593 Best Hotels in France

This extravagantly expensive hotel at the end of the peninsula has long been the exclusive playground for Hollywood's elite, and it continues to set the standard for discreet Cap-Ferrat luxury, with amenities like Michelin dining and three private villas (Beauchamp, Clair-Soleil, and Rose Pierre). Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces with views of crashing waves and far beyond out to sea. Even the Kids' Clubhouse here outshines the offerings at other area hotels.

If you want designer digs in a well-located boutique lodging that won't break the budget, this hotel designed by Christian Lacroix is a great spot for you. Chic, roomy (for Paris), and full of artisan touches reflecting the historical footprint of the neighborhood, the compact 38-room Antoine offers tons of style just a five-minute walk from the Bastille.

This sleek revival of a 100-year-old neighborhood hotel that closed in the 1970s is a favorite with the international set, whether staying the night or just stopping in for a stylish bite or drink at the wildly popular cocktail bar. The retro-chic interiors by hotel design star Dorothée Meilichzon epitomize the kind of pared-down elegance that's become so popular in Paris. Set on a quiet cobbled street in the Montorgueil market district and close to Les Halles, this is an excellent base from which to explore the heart of Paris.

This hotel—its facade a riot of pastel-green timbering, checkerboard walls, and Anglo-Norman balconies—has been a town landmark since it opened in 1912, and crowds still pack the place. A regional menu is served in La Belle Époque, the restaurant set in a grand hall which, on a bright night and after a couple of bottles of Dom Pérignon, glitters like the salons of Versailles.

For that traditional French feeling, book into this intimate, affordable, romantic hotel—the theme is the work of former next-door neighbor Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, a supplier of military aid to American revolutionaries and the playwright who penned The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville. The pretty lobby reflects the taste of 18th-century French nobility—down to the floral wallpaper and 1792 pianoforte. Richly decorated with provincial fabrics and antique period furnishings, the rooms have original beams and hand-painted bathroom tiles, updated with flat-screen TVs. 

One of Normandy's most magnificent hôtels particuliers (family mansions) is also Rouen's finest hotel. Long a landmark on the Place de la Pucelle, this storybook vision of a Gothic urban palace—with soaring stone pinnacles and a tower made for a sleeping beauty—was initially built in 1506 for William the Red, leader of the powerful Le Roux family. From the Cour d'Honneur (where guests can enjoy their sunset drinks), enter the front door to be fast-forwarded to the 21st century: the lobby is all slick monolithic stone with a vast glass atrium and a regiment of black leather sofas. Upstairs, the guest rooms range from minimalistic Modern and Tradition (with lovely touches of period woodwork) to the most expensive Prestige (in which the brickwork bathrooms are beauts). The property also has a gourmet restaurant, a café, and a terrace bar, as well as an expansive spa with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and steam bath.

Perfectly situated in a historic building that's a short walk from Avignon's principal attractions, this chic boutique hotel has quiet, colorful, beautifully designed rooms with every amenity, ample bathrooms, and plenty of closet space. Some rooms also have a balcony or a fireplace. The on-site wine bar is a fine place to sample the regional Rhône wines before heading out on the town. 

This beautifully designed hotel and gourmet restaurant just steps from the château entrance adds a welcome dose of chic to the Fontainebleau lodging and dining scene. Bright and uncluttered guest rooms display a contemporary elegance, and several of the ground-floor suites offer lovely garden terraces. The hotel is a short walk from the château, woods, and downtown Fontainebleau, and Gina, the beautiful in-hotel restaurant and bar—with a spacious terrace that's open in warmer weather—is an excellent choice for a gourmet lunch or dinner (closed Wednesday and Thursday).

One of the city's most historic properties (a teenaged Marie-Antoinette took piano lessons here), it is also as sumptuous and majestic as any hotel in Paris. Each of the 78 rooms and 46 suites sports a unique, sophisticated decor, but what they all have in common is curated artworks, custom furnishings, luxurious linens, heated marble floors in the bathrooms, and butler service. The common areas are splendid, and the two restaurants—a casual grill and a gem-like gastronomic dining room—draw guests and local foodies. Crowds also flock to Les Ambassadeurs, one the city's most beautiful bars. The on-site pâtisserie and a spa firmly situate the Crillon as one of Paris's preeminent palace hotels.

