Why A Stay at the Shangri-La Paris is Worth the Splurge

Hear me out. In most cases, visitors to Paris are there to celebrate a milestone, whether it’s a graduation, long-planned and saved-for vacation, wedding, divorce or other life accomplishment. While the City of Lights is filled with hotel options, I think only one stands out for delivering a perfect location, Eiffel Tower views, Michelin-starred dining, luxe amenities and warm, personal service. With only 100 rooms and suites, the Shangri-La Paris may be the city’s ultimate luxury boutique hotel.

The Shangri-La Paris

Sitting on a hill in the 16th, right next to the Jardins du Trocadero, the Shangri-La Paris is a boutique palace hotel with the amenities and features of a bigger luxury property. With only 100 rooms and suites, guests are ensured an intimate experience and warm, deeply personal service. The palace hotel is housed in an authentic palace, the former mansion of Prince Roland Bonaparte, the grand-nephew of Napoleon.

Check-in is done in the former reception rooms of the mansion, there you will also find the lobby lounge and bar areas. The hotel is a protected historic monument and the public spaces, like the lobby and second floor ballrooms, retain wonderful historic details like the bees (insects) and B’s (the letter) in the floor, stair railings and balconies. “B” (and bee) of course standing for Bonaparte. If you visit, be sure to ask the concierge for a tour of the epic second floor ballrooms.

My Suite

I stayed in one of the hotel’s lavish Junior Suites, with a huge living / sleeping area, a large dressing room space and a spa-like marble bathroom with a separate soaking tub space along with a standing shower. The more-than-king-sized bed faced vintage French, floor-to-ceiling window doors which opened to a view of the hotel’s lavish garden and the Eiffel Tower (if you stuck your head out a bit).

Dining

If you like Chinese food, the Shangri-La Paris is the place to stay as it’s home to the only Chinese restaurant in France to hold a Michelin star, Shang Palace. Aside from Shang Palace, La Bauhinia is the hotel’s main restaurant which also offers an amazing dining experience, whether you visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Watch a video of my lunch at La Bauhinia here.

Amenities

Even though the hotel is within easy walking distance of most of Paris’ monuments and things to do and see, there is a lot do without ever leaving the property. You can enjoy a wide range of treatments at the award-winning Chi spa, or just go for a swim in the indoor pool.

Getting There

I first flew British Airways from LAX to London in their wonderful Club World business class cabin. The airline now offers their Club Suite in Club World, it’s a seat with a door that closes for privacy. You also get a flat bed, delicious food, world-class wines and excellent service.

I took Eurostar’s Business Premier service on the train from London to Paris, something I haven’t done in a few years. Although Brexit now means they have passport control, it’s still easy and convenient to walk onto the train at London St. Pancras station and then walk out of Gare Du Nord in Paris less than three hours later. I had not been in Paris for a few years and there was something very special about exiting the station right into the energy of the city. It made me smile.

Read more of Freddy Sherman’s take on travel on his Go World Travel Blog. You can also follow more of his adventures on his YouTube channel or his @luxuryfred Instagram.