593 Best Hotels in France

This wood-clad hotel in the middle of the vineyards is an upscale wine-country getaway. Inside, a glass-roofed Champagne bar, complete with a wood-burning stove and floor-to-ceiling windows, welcomes guests with flair. The rooms are decorated in soft gray, beige, and brown tones, and come with wooden floors and panoramic views (minus rooms facing the car park). There is a gleaming spa with a hammam, a sauna, and a heated outdoor pool with a sundeck that has sweeping views of the vineyard slopes. The on-site restaurant L'Horisium serves gourmet dishes showcasing the local produce with hints of the chef's Indian origins. The excellent buffet breakfast is served in the same dining room. 

Ground-floor rooms at this pretty little villa with a pool open onto the flower-filled, manicured garden, where breakfast (€18) is served in the shade of a fig tree. Most rooms have regional-tile baths, quarry-tile floors, and Provençal fabrics.

Exposed beams, a pretty central staircase, antiques, and charm galore are among the draws of this centrally located hotel in an ivy-clad 16th-century manor. Although there's no pool, a cool interior garden and air-conditioned guest rooms offset the heat of Provençal summers. Best of all, the price is right.

This fine inn has breathtaking views of the countryside and handsome Provençal-style rooms set in beautifully restored old buildings, including an 11th-century monastery. The on-site bistronomic restaurant Riva offers Mediterranean cuisine and the best of the local wines, and you can soak your troubles away in the pool, perhaps after a treatment in the aromatherapy-focused spa.

A stone's throw from the Arc de Triomphe, Maison Elle revolves around the three principles that guide the international magazine that is its namesake: "the French art of living" (seen in the crisp black, white, and chrome decor littered with Parisian fashion shots); "smiling beauty" (its wellness area, yoga classes, and organic Dr. Hauschka toiletries and beauty products); and a feminine-centric spirit, inspired by the nearby Parisian fashion addresses beloved by stylish women. They could've added "coziness," as the hotel's 25 rooms range from small to minuscule. Still, its style, friendliness, top-notch amenities, in-hotel shop, and undeniable charm make it a good choice in a neighborhood short on chic and (comparatively) affordable lodging.

Manufacturing hip is this urban chain hotel's claim to fame (not surprising, as it's the brainchild of designer Philippe Starck), and it has the formula down pat—offbeat (preferably artsy) neighborhood, check; plenty of graffiti in the interior design, check; functional, minimalist rooms, check; sexy touches, check. For in-hotel nightlife, with its cool pastis bar, local artisanal beer, and great live music on weekends, this spot is a good bet.

“Mama loves you\" is this Philippe Starck–designed hotel chain's motto, and, to prove it, guests are wrapped in the angular embrace of minimal, gadget-happy rooms that make up for their minuscule size with artsy touches and a general atmosphere of too-cool-for-school fun. From the guitar-and-pool-floatie-adorned restaurant—where you'll enjoy the chain's excellent buffet breakfast—and the Island Bar to the Mama Shop (handy if you've forgotten your toothbrush), the ambience is unrelentingly hip, in a friendly way. The hotel recently converted eight top-floor suites to a partly sheltered rooftop bar for drinks and bar snacks that's open to guests and non-guests alike.

With sleek bedrooms and a hopping rooftop bar, this property in the old town sets out to impress with its hipster vibe. Downstairs is an open-plan bar and restaurant (with live music in the evenings) that serves a top-quality breakfast, drinks and light meals all day, and dinner in the evening. On upper floors, monochrome guestrooms feel just a bit institutional, with very basic desks, open clothes rails, and microwave ovens (some but not all have tea and coffee-making kits). Beds are very comfortable, but bathrooms, though large, lack tubs. The top floor has a lively terrace bar (covered and heated in winter). The big selling point here though is the location less than 200 yards from the city's main shopping areas, the cathedral, the Musée des Beaux Arts, and the airport tram line.

Originally a forge, this old, ivy-covered edifice occupies a pastoral nook by the Coly River—a lovely vista to enjoy from your guest room or the impressive restaurant and less expensive bistro. The modernized lodgings have fabric wall coverings and colorful curtains that match the bedspreads; four duplexes can be found in the old miller's home nearby. The restaurant (no dinner Wednesday; no lunch weekdays) specializes in foie gras; if you're not convinced, check out the array of it at the hotel shop.

