Ritz Paris

The Ritz Paris is arguably the most famous hotel in the world, so naturally I arrived for my 5 day stay with high expectations. As expected the hotel was beautifully decorated for the festive period. Check in was smooth, friendly and attentive with the guest relation manager taking me to my deluxe, 90m sq suite. My luggage arrived quickly and efficiently and was unpacked very thoughtfully by a housekeeper. The suite was luxurious and seamlessly integrated modern technology while maintaining the Louis XVI style opulence and comfort. I particularly enjoyed that my room gave me a direct view of the garden which looked stunning at night. I loved the Ritz signatures - the swan taps, room key light controls, and the tulip lamps. As expected the bed was supremely comfortable and provided a restful nights sleep. The only slight issue was in terms of connectivity - it wasn't until day 3 that I realised I needed an Apple TV device to stream my content and my devices were unable to charge. For the most part, service was absolutely impeccable. The housekeepers, door staff, and everybody you meet within the hotel treats you as a valued guest and is very friendly. When I realised the lock on my suitcase had broken a bell boy took the trouble of taking it to Rimowa to have it repaired and returned the same day which was amazing. Similarly, the reception staff were very gracious in allowing me to view the Marcel Proust prestige suite. My only concern was that the in-room dining staff took away items that I hadn't finished with and that security were overly zealous at times which I expected at first but not over the course of my stay. I dined at Espadon restaurant during my visit, and while the food and the sommelier were absolutely impeccable, as a solo diner I attracted awkward glances from the waiting staff and it felt as though I was the topic of conversation between staff which felt intrusive. I award 4 stars rather than 5 because at this price point, and given the reputation of the hotel, some things are missing in terms of the offer and value for money. For instance, butler service to suite guests is standard at comparable hotels (certainly in London) but isn't offered at the Ritz. Similarly, it would be nice to have tea and coffee making facilities as standard; or, as part of the turndown service to be left a little treat like a chocolate on a pillow or something. The Ritz truly is a grand dame and, on the whole, provides an unforgettable Parisian experience.

The Ritz Christmas Tea in the Salon Proust proved to be pretty underwhelming. The hotel and the room are both lovely, and beautifully decorated for the holidays. The tea experience itself was only okay - especially compared to other choices in Paris. Our table was not ready at the time of the reservation, which is not a big deal. But after we were seated it took more than 15 minutes for a server to come over to us. So it was almost half an hour past our appointed time by then. We knew this would be a traditional French sweet tea. However, we did expect the sweets offered to be a bit more special. The best part was the chef's special dessert as a starter. Both of our choices were delicious. The sweets them served were okay, but not what one might expect from the Ritz - especially in Paris, which in general has lovely pastries. My husband's coffee was served cold, and it took quite some time to catch a server's eye to ask that it be corrected. Overall, the atmosphere was a 10. The staff were all very gracious, if a bit harried. The food was about a 4 or 5, unfortunately. I would return to have a meal or a drink at this beautiful hotel, but I cannot recommend having tea there.

I've never experienced such consistent service excellence. Every interaction, from the valet to housekeeping, reflected a deep commitment to guest satisfaction. The property maintained an ideal temperature and humidity level throughout, creating a comfortable environment regardless of the weather outside. The evening turndown service included thoughtful touches that made

We were hoping to come in and have lunch at the cafe in the lobby, but the employee who was standing just inside the revolving doors was on us the second we entered, asking why we were there and making sure we knew we weren’t allowed to go any further into the hotel. We had been out walking all day and weren’t wearing head to toe fur coats or carrying Louis Vuitton bags, so he clearly knew we weren’t good enough to be in the building and wanted to make sure to keep out the riffraff. Plenty of other people walked by without his comment, their noses in the air, and that of course was no problem to the doorman because those people clearly belonged. It’s ironic that a space that ought to exist to make people feel welcome instead does the opposite. Stuffy, “exclusive” Parisian hotel culture at its worst.

I attended the Escoffier class in the morning and was escorted to the room personally, a lovely touch. However, another woman's purse and luggage was located within. Prompt apologies were communicated and my luggage was delivered within 15 minutes or so. My fatigue was overwhelming so I declined the offer to unpack. Later, I looked in the Hemingway bar which intimate but doesn't open up for conversation with its limited seats at the bar. You need to bring your friends with you. I moved to the Vendome bar with lovely piano tunes and had a lively conversation with an attorney from Finland and later, a couple from Australia. Ambiance and environment were super.