Last year, I had the pleasure of flying to Paris to inspect a number of luxury properties over the course of a week. I began my adventure with the wonderful Mandarin Oriental Paris. The focus on wellness, and relaxing atmosphere amidst the hustle and bustle of shopping crowds made for a great beginning to my trip! Above all, the Mandarin Oriental standard of excellence did not disappoint. Keep reading to find out more about my stay!
Stay up to date with the latest luxury travel trends!
Table of Contents
Location
The Mandarin Oriental in Paris is located in the heart of the shopping district on Rue Saint-Honoré near Place Vendôme. I love this area because you’re steps away from Dior, Burberry, Armani, Balmain, and all the luxury stores you can think of. You’re also steps away from Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Garden, the Louvre, and Place Vendôme. It’s an incredibly trendy area to be in!
I have to shout out one of my favorite restaurants in Paris that is literally right behind the hotel. It’s called Ferdi, and I wrote about it on my Trendiest Restaurants of Paris blog post. Check it out!
Flights
Looking to price out roundtrip flights to/from Paris? Use this handy tool below to quickly see how much fares cost over your dates.
First Impression
Driving down Rue Saint-Honoré is similar to driving down Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, but smaller and busier. There are many pedestrians walking the street window shopping and taking pictures in front of the luxury stores. One second you’re driving past Chloé and Moschino, and the next second you’ve arrived at the Mandarin Oriental.
There isn’t a pull off area for hotel guests, so upon arriving at the entrance you may need to push through the crowds to get to the lobby. Upon entering the lobby, you know you’ve stepped into a Mandarin Oriental. It’s decorated with beautiful marble tiles and abundant displays of orchids framed nicely by the green courtyard behind. I knew I was leaving behind the busy Parisian streets behind me and walking into a relaxing oasis.
Style
The style is classic Mandarin Oriental with a Parisian twist. You’ll see elegant flower accents, dark textures mixed with gold or brass complements, and Asian elements as a nod to its roots. Walking around the lobby space I felt a sense of belonging with plenty of cozy nooks and seating areas. The hotel is housed inside a 1930’s Art Deco-inspired building, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on how modern the rooms are.
Rooms
There are 135 rooms and suites at the Mandarin Oriental Paris, and most of them have internal courtyard views, while the rooms on the top floor have incredible panoramic views of Paris. There are also a couple of room categories that look out onto Rue Saint-Honoré on the front side of the building. The rooms range in category from entry-level Superior Room all the way up to the Parisian Apartment and multi-bedroom Penthouse Suite. What I love about the room options at the Mandarin Oriental is that there are plenty of connecting rooms so it’s a great option for families.
During my visit, I stayed in the entry-level Superior Room and was pleasantly surprised how spacious it was for Paris. Facing the Rue Saint-Honoré, it was fixed two large windows to let plenty of light in. The color palette was neutral with pops of plum and bright textures, such as mosaic floors, tiles, and carpet to make the room more interesting. This was the first time I stayed in a room where the sinks and closet space were separate and across the hall from the shower, bathtub, and toilet. Despite the unconventional layout, it made the space feel more spacious. The bed, as Mandarin Oriental is known for, was incredible and plush – no complaints!
Amenities
There is no shortage of amenities at this property, though with so much to do nearby it’ll be tough to stay and make use of all of them! Starting with the dining options, there is plenty to choose from. Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx, led by the visionary chef Marx, offers avant-garde French cuisine, pushing boundaries with each impeccably crafted dish. Meanwhile, Camélia presents a modern twist on traditional French fare in a relaxed yet refined setting, nestled in a light-filled conservatory overlooking the hotel’s lush garden. Additionally, Bar 8, the hotel’s chic bar and lounge, offers expertly crafted cocktails in an ambiance of Parisian glamour, providing the perfect setting for unwinding and socializing. Don’t forget about the Cake Shop for incredible and tasty pastry creations!
Of course, no stay would be complete without a visit to the spa. The Mandarin Oriental brand is known worldwide for their spa and wellness offerings. The Paris spa was located in the lower level of the hotel and opened up to an enormous hollow sphere that you had to walk through to enter the treatment area. In the center of the sphere, a gong sound plays signaling the beginning of your journey to relaxation. Nearby, a large lap pool with plenty of seating and a small but functional fitness room complete the wellness amenity offerings.
Though the hotel is incredibly family friendly, there is no kid’s club on property. Where the hotel shines is its incredible staff in the form of concierge who will go above and beyond to make any arrangements for you. In particular, they have close relationships with many of the luxury stores on Rue Saint-Honoré and can have your items delivered to your room or arrange private access to the stores if requested.
Activities
When in Paris, you can’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the City of Lights. Here are some of my favorite activities in Paris through Viator.
Disclaimer: the following are affiliate links which, when clicked and booked, generate a small income to maintain this blog. Thank you for your support!
Who Would I Recommend?
There are so many amazing luxury properties in Paris, and the Mandarin Oriental is certainly worth checking out. During my stay, I saw many Asian families, presumably loyal to the Mandarin Oriental brand, at this property. With that said, here is who I would recommend this property to:
- Families who need connecting rooms
- Luxury on a budget travelers (hotel often runs 50% off second room promos)
- Travelers who want the quality reassurance of a big name brand
- Wellness-focused travelers who crave a world reknown spa
- Guests who like to have Asian cuisine options at breakfast
- Clients who want to be near the big names in shopping (especially for Fashion Week)
As a reminder, when you book any Mandarin Oriental property with me, I am able to get exclusive Fan Club perks for you completely FREE. These include:
- Upgrade on arrival, based on availability
- $100+ Hotel credit
- Complimentary breakfast
- Early check-in/Late check-out
- VIP Welcome Amenity
Final Thoughts
The Mandarin Oriental Paris was the first of seven hotels I stayed at for the week, and I was glad to have started there! The service was top notch, and I felt so well taken care of. It was lovely to be in the heart of the shopping area of Paris to start and then retreat back to my calm oasis at the end of the day. I would say the MO Paris is for a certain type of traveler and may not be for everyone. Given that the hotel was opened in 2011 and has no plans for upcoming renovations or expansions, the hotel is starting to look and feel a bit dated. That said, I would definitely come back!
I am currently ACCEPTING new trip requests.
Have you been to the Mandarin Oriental in Paris before? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!
Leave a Reply