With a discreet entrance on the posh Place Vendôme and a tiny jewel box of a lobby with inlaid marble and carved mahogany paneling, the Vendôme has all the comfort and luxury of the neighboring palace hotels without the ostentatious size. Rooms are done handsomely in French period styles from Louis XIV to Art Deco, with marble baths, antique furniture, and hand-carved wood detailing. Modern touches include flat-screen TVs, and a bedside console that controls the lights, curtains, and music. The British-style restaurant and bar, decorated in leather and wood, hosts a pianist Wednesday through Saturday and serves contemporary French-fusion fare. Pros: luxurious decor and amenities in a boutique-hotel size; central location on a prestigious shopping square. Cons: can feel a bit old-fashioned and stuffy; no spa or gym amenities that one would normally find at this price.
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