Business Finance Media Technology Policy Wealth Insights Interviews

Art Art Fairs Art Market Art Reviews Auctions Galleries Museums Interviews

Lifestyle Nightlife & Dining Style Travel Interviews

Power Lists Nightlife & Dining Art A.I. PR

About About Observer Advertise With Us Reprints

What It Takes for a Paris Hotel to Earn France’s Elite Palace Distinction

Just 13 luxury hotels hold the elusive Palace honor.

Paris is a city brimming with five-star accommodations, but just 13 of the French capital’s luxury hotels currently hold the country’s elite Palace distinction. This official decree was created by the French Ministry of Tourism in 2010, recognizing an exclusive collection of hotels that reflect the highest standards of service, heritage, gastronomy and architectural splendor. Though the honor is awarded all across France, Paris is the epicenter of this tradition, boasting the largest concentration of Palace properties. The City of Light is home to some of Europe’s most storied hotels, where writers like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald sparred over martinis, and designers, including Christian Dior and Madeleine Vionnet, fell in love with Avenue Montaigne. 

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

Today, in-the-know jet-setters and A-list celebrities flock to these royal hideaways while exploring the City of Love. During fashion week, Art Basel Paris and more, these legendary addresses become the home base for a network of world-class designers, models and socialites. But how do these properties actually earn—and merit—coveted Palace status?

To start, France’s Palace designations are reviewed every three years, and as of the latest update given in June 2026, 13 Paris properties were granted this exclusive standing: new additions Cheval Blanc........

© Observer