King Juan Carlos of Spain, Celine Dion, and the Rolling Stones have all graced this most eye-popping of Lyon hotels. Spectacularly renovated around a glassed-in Renaissance courtyard, this former Jesuit convent is now an extravaganza of glowing fireplaces, Florentine crystal chandeliers, Baroque credenzas, high beamed ceilings, mullioned windows, guest rooms swathed in Venetian red and antique Lyon silks, suites that are like artists' ateliers, and Phillipe Starck bathrooms. The restaurant, Les Loges, is one of Lyon's most graceful dining rooms, with, in addition, a cellar-level wine bar and a café-épicerie with a lovely vaulted ceiling. Pros: top Vieux Lyon location; cheerful and patient service; excellent restaurant. Cons: hard on the budget; difficult to get an automobile to the door in a pedestrianized section.
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