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Hotels of the month
The best hotel bars in Paris
The good news is that the finest bars in Parisian luxury hotels aren’t just for guests staying there. Destinations in themselves, these glamorous spots offer the ultimate experience of infiltrating the hushed atmosphere of a palace for a drink.
Trend: The Delano Bar | Editor's Pick
The pitch? a confidential speakeasy a stone's throw from the Élysée Palace.
The setting? nestled in a mansion dating from 1734, formerly occupied by the Buddha Bar, Maison Delano Paris opened its doors in April 2023, in the heart of the 8th arrondissement. The Parisian cousin of Miami's legendary Starck-designed Delano, this intimate five-star establishment, with its private courtyard and fine dining helmed by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, has quickly established itself as one of the most sought-after spots for the Right Bank elite, as well as one of the best hotel bars in Paris. Its trump card: an ultra-glamorous cocktail bar with a speakeasy decor, accessible from the street and open to non-residents from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a DJ on weekends. Fifties-style velvet seating, quilted mirrors, works of art... it's like being in an episode of Mad Men. Designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán (Hôtel Pulitzer Paris), like the 56 rooms and suites of this chic hotel, the sophisticated terracotta-toned scenography exudes retro elegance and contemporary chic.
A toast: The Delano Bar menu offers twelve creations, as well as four non-alcoholic ones, combining key ingredients with a touch of daring. The Bloom is a fine opener, combining Bombay 1er cru gin, Saint-Germain liqueur and verjuice. Red Passion (Grey Goose, red fruits and apple) has a sweet, angelic air, but proves to be a false friend. We also like the Stoli Express (Stoli vodka, espresso and Kahlua, perfect for the season).
Delano Café à Maison Delano Paris
4 rue d'Anjou, 75008 Paris
Chic: Bar 8 at the Mandarin Oriental
The pitch? On the first floor of the Mandarin Oriental, the 5-star Paris hotel on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Bar 8 is a showcase of modernity and refinement. The centerpiece of this sophisticated space is a spectacular marble bar, surrounded by wooden walls adorned with Lalique crystals, evoking the delicacy of raindrops. In winter, the covered and heated outdoor terrace becomes a cocoon to snuggle up with a cocktail, while in summer, it transforms into a chic haven under the Parisian sky. Between subdued lighting, hushed music and impeccable service, Bar 8 achieves the perfect alchemy of a Paris hotel bar, where every detail invites pleasure.
Shall we toast? Aperitifs take on a whole new dimension with the Paris-Tivo, a refined, gourmet experience to be savored between 5.30pm and 8pm every day of the year. For €35, choose from three signature cocktails, two of which are based on Italicus, an Italian liqueur with floral flavors: the Italicus Negroni, a sophisticated version of the classic with a touch of mandarin brandy, the Italicus Sour with its blend of verjuice and egg white, or the Not a Last Word, a vibrant cocktail combining gin, lime and Chartreuse. Each cocktail is accompanied by a trio of amuse-bouches imagined by hotel chef Maxime Gilbert: a mini truffle croque, a chicken-curry cromesquis and an avocado-crevette brioche bun. A chic, gourmet interlude, ideal for kicking off an evening in the hushed ambience of Bar 8.
Bar 8 at Mandarin Oriental Paris
251 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
From altitude: Bonnie to S0/Paris
The setting? Nestled on the 16th floor of the brand-new vertical district on the banks of the Seine, Morland Mixité Capitale, which includes a small market, youth hostel, gym and swimming pool, the SO/ Paris hotel's aerial bar offers a superb view of the Bastille, Montmartre and the Seine with its enfilade of bridges. With its vintage-movie spaceship ambience, midnight-blue carpeting, deep armchairs and mirrors everywhere, the place also doubles as a club on the floor below and a restaurant.
How about a toast? French spirits are the order of the day here. For example, it's one of the only hotel bars in Paris to serve ultra-premium Grey Goose Altius vodka. And what better way to enjoy a drink made from Alpine spring water than on a high-altitude rooftop? The best part? Enjoy it neat, with a few ice cubes to bring out its icy sweetness. For the more chilly, Grey Goose Altius can also be mixed into cocktails, but the experience is likely to be less impressive, in the words of François Thibault, founder and Master of Chai Grey Goose.
Bonnie at SO/ Paris
10 Rue Agrippa d'Aubigné, 75004 Paris
Iconic: The Hemingway Bar
The pitch? the capital's most legendary palace bar.
The setting? in September 2023, the Ritz Paris celebrated its 125th anniversary with a memorable party attended by the whole of Paris. The famous bar at 15 place Vendôme, named after the writer Ernest Hemingway, who made it his HQ, needs no introduction. Legend has it that the Nobel Prize winner chased the Gestapo out of the palace in 1944, before leaving a record 51 dry Martinis. Even today, these walls still exude the fragrance of yesteryear. just 25 seats and a decor that's remained intact: portraits and handwritten letters recounting the life of the adventurous writer, wood panelling, upholstered leather armchairs and sepia-toned lighting. A mythical place that every Paris hotel bar lover should try once in their life.
A toast: the dry Martini, Hemingway's signature drink, is an absolute must. Another reference: the Serendipity, "France in a glass" according to its inventor, cult chef-bartender Colin Peter Field, who ran the place for 29 years, combining champagne, sugar, apple juice, Calvados and fresh mint. All served on the rocks in a highball glass. But there's nothing wrong with thinking outside the box. Especially when it's the brilliant disciple, Anne-Sophie Prestail, who has been with the company since 2006, who improvises racy love filters according to customers' desires.
Bar Hemingway at the Ritz Paris
15 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris
Romantic: Le Très Particulier
The pitch? the perfect setting for a romantic date out of sight.
The setting? the countryside in Paris. Opening onto a lush 900m2 listed and protected garden, the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre is a love nest tucked away in a private alleyway a stone's throw from the Sacré-Coeur. The old secret hotel boasts five luxurious suites, a restaurant, a small library with fireplace and an insider's bar with boudoir-style carpeting, red velvet decor and jungle wallpaper. An ambience that screams hedonism and voluptuousness (and more, if you like). Live piano on Wednesdays and DJ sets every weekend.
A toast: head barmaid Emilie Popovic (ex-Bachaumont and Shake n'Smash) brings us the house classics: the summery Très Particulier (gin, elderberry cordial, tonic and lavender), floral and thirst-quenching. And more offbeat creations like the Rhett Butler (Bourbon, Luxardo, lemon juice, vanilla syrup and Tabasco). Enough to spice up any evening in this Paris hotel bar.
Le Très Particulier at Hôtel Particulier Montmartre
23 avenue Junot, pavillon D, 75018 Paris