Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris
An art-led Raffles palace near the Arc de Triomphe, with Matsuhisa, Il Carpaccio, private cinema and a 1,500-square-metre spa.
Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris is the palace hotel for travellers who like their luxury with a gallery wall and a little mischief. Set on Avenue Hoche near the Arc de Triomphe, it has the history and celebrity lore, but its modern identity is built around art, cinema, food and Philippe Starck’s theatrical eye.
The guest list runs to Winston Churchill, Michael Jackson, Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel; the programme runs to Starck design, a private art collection, yoga or pilates, a 99-seat cinema, Matsuhisa and Michelin-starred Il Carpaccio. The art programme includes La Librairie des Arts, a private cinema, a contemporary art gallery, a private collection of more than 300 works and an Art Concierge. Dining and wellness: Matsuhisa Paris, Il Carpaccio, Le Bar Long and Raffles Spa & Wellness, a 1,500-square-metre spa.
The result is less hushed grande dame, more cultured Parisian salon with excellent lighting. You can watch a film, browse art books, book a treatment, eat Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, then pivot to Italian fine dining without leaving the building. Efficient? Yes. Dangerous for the itinerary? Also yes.
For Luxa Terra, Le Royal Monceau is best for design-savvy travellers who want the hotel itself to be part of the cultural programme. Paris has plenty of museums. This one lets you sleep upstairs.
