If there’s a place that speaks to past glory and contemporary glamour, it’s Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, where spotting a famous face or two is not news. Located near the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement, it’s a hop away from the Arde Triomphe and the elegant Parc Monceau.
STAY
The hotel’s classic 1920s art deco-style facade belies its refurbished modern interiors, courtesy Philippe Starck. With 149 bedrooms and spacious suites (including three private apartments) there’s plenty to choose from. But we’ll admit we’re partial to a stay with a story behind it, which is why we recommend Suite 714 in particular. It’s where jazz legend Ray Charles once stayed. It is named in his honour and contains pictures of him taken by the celebrated photographer Ann Grégory.
241 Presidential Suite at Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris
EAT
The Michelin-starred Il Carpaccio is your one-stop destination for seasonal gourmet Italian fare. Try La Pizza Fritta—a pizza stuffed with ricotta, candied tomatoes, anchovies and basil—and don’t leave without sampling
the desserts, straight from the hand of master baker Pierre Hermé, who is lovingly known as the Picasso of pastry. A meal at Matsuhisa Paris, chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s first restaurant in France, should also be on the cards. It serves his signature take on Japanese food—influenced as it is by his time spent in Peru—with a heavy hand of French influences. The menu features everything from the famous black cod with miso to Wagyu beef ravioli.
Ravioli at Il Carpaccio
DO
Done dining? Spend an afternoon at the My Blend by Clarins spa. Try The Art of Touch, a rejuvenating three-step face and body massage that includes a facial too. The hotel also has a range of services for art aficionados, ranging from a bookstore and contemporary gallery to the in-house Art Concierge, who helps organise museum trips and cultural tours for resident guests, alongside planning visits to artists’ studios, galleries and private collections.
