3 Best Hotels in Around the Louvre, Paris

Since 1835, Paris's first palace hotel has welcomed royalty and celebrities from the Duchess of Windsor to Salvador Dalí and continues to enchant with service, style, and views. Le Meurice also appeals to art-history aficionados: contemporary sculpture, antiques, and attractive murals adorn rooms, corridors, and sumptuous dining areas. Classic rooms have a gilded Napoleonic Empire style, with antique furnishings covered in elegant French and Italian brocades. The modern spa includes Swiss Valmont facials, Thermes Marins de St-Malo body treatments, and "By Terry" makeovers. Expect children to be pampered with their own Meurice teddy bear called Pistache, tot-size slippers and bathrobe, and sweet treats. There's even a premium pet service that provides a VIP welcome for furry family members. The three-star Michelin restaurant run by chef Amaury Bouhours on behalf of Alain Ducasse serves gastronomic menus in one of the most beautiful grand siècle settings in the city, with a design by Philippe Starck and pastries from superstar pâtissier Cédric Grolet.

Hiding behind a classic, 19th-century facade is this fresh, 1930s-influenced hotel, which was fully remodeled in 2018 by designer Didier Gomez. Under a huge atrium skylight, the lobby's urban-chic design sets the mood. Imported woods and black slate accent the hotel's sauna, steam room, and countercurrent swimming pool. Rooms have modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and free high-speed Internet.

A few of the city's most prestigious hotels face the Tuileries or Place de la Concorde, but the 19th-century Brighton occupies the same prime real estate and offers a privileged stay for a less daunting price. Rooms exude a classic elegance, blending antiques with comfortable square footage. The smallest rooms overlook the courtyard; larger ones have a magnificent view of the gardens. Nearly all have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and heated towel racks in spacious bathrooms. Relax in the first-floor bar and lounge surrounded by marble columns, mirrored walls, and contemporary furnishings.