220 Best Hotels in France

Named for the cabaret a few doors down where Josephine Baker once sang, this handsome Art Deco hotel comes with a luxurious pool, hammam (steam room), and sauna.

This urban-chic hotel tucked away on an old artisan street is fully in tune with the pulse of the lively Oberkampf neighborhood and close to fabulous nightlife, cocktail bars, restaurants, bakeries, and shopping (and the Marais and Canal St-Martin). The funky mix-and-match interior crosses industrial-loft style with eclectic antiques and still manages to be warm and welcoming. The friendly staff are always on the lookout for ways to improve your stay. Though on the smaller side, rooms are ample enough, with big windows and stylish decor, and bathrooms have soothing rain showerheads. The small in-hotel spa includes a gym, steam room, and a range of beauty treatments and massages (must be booked in advance).

In the less-traveled corner of the trendy Marais district, this contemporary boutique hotel with an easy-to-miss industrial facade and three buildings set around a historic courtyard feels almost like an art gallery. The compact rooms are generally minimalist, with sleek dark-wood furnishings, polished concrete bathrooms with Molton Brown toiletries and spacious walk-in showers with oversize "rainwater" shower heads. Open for breakfast, the stylish bar in the building at the back of the courtyard attracts fashionable locals in the evening.

At this adorable boutique hotel just steps from a sandy beach, tastefully decorated and colorful rooms surround a central courtyard, where guests relax over a gorgeous breakfast (€10--€15) of fresh-baked pastries and homemade jams. The genuinely charming owner keep guests coming back with thoughtful touches: hand over your cell phone or tablet on arrival and get rewards, from free breakfast or bottle of wine to a 3% discount on your stay.

This jewel of a hotel—complete with a spa and a Michelin-starred restaurant—is set in two 18th-century buildings and has sleek guest rooms that feature pale wood, ocher walls, colorful kilims, charming art, contemporary designer furnishings, and high-quality bedding. All of the rooms are flooded with light, and you couldn't find better views of the village, castle, and vineyards beyond than from the triplex terrace suite's spacious rooftop balcony. A rejuvenating treatment at the spa is just the thing after a day of sightseeing.

Italian marble, exposed brick, rough concrete, and sleek wood mix with leather, feathers, Swarovski crystals, and fiber-optic fairy lights to give this boutique hotel a genuinely eclectic atmosphere. Fabrics and framed prints evoke the couture culture of the posh Faubourg St-Honoré, while bathrooms feature retro wall coverings and closets have satin fringe curtains. Conveniently located across from the métro station, the 123 gets extra points for being within walking distance to major sights and shopping. The service can be inconsistent, but the polished rooms and lovely bathrooms will put you in a prime location without exorbitant prices.

The colors of this hotel are a cheerful mix of smoky blues, pinks, and yellows, paired with William Morris prints, making it feel fresh, whimsical, and soothing all at once. The lobby sports a lovely bar and plush sofas but is also very family-friendly, providing costumes and special surprises for their youngest guests. 

Chic, cozy, and welcoming, you couldn't land in a more charming Parisian boutique hotel.

A glamorous addition to the fabulous (if off-the-beaten-path) 9e arrondissement, the Parister flaunts its design creds in even the tiniest of details, from its gorgeous common spaces to its sparse but elegant rooms. Spring for a room with private terrace or one in a towering duplex; however, if your budget doesn't permit, you can enjoy a comparable view from the outdoor patio. The hotel has a super-stylish restaurant and bar. Have a drink after a dip in the adorable skylit pool.

If you feel like being away from it all, but in a fairly self-sufficient setting with a good on-site restaurant and a chic bar with stupendous views, this is the place.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming, stylish, and reasonably priced hotel in an upscale neighborhood that rarely combines all three characteristics. At this 45-room boutique hotel, you can add the bonus of a beautiful rooftop terrace with Eiffel Tower views, a sauna, a Scandinavian bath, and a sunbathing deck. Pleasantly streamlined rooms are bathed in sunlight and sport sleek Art Deco–inspired decor and ample terrazzo baths. The chic bar (open Tuesday through Saturday) serves a small but delicious menu of cocktails and gourmet small dishes (designed by a top restaurant nearby), and the buffet breakfast is perfect.

Located just a seven-minute walk from Petite Venise, this glossy hotel has sleek, modern guest rooms decked out with wood, natural stone, marble, copper, and leather, creating a harmonious design scheme. All the rooms are equipped with balconies, and those at the rear look straight across the leafy Champs de Mars gardens while those at the front have an urban view. There's a swanky bar and lounge, and a gastronomic restaurant presided over by famed local chef Jean-Yves Schillinger.