On a small street, just steps from the Place des Vosges and the Musée Picasso, this hotel takes its name and stylish spirit from Joséphine Bonaparte herself. Somehow, its raucous mash-up of leopard print, toile de Jouy, and roses (Joséphine cultivated them) really works. Its lovely bar and intimate terrace are perfect for an apéro or cocktail (open until 11 pm), and its dusky atmosphere feels very Marais: that is, trendy, historic, and glamorous as all get-out.

In an 18th-century convent, this atmospheric hotel on a tranquil side street near St-Sulpice welcomes guests with a cobblestone ante-courtyard, lovely rooms, and a spacious garden terrace. Rooms have period furnishings and fabrics in stripes and floral designs. All have flat-screen TVs, and those upstairs have oak beams and sitting alcoves. Split-level suites have lovely private terraces.

Set in the former rectory of an 18th-century abbey, this intimate boutique hotel capitalized on the gothic-style building's elegant lines for a decor that's both stylish and refined. One of the city's newer hotels, it benefits from a lovely spot on a quiet leafy square adjacent to the abbey, and is an easy two-minute walk from the Place Bellecour and the river and 10 minutes on foot from Lyon-Perrache train and metro station. The very good in-hotel restaurant L'Artichaut is a pleasant place for lunch or dinner, especially on nice days when you can dine outside under the plane trees. You can also order a coffee, tea, a drink, or dessert all day at the hotel's charming Café Basilic bar.

Enjoying the finest location within the walls of the old city, this ivy-covered former Episcopal palace provides a high level of creature comfort, which the ascetic Cathars would most definitely have deprived themselves of. Antique-tile floors, afternoon teas, and the sumptuous La Barbacane restaurant (presided over by Michelin-starred chef Jérome Ryon) help make this the spot for visiting celebrities. Tea is served in the library bar or the rotunda lounge, amid detailed woodwork and leaded windows; formal dinners in La Barbacane, with its double-vaulted ceiling and ogival windows, are quite an event. A pool in the garden beckons on hot days.

A romantic's dream of a hotel, this petit palais enables you to step into 18th-century Avignon—complete with painted coffered ceilings, precious antiques, extraordinary handmade wall coverings, and beautiful Asian rugs. Guest rooms, most with views of the palace, are both gorgeous and comfy, with extraordinary marble baths. Six stunning rooms in a separate garden building are lavishly decorated in the Empire style. The central lounge is a skylighted and jazz-warmed haven, while the costume-drama dining room is the perfect setting for the restaurant's sophisticated Michelin-starred cuisine, the best in Avignon under chef Florent Pietravalle. If you have the time, take advantage of the hotel's cooking classes conducted in its well-stocked, 18th-century, vaulted kitchens, or partake one of the classical music nights, with chamber music and gourmet delights.

A spectacular 17th-century building provides the elegant bones for this stunning hotel conveniently located in the heart of Tournon. Breathtaking views of rolling hills and vineyards await you from each of the hotel's 16 rooms, which are beautifully furnished in luxe contemporary style with antique touches (parquet floors, original moldings, tasteful artwork, and some with handsome fireplaces) and modern amenities (spacious marble baths and large windows). A lovely in-house bar, with a sprawling outdoor terrace, offers a nice selection of local wines and nibbles, and the breakfast room, flooded with light reflecting off crisp white linens, is simply enchanting (as are the breakfasts). In warm weather, breakfast is served in the extensive, flower-strewn garden, with lovely views over the village. 