This stately hotel in the countryside about 10 minutes from Quimper offers attractive and spacious rooms, a good restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a pool, and, lovely grounds. In other words, pretty much everything you need for a relaxing stay, including plenty of peace and quiet. The hotel also offers some unique rooms, like the dovecote, set in the manor's turreted . . . well, dovecote. Guests are encouraged to use the sauna in the relaxation area and the game room is nice for kids.

The beauty of the coastline is embraced by this Relais & Châteaux hotel, where guest rooms are far more than just comfortable; long and cruise-liner-low, the renovated 19th-century Breton manor house has been outfitted with dramatic windows—plate-glass, round, panoramic—so as to frame stirring vistas of the endless sea and the cliffs of the Côte de Granit Rose (all rooms have sea views and some have terraces). The excellent restaurant, with a wood-beam ceiling inspired by a hull, has a delightful model of the St-Yves ship suspended from its ceiling; it mostly serves seafood, but the squab is also good.

Surrounded by extensive forested grounds, this storybook 17th-century granite manor, landmarked by a sturdy tower and filled with lovely antiques, offers enviable lodgings; guest rooms vary greatly in size, but most have terraces overlooking the peaceful country garden. Five duplexes in the charming old stone stables offer all the comforts of a fine hotel, including new bathrooms and skylights. Another high point is its fine restaurant (closed mid-November–March), featuring an acclaimed seafood-centric menu. The hotel is close to Quimper and within walking distance of Locronan, one of Brittany's most charming villages.

Located on a quiet side street in central Epernay, this spot joins together historic and contemporary architecture under the same roof, extending over three different buildings: a former nobleman's mansion, an ultra-modern wing, and an ancient presbytery. In contrast, the guest rooms are all modern and stylish, decorated in muted tones of gray and beige with wooden floors and glossy, well-equipped bathrooms. The buffet breakfast can be enjoyed in the dining room or outside in the courtyard.

Occupying two 19th-century buildings, this five-star boutique hotel has a dead-center location, an eco-friendly attitude, and plenty of style to spare. Hip yet historic, the lounge and lobby drip with Belle Époque trimmings, and the generously proportioned guest rooms are superchic; all have immense bathrooms equipped with both a shower and tub—one of the two family-size suites in the modern annex (Le Cube) even has its own private sauna. There is also a high-end modern brasserie (no lunch, closed Sunday and Monday) with an outside terrace on-site.

With stylish rooms and luxurious balconies that overlook a beautiful lagoon, this upscale converted farmhouse, just 2 km (1 mile) from deserted beaches, is a perfect escape from the rigors of horseback riding and bird-watching. Outside are acres of sculpted land, inside is comfort personified: cool elegance, plush carpets, large baths, and efficient service. Every Saturday night Roma musicians play flamenco in the lovely bar area. Sprawl out in front of the large stone fireplace and drink in the splendid views over the Camargue. Dive into a mean leg of roasted lamb or savor the tender catch of the day after a refreshing dip in the large heated pool. And all the while, you can feel consciously green: the Mas is fully equipped with state-of-the-art solar panels and geothermal power.

A fabled getaway, the Langoustier has a lobster-orange building, pink bougainvillea, a choice of California modern or old Provençal–style guest rooms, and a secluded location at the westernmost point of the Île de Porquerolles. The hotel's La Pinède restaurant is a serviceable choice for dining on the island, and Le Bar is a pleasant spot for a cocktail. Room rates include breakfast and dinner; the former can be enjoyed in your room or on the terrace, while the latter is served in the dining room or outdoor terrace in fine weather.

In a prestigious neighborhood a few minutes from the Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre, the Meliá Vendôme has handsome and spacious rooms that exude understated elegance. Free Wi-Fi, minibar, and satellite TV are some of the premium perks included in the reasonable rates. Consistent service and an airport shuttle available on request make this Spanish-owned franchise a popular base for international travelers.

Just down the street from the Château-Vieux, this reasonably priced Mercure property offers an old-world feel in a great location. Guest rooms in the 1835 building have been brought up-to-date with 21st-century facilities (though with some inevitable loss of the original character) and come in a variety of styles and sizes.

On 11 acres of streamside greenery, this noble old olive mill has been turned into a lovely country inn—complete with beams, the original millwheel, and a pressoir (olive press) in the middle of the bar. Each room features a hint of Provence, quarry tiles, and Persian rugs. The big attraction is the restaurant, L’Escourtin, which is run by chef Philippe Choisy. Its monthly changing menus at have earned a faithful following of locals.

