous fashion event.
The Hôtel de Crillon was immortalized in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London.
The hotel underwent major renovations between 2013 and 2017, involving famous designers like Karl Lagerfeld. The renovation combined the hotel’s protected landmark features, such as the 19th-century grand staircase and saloons, with modern styles and amenities.
In 2017, Hôtel de Crillon reopened under the management of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.
The hotel has 78 guest rooms and 46 suites, three restaurants, a bar, a gym, and a health club. In 2018, it received the prestigious Palace designation from Atout France, a mark of exceptional luxury.
Historical Suite Duc de Crillon. Once the private chapel of the Crillon family, the remainder of this suite is exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Ateliers d’Artistes: Suite Le Poète, nestled under the mansard roof of the hotel.
Hôtel de Crillon’s houses a Michelin-starred restaurant, L’Écrin, which provides a unique experience where guests select their wine first, and the chef then creates a menu to complement it.
Another restaurant, Nonos par Paul Pairet, serves modern takes on classic French dishes in a relaxed setting.
Comestibles par French Chef Paul Pairet – seafood, charcuterie, cheeses:
Cour Gabriel, a great place to sip a cocktail and enjoy comestibles:
The bar Les Ambassadeurs offers cocktails in a legendary bar. Private events are held in La Cave, a luxurious private dining room.
The most amazing cockail lounge ever?
The historical Salon Marie-Antoinette, used for special celebrations:
The grand staircase dates from the 18th century. The lanterns, inspired by the original ones, have been revisited by the architect Richard Martinet.
The greenery courtyard created by the landscape architect Louis Benech:
A natural well of light illuminates the 17 600 gold scales of the pool:
The majestic Cour d’Honneur: