Food & Drink -- 7 days ago
It is quite the year for sport: the Africa Cup of Nations took place between January and February, much to Nigeria’s dismay in the final; there is, of course, Euro 2024, which will be held across Germany during summer; the West Indies and the US will see the ICC Men's T20 World Cup; and, much closer to home, will be the Paris Olympics, the first post-pandemic Games.
If you’ve managed to score some tickets to catch Simone Biles on the matts, Noah Lyles on the track and Osmar Olvera on the diving board, you’ll also need to snag a bed for the fortnight when there. Fortunately, there’s still a stretch of time before the Games officially commence on 26 July, so, if you haven’t yet managed to book a double room, corner suite or penthouse, then these are the classic, never-fail keys to reserve now before a last-minute scramble occurs…
The neighbourhood: 16th arrondissement – bang in the heart of the city, near the Arc de Triomphe, yet hidden-away in feel
The spirit: high-grade in its finishes and sizeable enough for you to run and hit full speed at any corner or straight
In a nutshell: though a palace-grade hotel, The Peninsula is no time capsule stuck in a time gone by. The draw – beyond the large footprint, the 40,000 bits of gold leaf interspersed within the interiors, the accomplished tasting menu at L'Oiseau Blanc, the rooftop restaurant with views of the Eiffel Tower, and the 1,800sq m spa – is both the envelope-pushing tech that the hotel brand is so well known for, including bedside panels that have full control of what goes on in the room, as well as the generous 10pm check-out.
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The neighbourhood: 8th arrondissement, a close walk to the high-end boutiques – Hermès, Chanel, Balmain – that the front-row crowd frequent
The spirit: Paris at its very best; airy and light and splashed with cream tones, and the service is both gentle and seamless
In a nutshell: one of the best hotels in the world, Le Bristol is a magnet for its graceful looks – what style editors might call chic – with its suites featuring slim wooden fixtures, swathes of flower arrangements, heavy, thick curtains, and the odd Versaille-style touch. The oceanliner of a pool is a brilliant bit of lifestyle kitsch, and four Michelin stars reside within the kitchens. When the weather is just right, there are few more pleasurable experiences in life than sitting among the roses in Le Jardin Français.
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The neighbourhood: 1st arrondissement. Action central, with culture big-hitters, such as the Louvre and Place Vendôme, close by
The spirit: like Paris of old, filled with a rolodex of cover stars and on-screen names walking the corridors
In a nutshell: Ritz Paris is precisely what you hope for when checking-in to a hotel of pure pomp and glint: a fleet of doormen at the entrance; schemes that bring to mind a century long gone, all period fixtures, chandeliers, tassels and extravagant patterns; and some of the best Gillardeau oysters on the continent. The true move is the €42,000-a-night Suite Impériale, a space that looks as though it’s fallen straight out of a Regency painting.
What to wear
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