This elegantly modern hotel in Garavan, east of the town center next to Italy, is hard to beat when it comes to value, given that attentive service, a fitness room overlooking a solar-heated swimming pool, and contemporary furnishings all make it feel like a luxury hotel even though it's not. Although you can have the squeeze-your-own-OJ breakfast from the buffet served in your room (€14), if you want an early start, opt for the express breakfast bar (€6).

Set at the far end of Disneyland Paris’s lake, the nautical-theme Newport Bay Club is the biggest four-star hotel in France—with the largest capacity in Europe—so don’t expect intimacy, but hallways are bright and spacious and rooms are quiet and light-filled (especially those with lake views) and some offer balconies. The hotel has an indoor-outdoor pool and plenty of dining options, including the Cape Cod buffet, the higher-end Yacht Club, and the pleasant Captain’s Quarters bar. Compass Club rooms get VIP passes to skip the lines at most rides, as well as breakfast, complimentary drinks all day, and teatime in the private club dining room included in the price. The park is accessible by shuttle (every 10–15 minutes) or via a 15-minute walk by the lake.

Sleek, with stunning 360-degree views of the bay and the islands, this white-on-white hotel features designs by Starck, Zanotta, and Emu. The huge windows make for a light-filled reception area, the saltwater pool is fed by a natural spring, and the rooms are up-to-the-minute in style. Specialties of the good modern restaurant include rack of lamb basted with olive tapenade and black grain mustard and sea bass baked with Provençal vegetables.

It's hard to believe that this little gem of a hotel, with its own courtyard garden, is smack in the middle of Nice, next to the pedestrian shopping streets and a five-minute walk from the old town. Rooms, with original ceiling molding and chandeliers, are done up in romantic style, and all of them look onto the garden scented with Mediterranean flowers and citrus fruits. This is a find, and owner Marion Hoffman goes out of her way to turn your vacation into a lasting memory.

If you don't need much space, this eco-centric hotel will do the trick just fine, with 106 compact but well-equipped rooms and buzzy common areas.

On a quiet side street a quick jaunt from the Champs-Élysées, this handsome newcomer channels a stylish mid-century aesthetic right out of Mad Men. Cozy into a plush sofa for a cocktail in the art-filled lobby-library before dinner at Thiou restaurant, where you'll dine on upscale Thai cuisine in a dining room right out of a shelter magazine. Sleek, earth-toned guest rooms offer designer furnishings in leather, nubby wool, and velvet, and chic original artworks provide jewel-toned accents. The hotel's intimate size, only 37 rooms, enhances a clubby atmosphere that’s most fitting in this posh-but-welcoming boutique hotel.

In business since 1846, the Anjou has vintage stained glass windows in the Art Deco lobby and spacious, guest rooms featuring high ceilings, double doors and windows, and modern bathrooms. Reasonably priced prix-fixe menus are served in the fine restaurant, Odorico (named for the Italo-Breton artist whose colorful mosaics grace the pretty Art Deco dining room and bar), offering seasonal gourmet cuisine and a generous Sunday brunch. The spa features a sauna, a Nordic bath, and a menu of skincare treatments and massages.

Erected in the 19th century, this rather grand, vine-covered mansion is close to the center of Auxerre, just a short walk from the cathedral. Its unpretentious guest rooms are clean, comfortable, and spacious; those overlooking the rear courtyard are quietest. You can start the day here by enjoying a sustaining (and reasonably priced) buffet breakfast, then cap it by relaxing on the lovely terrace after a long sightseeing session.

Hidden off regal Place des Vosges behind a stunning garden courtyard, this enchanting château has gigantic beams, chunky stone pillars, and a weathered fireplace that speaks to its 1612 origins. The large rooms and suites are decorated in either contemporary or 18th-century style. Many look out on the entry court or an interior, Japanese-inspired garden.

This elegant hotel, in a historic 18th-century mansion a few steps from the château, restaurants, and shopping, offers lovely period decor and expansive views of Paris from some of the rooms and a gastronomic restaurant. A sprawling outdoor terrace, authentic antiques, a pretty park next door, and a spa—not to mention prices far below those in nearby Paris—make this a romantic spot for a weekend getaway.