Since 1835, the Meurice has welcomed royalty and celebrities, from the Duchess of Windsor to Salvador Dalí. In late 2007 the lobby, bar, and restaurant were given a swanky makeover by French designer Philippe Starck. Rooms have a gilded Louis XVI or Napoleonic Empire style, with antique furnishings covered in sumptuous French and Italian brocades. Most rooms have a Tuileries/Louvre or Sacré-Coeur view, but the massive Royal Suite takes in a 360-degree panorama. Bathrooms are marble, with deep, spacious tubs. The health club includes grape-seed-based treatments, such as "cabernet sauvignon" massages; children are pampered with their own Meurice teddy bear and tot-size slippers and bathrobe. Pros: views over the gardens; central location, trendy public spaces. Cons: on a noisy street; popularity makes the public areas not very discreet.
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