The hotel with a history to outshine any other, the Ritz Paris opened its doors last week, four years after it closed for renovations in 2012. The ‘grand dame' of Paris now boasts 142 rooms, as compared to 159 earlier. These include 15 Prestige Suites named after its famous guests including Charlie Chaplin and F Scott Fitzgerald.
Thierry W Despont, the New York-based French architect and designer, has retained the overall look while giving the space a lighter, airier feel with 18-foot-high ceilings and a sunny shopping gallery. Other new developments across the board include spacious bathrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art-technology.
Upgrades are aplenty at the Ritz Club—think a spanking new fitness facility and sauna, and the launch of the first-ever Chanel Spa, a nod to iconic designer who lived at the hotel for 34 years. The Chanel au Ritz Paris features six treatment alcoves stocked with Chanel products.
Bar Hemingway, the old favourite, retains all its charm despite a few cosmetic changes while Bar Vendôme and L'Espadon, the two restaurants, now have retractable roofs. Salon Proust, the newest addition to property, is a lounge with a fireplace where guests can enjoy their afternoon tea with a book.
The Ritz Paris originally opened in 1898, after Swiss hotelier César Ritz bought the palace with a goal of making it the most luxurious hotel in the world. Over the years, it has been home to royalty, artists and writers including Marcel Proust, Ernest Hemingway and Audrey Hepburn.
Doubles from €1000 or Rs75,400 a night; Website