Established in 1850, the superbly located Londres has been run with pride by the same family for four generations, and guests are treated to a warm welcome by owners who go out of their way to make your stay pleasant. Charmingly homey yet elegant, the ample-sized rooms are tastefully decorated with antiques and Oriental rugs; some have fireplaces, and six have balconies with marvelous views of the Fontainebleau palace entrance and the Cour des Adieux, where Napoléon bade his troops an emotional farewell (the best views are from Rooms 10 and 11 on the top floor), especially when the palace is lit up at night. A spacious private courtyard is cool and serene in summer. The hotel's stately 19th-century facade is a registered landmark.

Prices at this small boutique hotel in an upscale neighborhood are fairly reasonable considering all you get—top-notch service, stylish and homey decor, a lively neighborhood, a variety of amenities, and some spectacular views.

Tucked in a picturesque corner of a chic, up-and-coming neighborhood ripe for exploration, this serenely beautiful hotel offers contemporary luxury with clean lines and uncluttered spaces designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Rooms—some with terraces overlooking the pretty church across the way—benefit from the warm earthiness of fine natural materials: organic wool carpets, snowy linens, and marble bathrooms with tubs make for a peaceful oasis unusual in an urban hotel. Casual gourmet dining is just downstairs, next to the cozy lounge and bar, along with a chic bistro, bar, and library.

When you walk into the lobby of this sleek hotel, you may be too excited about the open space—a novelty at properties in this tiny fishing port—to notice the pool suspended 15 meters in the air, with its glass floor just over your head. Designed by Sybille de Margerie, rooms here combine today's technology with styling that's a throwback to the swinging 1960s and groovy 1970s—think white lacquer furniture paired with geometrics and colors. The selection of hip bars and lively restaurants will keep your palette interested, the Clarins spa will appeal to all the senses, and the free beach shuttle is a welcome bonus.

Flaunting a unique interior design masterminded by Alberto Pinto and an elite location in the upper part of town, just across the way from the famous Église Monolithe, this stunning Italianate mansion has long been considered the top hotel in St-Émilion. Public areas and appealing guest rooms are a symphony of tangerines, beiges, and blacks; many rooms come with their own terrace overlooking the tile roofs of the town. Four rooms and one suite are located in the picturesque Residence Pavie, set amid vines two miles from St-Émilion, while the Suite House, located on a cobbled street a five-minute walk from the main reception desk, comprises seven contemporary-styled suites. The hotel's restaurant, La Table de Pavie, (closed Sunday and Monday) boasts two Michelin stars and there's also a less formal wine bar and restaurant, L'Envers du Décor. 

This affordable choice has a fabulous location, and its very gracious owners go the extra distance to ensure guests have the service and experience of a much-higher-caliber modern hotel. The renovated rooms are clean but small, so opt for a garden-facing balcony to open up the view. There is no pool or spa, but sipping wine (only €5 a glass) out on the garden patio will remind you of all that you don't have to do. The penthouse suite has a sun terrace and close by you'll find four independent apartments, with the same services as hotel rooms. Owned by the same people and some 200 feet away, off Rue d'Antibes, the Hotel Victoria is also an outstanding value with the added benefit of a pool.

Set in three 17th-century buildings and featuring a fabulous rooftop pool and terrace, this hotel is a model of contemporary refinement, with bright, spacious suites that have soaring ceilings, tasteful artwork, ample marble baths, and gorgeous color palettes that offset the building's creamy stone. Its elegant aesthetic extends to a Michelin-star restaurant and wine bar, featuring a connoisseur's selection of Provençal, French, and other choice wines. As refined as this hotel is, the owners' laid-back, welcoming vibe puts you at ease.

At this chic hotel, tucked away in plain sight on Boulevard Poissonière, even the smallest of the minimalist jewel-toned rooms (some with balconies or garden terraces) feels elegant, with tall windows, marble touches, and Marie-Antoinette–worthy draped headboards. Everything in your room has been "sourced," from the Swedish Sjostrand coffee makers and coffee pods from London to the gourmet juices in the minibar. At the intimate Shell cocktail bar—catnip for hip locals—you choose the amount of alcohol (if any) in your bespoke cocktail, which may feature health-conscious ingredients like kombucha, basil juice, or smoked salt. The rooftop bar, central courtyard (glass-covered in winter months), and trend-conscious restaurant make this a great all-in-one stay.

