Hotel Balzac

The place

A majestic 19th-century sandstone building steps from the Arc de Triomphe, in the 8th arrondissement. Festen Architecture drew on the timeless elegance of the 1930s for the intimate lobby — dark wooden tones, clean lines, mid-century furniture, checkered marble underfoot.

The 52 rooms and suites lighten the palette to white and neutrals: bespoke furnishing, artistic lighting, wooden parquet, marble mosaic in the bathrooms. The Paris Sky Suite ends with a lush private terrace and the Eiffel Tower, uninterrupted.

Ikoi, the Japanese spa, holds a plunge pool, a sauna, and a fitness center. The lounge and bar handle luxurious light plates and cocktails; on the ground floor, the hotel shares its address with Pierre Gagnaire, one of the city’s best restaurants, by the namesake three-Michelin-star chef.