Get ready for take-off! Announcing Forbes Travel Guide's Inaugural Verified Air Travel Awards. 
As its name hints, the lavish La Réserve Paris is all about discretion. But that doesn’t mean this jewel box of a boutique hotel is stuffy affair, either. Opened in 2015, it caters to in-the-know guests who love unique stays as well as ample opportunities to indulge in arts, food and shopping.
And given the excellent location between the Champs-Élysées and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, you can expect to partake in many of the activities before retreating to a stylish room in this 19th-century Haussmannian gem.
Also enjoy sensory pleasures with views of the Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon and the Obelisk on the Place de la Concorde. (As it turns out, the name La Réserve might also be associated with the wine cellar’s 1,500-plus choices and the option to visit its sister property in Bordeaux.)
And given the excellent location between the Champs-Élysées and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, you can expect to partake in many of the activities before retreating to a stylish room in this 19th-century Haussmannian gem.
Also enjoy sensory pleasures with views of the Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon and the Obelisk on the Place de la Concorde. (As it turns out, the name La Réserve might also be associated with the wine cellar’s 1,500-plus choices and the option to visit its sister property in Bordeaux.)
Our Inspector's Highlights
- You are asked to provide arrival times so that a staff member can greet you outside. There is no need to stop at the reception desk, as the administration portion of the stay is handled before arrival — expect to be immediately escorted to your room.
- Three treatment rooms and a steam room make up the intimate, peaceful spa. The Swiss anti-aging beauty brand Nescens is featured in services, which range from personalized body and face treatments, as well as hair styling and manicures.
- Le Bar gives the illusion of a private club, with its onyx columns from Pakistan and 15-seat bar, but it is open to the public. The only aspect rivaling the design is the exceptional wine list, with 500 whites and more than 1,000 red labels from which to choose.
- The idea of pure French style is a nod to the owner who is insistent on keeping things classic and simple (butler service and a pillow menu included).
Things to Know
- This place was never actually meant to be a luxury hotel, but a 19th-century urban dwelling. Its five floors hold 40 keys (literally, there are no key cards).
- Overall, 120 artisans from 38 companies spent two years to complete the La Réserve design.
- True wine aficionados have the option to fly by private helicopter or plane to spend 24 hours at sister hotel Château Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux.
The Rooms
- Tradition meets modernity in the lavish rooms designed to evoke a bygone era, yet they are technologically up-to-date.
- One example of simplicity is the television within each room. It is hidden within a large mirror facing the bed and you’ll only see it after you’ve turned it on with the help of a remote.
- While the tech trappings are nice, we are head-over-heels for the updated and unapologetic French décor by Jacques Garcia — gilded mirrors, parquet floors, marble fireplaces, luxurious velvet drapes.
- Breakfast is included, as well as Wi-Fi and access to a private bar filled with complimentary soft drinks, biscuits and candy bars.
The Look
- Everything inside the Paris hotel was created from top to bottom from a gutted version of the past. The only remaining elements are in a few aged mirrors and a historic fireplace on the ground floor.
- La Réserve is adorned with 250 tons of marble that took six months and a dozen artisans to arrange.
- Within 155 patterns laid out for interior design, more than 19,685 feet of fabric was used for hangings and drapes.
- Pictures of its owner, multi-billionaire Michel Reybier and his family (his father owns a small cheese shop in Lyon) add to the personal feel.
Getting There
