A VIP Hotel Experience in Paris at the Shangri-La

I exit the metro at Iéna (line 9) to find myself a few hundred yards away from an impressive Louis XIV style facade. As I walk down Avenue d’Iéna I catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower through the buildings to my left and realise how close I am to Paris’s most famous landmark.

Originally built in 1896 as the private residence of French imperial Prince Roland Bonaparte, the Shangri-La Hotel triumphantly blends traditional architecture with modern-day luxury. I wander through the magnificent lobby and take in the lounge, beautiful staircase, Le Bar and one of the hotel’s three restaurants, La Bauhinia. It’s obvious to see that a great deal of pride has been taken in restoring this beautiful building to its former glory. In fact, the restoration was painstaking and required four years of work by expert architects and interior designers. The end result? A phenomenal attention to detail, and marble and gold leaf abound. I feel like a VIP as I am personally shown to my room.

With 101 rooms and 36 suites, 40% of the rooms and 60% of the suites feature a view of the Eiffel Tower and the river Seine. Apart from the Signature Suites, all rooms and suites are decorated in shades of blue, white and ecru, in keeping with both European Empire and Asian aesthetics. Each room and suite has a marble bathroom with heated floor, separate bathtub and rainfall shower, double sinks above, and (wait for it), a flat-screen television integrated into a large mirror. Very James Bond!

An added bonus: all rooms come equipped with complimentary Wi-fi and landline Internet connection, and in honour of the group’s white tea signature fragrance, BVLGARI White Tea toiletry products.

For a very special occasion, nothing compares to the Signature Suites. La Suite Chaillot, La Suite Imperiale and La Suite Shangri-La are incredible. La Suite Shangri-La boasts one of the best views in Paris from its terrace. Perched on the top floor of the hotel, the suite comprises 225 square meters of living space, with an astonishing 100 square-meter terrace offering a sweeping panoramic view over Paris. The Eiffel Tower is straight in front of you just on the other side of the river. Guests can host private events in the suite’s living and dining space and the suite can also be connected to more accommodation to create a private apartment spanning the entire seventh floor of the hotel.

The Shangri-La ticks every box for a fabulous hotel experience. The hospitality, attention to detail and service standards are world-class. With three restaurants to choose from– La Bauhinia (French and south-east Asian contemporary cuisine), L’Abeille (2 Michelin stars gourmet French cuisine) and the Shang Palace (1 Michelin star Chinese, Cantonese-inspired cuisine)– gourmands will be in seventh-heaven. Le Bar also offers residents a beautiful environment for sophisticated imbibing.

Shangri-La Hotel Paris, 10, avenue d’Iéna, Paris, 75116, Tel: +33 1 53 67 19 98