Let me tell you, Cheval Blanc Paris was love at first sight. Tucked away in the heart of the city, this place is like a slice of luxury heaven. From the moment I walked through the doors, I was greeted with the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like royalty. The vibe? Think classic Parisian elegance meets modern chic. Whether I was lounging in the plush rooms or having a drink at the rooftop bar, every moment was pure bliss. Leaving was tough, but hey, isn’t that the mark of a truly unforgettable stay? Keep reading for my full firsthand experience at this incredible property.

Location

Cheval Blanc Paris is located on the right bank just across the river from the trendy Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. I personally love the location of this hotel because most area attractions are less than a 20 minute walk away. There is also a metro station right in front of the hotel. The road in front of the hotel is a busy one-way road so Ubers may take a while to pick you up, but I didn’t encounter any issues.

On the downside, if you want to be near the Champs-Élysées or need to be in the heart of the shopping district, like the Mandarin Oriental Paris is, then this will be a bit far. The good news is that the hotel provides multiple complimentary house cars to take you closer to the action if you need it.

My first impression of the Cheval Blanc came before I arrived at the hotel, when the concierge graciously offered to have a house car pick me up from the Mandarin Oriental and take me to the hotel. I was picked up in a brand new luxury car (I honestly cannot remember if it was BMW or Mercedes) stocked with Cheval Blanc water and facial wipes. It was about a 15 minute drive in traffic to the Cheval Blanc, and once I arrived the porters opened my door, greeted me by name, and promptly escorted me inside the lobby.

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The Cheval Blanc is housed in the former historic department store La Samaritaine facing the Seine river. Walking into the lobby, I would never have been able to tell the space was a former department store! The lobby was immaculate with gorgeous marble floors, tall bright ceilings, various interesting patterns, and eye-catching artwork to bring the room together. On the left side of the lobby sat the check-in desk, and the other side was the concierge desk. Check-in was a breeze and I was met by my majordome, or butler, who then whisked me away to my room.

Style

Similar to their sister properties in St. Barths, Courchevel, St. Tropez, and the Maldives, the Paris property is a seamless fusion of classic Parisian elegance and contemporary sophistication. Every corner exudes an air of refined luxury, with meticulously curated decor that pays homage to the city’s rich heritage while embracing modern sensibilities. The overall aesthetic is one of understated opulence, where traditional architectural elements harmonize effortlessly with sleek, modern accents, creating a space that feels both indulgent and inviting.

Every part of the hotel encountered I was amazed by their use of different textures, colors, and lighting. Everything just looked and felt high quality and that no expense was spared in the design of this hotel. Simple design touches like heavy wood doors, floor to ceiling mirrors, and a unique winter garden make for an elevated experience that sets this hotel apart from its competition.

Rooms

There are 72 rooms and suites at Cheval Blanc Paris – a cozy and intimate size. Because there are so few rooms housed in this historic building, the room sizes are actually quite large for Paris. The Deluxe Rooms start at a generous 485 sq ft. all the way to the extravagant Apartment, a 10,000+ sq ft. 7 bedroom duplex suite.

The layout of the room categories is surprisingly simple to remember. Any category with “Seine” in the name are either located in the front corners or the front of the building facing the river. Categories like the Deluxe Room and Deluxe Junior Suites are located on the sides of the building either facing the Louvre (no pyramid views, unfortunately) or the Louis Vuitton Foundation. There are only 7 floors, with floors 2 thru 6 having rooms, and the 7th floor with the restaurants. I recommend avoiding rooms on the 6th floor as the noise from the restaurants and bars may impact your experience.

For this stay, I was upgraded to a Seine Junior Suite and it was quite possibly my favorite room of the entire trip. Standing at a gracious 600 sq ft., the Seine Junior Suite opens up to a gorgeous panoramic view of the Seine River. The glass-enclosed winter garden, a unique feature of this property, was furnished with a bistro seating set and a lovely bottle of champagne. I ended up spending a lot of time sitting here people watching below. The bathroom featured marble flooring, double vanities, a spacious bathtub, and a huge stand up shower which doubled as a steam room. In a word, this room was utter perfection.

Amenities

The Cheval Blanc brand does amenities right, and the Paris property was no exception! The brand is known to be very generous with their amenities contributing to that ultra-luxury experience. At Cheval Blanc Paris, you’ll find: 3 complimentary house cars, a kids club, Dior Spa, an infinity lap pool, a high tech fitness studio, and 5 restaurants and bars. In the rooms, you’ll often find cakes, chocolates, fresh fruit, and a bottle of champagne. This is far better than many of the amenities I received in my rooms throughout this trip at other properties!

