We've all heard the stories about Paris - it's the city of love, the city of chic and one of Europe's classic destinations. None of that has changed but from time to time, we all need to go one step further and really treat ourselves. Here's a step by step luxury guide to Paris for your ultimate weekend getaway.
Where to Stay - The Ritz Paris
When it comes to places to stay, few places are more evocative of old world grandeur, definitive style and effortless elegance than The Ritz. The name alone means over a century of the best service, style and quality.
The hotel has earned a place in the hearts of stars from Coco Chanel to Elton John, and has maintained an impeccable standard throughout the years. Spacious bedrooms with luxurious decorations make a delightful base for a trip to the city.
Pampering too is all in hand, The Ritz Health Club is a sight to behold, and the treatments do not disappoint. Only using the finest brands such as Clinica Ivo Pitanguy and Russie Blanche, you can guarantee that you will be leaving fresh of face and light of step. The Quintessence Facial Treatment is particularly recommended.
Desirable dining
When it comes to dining, the options are almost endless. Of course one can dine at restaurants with more Michelin stars than we have fingers but for those that want to try something a bit different, Thomieux is the place to go.
The restaurant is fast making its name as the hottest dining place to be seen. A joint venture between head chef Jean-François Piège and Thierry Costes, the two have excelled at the bold richness of traditional French food. At Thomieux you find the style and elegance of a restaurant of its oeuvre without the stuffy and overly formal atmosphere too often encountered. French favourites such as foie gras, steak frites and riz de veau (lamb sweetbreads) and creme brûlée are given a new lease of life under Piège's hands. Dress up and book early and you will not be disappointed.
Still, it would be a shame not to try a Michelin-starred dish or two when there are so many places willing to oblige (this is a luxury guide to Paris after all). Joel Roubouchon’s L’Atelier is a culinary performance worthy of a visit. The seats encircle a central bar, behind which the chefs put on the main show. A drizzle here, a flip there - it's a performance without parallel in the city. Tapas-sized portions make it easy to sample various parts of the menu and can be paired with wines from the expansive wine list.
Just a stone’s throw from the Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries on Rue de Rivoli, Angelina’s is the stop for a little afternoon treat. They are particularly famous for two things: the decadently thick hot chocolate l'Africain and the Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc is a meringue dessert that incorporates chestnut cream and cream for a pleasure to remember.
Around the corner, master chocolatier Jean Paul Hevin serves up a range of toothsome tartelettes and confectionery to satisfy even the most fanatic chocolate lover. Browsing the vast array of delicacies behind the counter can be difficult when deciding what to have. But you shouldn't worry, if other things catch your eye (or your palette) they can be wrapped up and taken away for later consumption, or even a present.
Savvy and stylish
A city as famous as this for its stylishly chic inhabitants is going to have a vast choice when it comes to shopping. Luxe shoppers should make Faubourg Saint-Honore a priority for picking up their designer pieces. Perfectly located a few minutes from the Louvre, names such as Hermes, Versace and Yves St Laurent name the area as their home.
The Emirates certainly has its share of large department stores, but for ones with the quintessential Parisian touch Printemps and Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann are must-dos. An afternoon in either of these provides a lesson in the various fashions and collections of almost every designer brand.
Printemps has the largest floor space dedicated to cosmetics of any department store worldwide - even more impressive in reality than it is on paper. Service is haughty but the choice is unrivalled, with homeware, gourmet food, jewellery and electronics on sale. So much so that picking up an extra suitcase or two along the way is always advisable.
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