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On any given day, Reddit boards are crowded with queries like “Do Parisians like Americans?” featuring heavily mixed replies, but this oft-asked question did not cross my mind once during my own trip to Paris, largely because I met the friendliest people in the entire city, and they all work at Hotel Vernet. The luxury 5-star hotel in the heart of Paris’ deeply chic 8th arrondissement is a can’t-beat stay, and being there last year convinced me that Parisians could be known as the golden retrievers of the world if only everyone passing through stayed here, too.
The staff was more than accommodating; As I walked in from the rain towards the check-in desk, past Hotel Vernet’s modernized birdcage elevator, I had an umbrella in my hands before I could open my mouth to ask for one. And the quality service kept coming.
It’s probably easier to have happy campers in a happy camp…especially if that camp is an elegant Parisian hideaway with a deep connection to the Eiffel Tower. Here’s what staying at Hotel Vernet was really like.
THE QUICK HITS: HOTEL VERNET EDITION
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Cost Per Night: Starting at $580
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Best For: Travelers who want a taste of true French luxury without a drop of pretension
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While You’re Here: Take a tour with The Tour Guy! They have the classics—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles—down to a science.
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One-Word Vibe Check: Artistic
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Most Iconic Photo Spot: Under the Eiffel dome
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Don’t Leave Without: Dining at the restaurant, Le V! Chef Baldassare Mazarra’s Mediterranean dishes inspired by his Sicilian roots are a treat for the tastebuds.
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THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
When people think of Paris, they think of the Eiffel Tower (it’s an institution!), so it was a total treat when I walked into Hotel Vernet and immediately noticed its marquee stained glass ceiling designed by…Gustave Eiffel himself. The Eiffel glass ceiling was the brainchild of Eiffel and famed glassmaker Charles Champigneulle, and sitting underneath it while munching on petit déjeuner pastries or an evening cocktail made Parisian history feel personal.
That’s part of Hotel Vernet’s charm; It is adept at mixing old and new. The hotel was built in the 1910s and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014 with a refurbishment to future-proof it further, adding modern artwork to complement original features like the marble fireplaces and wrought iron wraparound balconies. It’s beautiful, and it sets up the hotel well to withstand the next 100 years.
THE ROOMS
For being a 5-star Parisian standout, Hotel Vernet is pretty boutique with only 50 rooms total. They are spacious (for Paris, especially) and warm-hued, with wooden paneling, marble bathrooms, and pops of gold throughout. Most rooms also come with private balconies, and mine was especially useful for sipping French wine at sunset while watching fellow tourists on the streets below ogle the new Louis Vuitton property down the way.
THE AMENITIES
Honesty time: I have never stayed in a hotel with so many specific bonus amenities. Hotel Vernet has thought of services other hotels simply do not have, from offering a hairdresser to swing by your room for an expert refresh, to detailed children and pet-specific comforts like games, treats, and babysitting services. (Yes, pets are wholeheartedly welcome at Hotel Vernet.)
In addition to more traditional services like in-room massages and spa treatments, Hotel Vernet’s concierge is the best recommendation source in the entire city. My concierge got my party a hard-to-get res at a restaurant downtown with a simple phone call, it was actually as easy as asking.
THE FOOD AND BEV
A trip to Paris would not be complete without a standout dining experience. Fortunately for you, if you’re staying at Hotel Vernet, you just have to walk downstairs to get some of the best food the city has to offer.
As you dine under Gustave Eiffel’s own glass roof, Chef Baldassare Mazarra tells a story with menus that revisit Parisian classics like Fraisier cakes through a Mediterranean lens. The strawberry tomato gazpacho with pink shrimp is a light and satisfying standout, though keep in mind the exact menu shifts seasonally to incorporate the freshest ingredients possible. This chef just cares, and you can tell in each bite.
Alexandra Whittaker
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you’re a frequent luxury traveler, Hotel Vernet is the kind of place worth pledging your loyalty long-term. In my brief but beautiful stay, I felt indulged, pampered, and connected to the city both historically and literally—thanks to the concierge. Hotel Vernet features beauty in its grand features (like the Eiffel dining dome) and its more minute details (like the luxury bubble bath in the bathrooms), and the location just can’t be beat. This happy camp is worth every euro.
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