Speaking of amenities in the room, I absolutely loved how many full-sized toiletries were provided. There were full-sized shampoos and conditioners for men and women. The bottles and the bars of soap took the shape of the historic La Samaritaine building. A small sample of a Dior cream was thoughtfully placed for the taking. There was even a mini-fridge in the bathroom with cold face wipes and Evian facial mist. The drawers had everything I could ever need including lip balm, deodorant, a comb, hair ties, a bracelet, a nail file, cotton pads, hand cream, and bath bombs. The bathtub came stocked with more full-sized bath products and a candle with the hotel’s signature scent.

Out of all the amenities the hotel offers, I want to shed a light on the kids club. The Cheval Blanc is one of the few luxury hotels in Paris offering a complimentary kids club. Open from 2 to 7 PM, their kids club consists of two rooms. One is themed in a nautical style with a fish tank containing live axolotls swimming around, and the second a nature theme with mushroom stools and honeycomb shelves. The club is also staffed so this is a place where guests can confidently leave their kids in the capable hands of professionals while the adults tend to their business.

Spa

I did not have the time to try out the spa at this property, but I did get a tour. The Cheval Blanc has one of the only Dior Spas in the world and carries a full range of Dior skincare, makeup, and perfume products. There are 6 treatment rooms, and the treatments range from standard massages to facials all using Dior products.

I highly recommend stopping by the lap pool, sauna, and hammam, pre or post spa treatment. The pool is a sight to behold. Despite being on a lower level with no windows, the wall beyond the pool is surrounded by screens showing Parisian landscapes as if you were swimming outside. I’ve never seen anything like it!

Restaurants

As mentioned above, there are 5 restaurants and bars at Cheval Blanc Paris. Since my visit last September, they’ve added a new restaurant and changed one of the rooftop restaurant concepts. It’s exciting to see how the hotel team continues to innovate and make changes that improve guest experience! Among the restaurants and bars at the hotel, my hands-down favorite was Le Tout Paris. I dined here for dinner (get the Dover Sole – you won’t regret it) and for breakfast (I’ve never seen so many layers in a croissant before), but my favorite part is the rooftop sunset views and watching the Eiffel Tower light up.

Here is a breakdown of the restaurant and bar offerings at the Cheval Blanc Paris:

• Le Tout Paris: Located on the rooftop with indoor and outdoor seating, the menu is brasserie-style with French classics. Breakfast takes place in this restaurant and is for hotel guests only.
• Langosteria: Located on the rooftop, this well-known Italian restaurant brand has found a home in Paris. They offer fresh seafood and Italian pasta dishes with rooftop views.
• Plénitude: Three Michelin Star restaurant with fine-dining centering on fresh French cuisine and the four seasons. Note: This restaurant closes for winter break.
• Céleste: This is a brand new rooftop bar concept offering creative cocktails and Asian bites under a glass greenhouse enclosure.
• Hakuba: A brand new restaurant on the ground floor offering Omakase Japanese dining.

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!

Recommended Guests

There aren’t a lot of people I wouldn’t send here – it’s pretty great all around. The hotel is brand new, only 2+ years old so compared to other luxury properties in Paris guests are getting a new contemporary hotel experience here. It’s refreshing!

With that said, that doesn’t mean this hotel is for everyone. I’ve suggested this hotel to clients before who said they didn’t want to be so far from the Champs-Élysées, for example. Here is who I would recommend this hotel to:

• Spends over 1,900 EUR per room per night on hotels
• Doesn’t mind walking, taking the metro, using Uber, or relying on the house car
• Prefers contemporary design to classic style
• Wants to be near Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• Loves the finer things in life like full-sized amenities and butler service
• Plans on dining in hard to get restaurants (the concierge works wonders)
• Loves the Cheval Blanc aesthetic

As a reminder, when you book any Cheval Blanc property with me, I am able to get exclusive perks for you completely FREE. These can include:

• Upgrade on arrival
• Daily full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the hotel restaurant or via in-room dining
• Complimentary round-trip private airport / train station / hotel transfer (or a $100 hotel credit in some hotels)
• Early check-in / Late check-out
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Final Thoughts

Honestly, the Cheval Blanc Paris was one of my favorite hotels to experience on that trip to Paris. I tend to love contemporary hotels as opposed to historic, and I find that a lot of luxury hotels in Paris look antiquated. Cheval Blanc changed my mind about that and showed me that you can have a property with historical roots but with a new contemporary look and feel. Not to mention, their service was out of this world. I never wanted for anything with my majordome just a Whatsapp away. I would gladly come back and wouldn’t hesitate to suggest this hotel to clients traveling to Paris.

After I checked out of Cheval Blanc Paris, I actually went to Versailles to stay at the iconic Airelles Le Grande Contrôle. My experience was on a completely different level compared to the Cheval Blanc. Make sure you check it out and let me know your thoughts!