Set in a redbrick, 15th-century hospital that is bisected by a quaint, white chapel, this upscale Marriott perfectly marries the architectural elements of a historical monument with the contemporary needs of 21st-century guests. Preserved from the past are aged wood-panel walls, 17th-century tapestries, statuary, and stained glass. Guests take advantage of the lovely glassed-in courtyards, Nespresso machines, and minimalist-style room furnishings. L'Hermitage's brasserie serves regional dishes, and the glass-roof bar is a nice place to unwind.

This grand 17th-century castle—a listed historic monument—set on a gorgeous 100-acre estate is now one of the Loire's standout lodgings, where all the pomp and elegance has been lovingly preserved and tastefully enhanced with contemporary designer furnishings, lighting, and state-of-the-art amenities. At the hotel's gastronomic restaurant, Mémoire, you'll dine in splendor in the chateau's gilded and frescoed salons on dishes that feature ingredients from the domain’s own kitchen gardens and orchards. The Tata Harper spa, set in the former greenhouses, offers relaxing views of the gardens, plus a sauna, a hammam, and a full list of luxury treatments perfect after a day of swimming in the two pools, playing tennis, or biking or walking on the many wooded and garden paths.

For a touch of the Riviera in Brittany, this light-drenched boutique hotel is just the ticket. Greeted by towering palms and a sweeping staircase that enhance the hotel's Art Deco–era splendor, once inside, the bright, beautifully decorated interiors are a pleasure to behold. Ditto for the splendid Volère restaurant, complete with murals that recall the Belle Époque, elegant banquettes, pristine linens, and a gastronomic menu created by chef Maxime Bobin. You can't go wrong with any one of the hotel's nine spacious, beautifully appointed rooms, all with bright, contemporary baths, some with a balcony and free-standing tub. Just three minutes from the beach, this cheerful family-friendly hotel is your best option in the area.

With exquisitely styled, Provence-chic rooms, each done in soft colors, this property is an ideal respite after a long day of antiques shopping. Even if you don't bed down here, consider using the money you saved bargaining on that chipped Quimper vase to splurge on a lunch of tender duckling with lavender honey at the hotel's delightful restaurant.

Tin chandeliers, Nantes silk and calico hangings, antique scrollwork panels, and other traditional luxe touches make lodgings in this trio of vine-clad, pink-and-yellow 15th- and 16th-century houses especially alluring. The guest salon is set in a vaulted cave-wine cellar fitted out with the latest in soigné furniture. From the name (for the city's centuries-old roosting haunts of storks) to the daub-and-wattle facade abuzz with the pattern of timbered logs, a storybook courtyard, and a fairy-tale staircase, this is a truly magical retreat.

An eccentric late-19th-century castle that blends baroque style and English elements, this Relais & Châteaux property welcomes guests who want to enjoy its tranquil mountain setting or soak in the healing waters of Molitg-les-Bains. The on-site restaurant showcases micro-locally sourced products grown using sustainable, organic or biodynamic farming, with dishes inspired by the region's bounty.

This neighborhood institution has been restored to its former Art Nouveau glory, complete with a great restaurant and semi-private bar. The decor is cozy and elegant, and there are a variety of rooms, including a handful with Eiffel Tower views. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant Annette sports a classic French menu and is quickly becoming the go-to place for locals and guests.

Set in an old farmhouse and walnut-oil mill 8 km (5 miles) from Brantôme, there is very little about this hotel that doesn't charm, enchant, or delight, from its location on the Dronne River to its superb gastronomic restaurant Ròda (whose chef voluntarily \"returned\" his Michelin star in order to stay true to his vision). Family-owned and run since the 1970s, the hotel has spotless rooms that combine old-fashioned elegance with a contemporary touch and consistently impeccable service. The hotel's beautiful grounds include a pool and tennis courts, and spa services can be booked upon request. All meals here are an absolute pleasure; in warm weather, guests can dine on the riverside terrace.

Set in the tiny, picturesque perched village of St-Saturnin-lès-Apt, 9 km (5½ miles) north of Apt, this peaceful, beautifully restored 18th-century inn opened by two talented chefs encompasses contemporary guest rooms, a laid-back café–wine bar, and a gourmet bistro with fantastic views from picture windows and a terrace. Designed with cocooning in mind, rooms have comfy beds, quality linens and furnishings, spacious bathrooms, and sensitive lighting.

A five-minute drive from Pont du Gard, in a charming village setting with panoramas of vineyards and olive groves, this onetime residence of the bishop of Uzès is an excellent choice for rest and relaxation. No less than 18 medieval buildings were joined to create the hotel, and its period details and intriguing nooks and crannies create the perfect backdrop for its casual elegance, which extends to the pool, bar, and spa. The adorable resident parrot is as friendly and welcoming as the staff.