With its ivy-covered stone, white shutters, mansard roof, dormer windows, and rococo spiral staircase, this hotel looks like an 18th-century François Boucher painting. Inside, the guest rooms (some with original architectural features) are spacious, and, while hardly modern, come with cable TV, free Wi-Fi, and plenty of closet space. A lovely breakfast laden with local products is served in the beamed dining room by a roaring fireplace in winter or on the garden terrace in summer. All in all, this is an excellent value for the money.

Open since 1870, this extravagantly expensive hotel reminiscent of The Great Gatsby era is still the mainstay for A-Listers and those with deep pockets for good reason—with 22 acres of immaculate gardens bordered by rocky shore, it embodies the fantasy of a subtropical French Riviera idyll. The Villa Soleil joined forces with the neighboring Eden Roc tearoom in 1914 and expanded its luxuries to include a swimming pool blasted into seaside bedrock. After the Great War, two stylish American intellectuals—Sara and Gerald Murphy—rented the entire complex and invited all their friends, a stellar lot ranging from the Windsors to Rudolph Valentino and Marlene Dietrich. Their most frequent guests were Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who used it as the model for Hôtel des Etrangers in his Tender Is the Night. Large, sun-drenched rooms are thickly carpeted and furnished with antiques in the main Second Empire mansion; the waterside Pavillon Eden Roc wing is more modern and has sheer-horizon views. Everyone dresses formally for dinner in the Eden-Roc restaurant, the Champagne Lounge, and historical La Rotonde piano bar. To celebrate its 150-year-anniversary, the hotel opened the private Villa Sainte-Anne, which has its own infinity pool. In 2023, 46 suites were reimagined; the Dior spa was launched; and Michelin-star restaurant chef Sébastien Broda shared the limelight with 33-year-old Gabriel Le Quang, the hotel's pastry sous-chef, who won the 2023 title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pâtissier-Confiseur, making him one of France's best pastry chefs.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a budget hotel this stylish anywhere in Paris, let alone in an upscale neighborhood close to many of the city's top attractions. This travel-themed boutique hotel boasts tasteful, riotously colorful rooms with luxe decor by Christian Lacroix. They come in XS, XM, and XL (for small, medium, and large), but none could be considered big. No matter, with everything else going for it, you won't miss the lack of extra legroom.

Set in a former, 17th-century convent, this old town sanctuary is a masterclass in sustainable luxury and loving restoration—from the elegantly simple but beautifully curated rooms to the Roman-inspired spa with thermal baths, historical character blends seamlessly with modern comforts and amenities. The property also has a charming boulangerie and herboristerie (herbalist shop) and stays true to its eco-conscious ethos by serving natural wines at its bar, terrace, and restaurants. Families are welcome, and there is a daily kids club in summer months. 

A stylish Art Deco upgrade gave this 19th-century mansion two blocks from the Champs-Élysées a sleek period look enhanced by refined contemporary touches. Rooms—some with terraces—are minuscule but chic, with dreamy beds and floor-to-ceiling windows, all the better to see the Eiffel Tower from upper floors. The teensy pool works for laps, and there's a steam room.

If it weren't your chic destination for the night, you could easily walk right by this boutique hotel set on a tiny street. Each of its rooms was created by a different designer, giving each a singular character (room Joseph L’Estrange has a small balcony) and different size, although all have spacious bathrooms. It's a favorite among trendsetters, so book early around fashion weeks.

One of the many advantages of this small but stately historic château-hotel, set on lovely grounds, is its setting between the town and the Dordogne countryside. Here you'll find all the amenities of a luxury hotel—a pool, a top-notch restaurant with outdoor terraces, a bar, excellent service, and pleasing decor—with a welcoming vibe and attractive prices. Rooms are spotless and bright with modern bathrooms and charming views and the spa is a delight, especially followed by a dip in the pool or a drink on the terrace.