The number of luxury hotels in Paris is constantly increasing. Cheval Blanc Paris is the latest five-star hotel in the French capital and the property of LVMH, also owning residences in St Tropez, Courchevel, St-Barth and Maldives. With the official intention to get a Palace mention (the highest hotel ranking in France, above 5*), this place is very promising. I simply couldn’t miss a chance to review it through a short stay!
The French luxury hospitality market is buzzing since the opening of Cheval Blanc Paris. This hotel takes place in a stunning building in the heart of the city, between Le Louvre and Notre-Dame-de-Paris: La Samaritaine. Originally a shopping mall opened in 1870 and offering affordable brands, it has been completely transformed and refurbished by LVMH from 2018 to 2021.
La Samaritaine is now a high-end shopping mall over 6 floors featuring most renowned brands. And of course, Cheval Blanc Paris hotel. Featuring some state-of-art rooms, the first Dior Spa in the world, a 30-meter indoor pool, multiple fine-dining restaurants… Let’s see all of these in detail.
Arriving In A Fancy World
When arriving at the lobby for check-in, the first impression is definitely good. Precious materials, luminous and colorful interior design by architect Peter Marino, plenty of contemporary art pieces and light home fragrance… Brilliant.
Guests are perfectly welcomed and handled by the staff – doormen, receptionists – which is a good start for the journey. You can feel they are all dedicated to make visitors having the best moment ever. A homemade eau-de-rose welcome drink by the in-house barman completes the check-in process.
Though, Cheval Blanc Paris opened its doors just few days before our arrival and the check-in area was a bit crowded. I guess some adjustments will be made by the staff in the next days in order to make the process smoother.
The Room
My partner and I received a room upgrade at check-in. What a great benefit! We stayed in the Junior Suite Seine #510 (5th floor) with outstanding views over Paris and its Pont-Neuf from the winter garden. A fantastic scenery with the Seine river, Notre-Dame-de-Paris on the left, the Eiffel Tower on the right and all Paris rooftops in between… A true Wow effect.
This Junior Suite has a large dressing area, a gorgeous king size bed and a chilling area with a nice sofa. The TV is just huge and has a very convenient system offering complimentary movies. The size of that bedroom is amazing, the light tones and color are also giving a relaxing atmosphere to the overall. Honestly, that’s one of the most beautiful hotel room I have seen worldwide.
I cannot miss to mention the unbelievable bathroom open to the bedroom – via a window. A marble bathroom fully equipped with state-of-art furniture and appliances, including a hammam you can turn on in the walk-in shower. The nez of Parfums Christian Dior, Mr François Demachy, created the luxurious bath amenities and their scent.
The World First Dior Spa
On the building’s basement is settled the gorgeous Dior Spa Cheval Blanc. First of its kind, this Spa proposes genuine Dior body & facial treatments and an exclusive access to the largest indoor pool in a Parisian hotel. A breathtaking 30-meter long pool with dark blue water and screens simulating an outdoor view. STUN-NING.
I didn’t have a chance to enjoy a Spa treatment. However I visited a treatment room and I know it: I will come back to try it out! There is already a Dior Institut at Plaza Athénée hotel, but it doesn’t offer the same full range of Dior treatments as Cheval Blanc Paris does and not a pool. For sure this one is not to be missed.
Last but not least, a lovely Dior boutique next to the Spa sells beauty products, the Christian Dior high-perfumery line and even some home decoration pieces. A few items have been especially designed for Cheval Blanc Paris and can be purchased only there.
Dining At Le Tout-Paris
We booked a dinner at Le Tour-Paris, the bistrot-chic restaurant at Cheval Blanc Paris by Chef William Béquin. Located on 7th floor with 180° views over Paris, it is definitely a great choice for a romantic moment. The menu is not pretentious, we went for the meat of the day for two – pork loin – with homemade fried and cooked vegetables.
Simple, tasty, it was absolutely fine. For dessert, we chose some delicious pastries by Chef Maxime Frédéric and were not disappointed: a floating island and a Paris-Brest – two French classics. The outdoor view was a great addition to the overall.
For top-notch dining lovers, two other restaurants are available. Langosteria offers an ode to fish and seafood on last floor, and Plénitude proposing the highest level of gastronomy by Michelin-star Chef Arnaud Donckele on 1st floor.
The Service
Throughout our stay, we enjoyed an exceptional service quality. I already spoke about the doormen and lobby’s staff, I have also to mention the Spa team – receptionists and fitness coaches – as well as the Tout-Paris restaurant’s waiters. Again, Cheval Blanc Paris opened its door few days before our stay so they will have to fix some issues here and there, but the hotel still delivers a very high-end journey to its guests.
The Overall Experience
Despite its newness, Cheval Blanc Paris already proposes an experience up to Palace standards. The location, the view and the facilities make it a great choice for affluent travelers. With the current buzz around its opening, this hotel is THE place to be and to be seen in Paris. Go for it, and ideally book a Dior Spa treatment and a lunch or dinner at Plénitude.
Gallery
Pictures and video made by The Luxe Insider
Stayed in September 2021
Cheval Blanc Paris opened in September 2021 and is composed of 72 rooms and suites. I booked a Deluxe Balcony Room and get upgraded into a Junior Suite Seine – around 55sqm – which public rate starts at EUR 1,800/night.
Cheval Blanc Paris Hotel – Book
Address:
8 Quai du Louvre,
75001 Paris, France
I always love discovering new restaurants in Paris! Thank you for the tip…