Built around the most gorgeous dining room in the Dordogne, this vine-clad manor house in Trémolat is one of the region's top hotels. The warm guest rooms vary in size, but most face the well-tended garden and a rushing brook; the best of the bunch have terra-cotta tile floors, stone walls, and suitelike bathrooms. The lounge is très chic, with exposed beams, Louis XIII–style furniture, and mounted faïence plates over the fireplace, while the one-Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant is a vision in half-timber and pink-and-red paisley fabrics. Its six-course dinner menu might include chef Vincent Arnould's forte—veal in a mustard sauce. Less expensive fare is available from a second restaurant, the wildly popular Bistrot de la Place, located in a house at the gates to the property.

Revel in the manorial vibe at this regal ivy-clad estate set on 170 acres of manicured gardens and woods. Roomy dwellings in the château, carriage house (the best choice for families), or pavilion mix traditional touches (toile de Jouy fabrics, gilt mirrors, oriental rugs) with plush modern furnishings, ample beds, and large contemporary bathrooms. Other amenities include a guests-only Clarins spa (with sauna, hammam, small fitness room, and outdoor pool), a helipad, and a restaurant with a Michelin star that's famous for its style and quality—an evening here glows with sumptuous white bouquets and dazzling dishes. If you can’t get a table (best to reserve that early), the bistro is a formidable second choice. For utmost romance, the château is your best bet—especially one of the balcony suites—but there are no bad choices at this gracious hotel.

This pilgrimage-worthy inn located in Uriage-les-Bains, 16 km (10 miles) from Grenoble in a verdant mountain-ringed park, offers guests a tranquil, ultrasophisticated gastronomic getaway. The 19th-century half-timbered house was transformed into a masterpiece of contemporary, eco-friendly design, with soaring ceilings in the common spaces and five beautifully decorated guestrooms—complete with vintage design furniture and cloudlike organic bedding—with views over the impossibly green park from your private terrace. But chef Aribert's two-Michelin-star cuisine is the star of the show, and guests have the luxury of dining on sublime dishes that reflect all the richness of the surrounding nature before rolling into bed.

Opened by the daughters of the Fragonard perfume family, it’s no surprise that this hotel—set in a vine-clad 17th-century town house with bright, airy guestrooms—has charm to spare. Decor in the rooms and suites, which have fully equipped kitchens and dining areas, evokes the romance of Provence thanks to wicker chairs, walnut headboards, baroque mirrors, marble fireplaces, antique portraits. The Secret Absolu Suite also has a private terrace, though all guests have access to the rooftop terrace overlooking the Arles rooftops. The first-floor Fragonard boutique lets you attempt to replicate you stay at home!

Past residents of this 14th-century stone house on the medieval ramparts served the Avignon popes, including the hotel's namesake, Cardinal Orsini, but today's guests enjoy total relaxation, serenity, and eye-popping views—including from the vaulted breakfast room and spacious terraces—of Mont Ventoux on one side and the Palais des Papes on the other. For a jaw-dropping sunrise over the Avignon skyline, book the Panoramic Suite or the charming Suite Pamparigoust, which has a private terrace. Two antiques-furnished cottages, both with private yards, accommodate families; they're also perfect for couples seeking a romantic getaway.

You'll feel right at home upon entering this French brand's lifestyle hotel, the first to be designed by Benjamin El Doghaïli rather than Philipe Starck, where everything—from the handwritten welcome messages to the free freshly baked cookies—embodies the “Mama loves you" mantra; the decor reflects local art and culture; and the design-led rooms have supercomfortable beds and ample desk space. The rooftop mosaic pool and bar area are among Nice’s coolest spots, and there's live music on Sunday night and DJ sets Thursday through Saturday. Homemade comfort food is the mainstay in the restaurant, where breakfasts (included in some rates, €19 otherwise) features homemade crêpes, jams, and hot chocolate. The unlimited weekend brunch (€42) has kids’ entertainment, allowing parents to relax over generous servings of mousse au chocolat.

Using local materials and furnishings, Anna and Abel (a Franco-British husband-and-wife team) have spent more than a dozen years gracefully restoring the 19th-century stone farm buildings on their 10-acre parcel of quietude; in the process, they've brought this refined, family-friendly manor into the 21st century—soothing earth tones set the scene, with light oak floors matching the sand-colored stone walls, which in turn match the blond house dogs. The beautiful barn renovation, comprising more than 1,200 square feet, is a light, ultramodern, self-contained apartment suitable for an entire family. The theme throughout is the art of good living, with Abel providing personalized meals and Anna helping guests drop their city postures as a massage and physical therapist. The hand-picked wine list, television-free rooms, and wide open spaces should appeal to anyone wishing to turn the rest of the world off for a while.