Hotel De Crillon
The Hotel de Crillon is situated next to the American Embassy, at the foot of the Champs-Elysees and overlooks the Place de la Concorde in the eigth arrondissement of Paris. It is one of 5 Palace hotels in the city of light; the others are the Plaza Athenee, Meurice, Ritz Paris and the Four Seasons George V. Only the Crillon commands open views of the world’s most beautiful city. It is a point of reference much like the Plaza in New York or, in more modern times, the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. The past guest list includes Andrew Carnegie, Theodore Roosevelt and King George of Britain to name a few. It is said that famed American writer Edith Wharton occupied for a time what is now the Leonard Bernstein suite. She is said to have detested the Ritz where “the newly rich but uncultivated Americans stayed”. Years later it was a favorite of Hollywood royalty. Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant often stayed. In more modern times the guest list includes Mariah Carey, Roger Federer and Madonna. The hotel, always prepared for celebrities new and old, hung the Flag of Texas when Lance Armstrong was a guest after winning the Tour de France.
Louis XV and XVI furniture dominate the decor. The 18th-century building sports a clean, white facade, and the sparse, low-key lobby (one receptionist, one concierge) is furnished with period pieces. The lounge is crenellated with countless nooks and marble columns, and it centers on an open staircase.
Ambassadeurs restaurant is still a favorite meeting place for VIP’s. The ambiance with its 25-foot ceiling, Baccarat chandeliers and marble in seven different colors make this one of the most beautiful rooms in Paris if not the world to dine in. Lunch here with the light streaming in from the Place de la Concorde is divine. Reservations are a must and hotel guests always get priority.
The smaller Obelisque offers informal dining and attracts a devoted locale clientele to its refined bistro setting. A harpist performs in the Winter Garden tearoom, and light dishes are served in the very Parisian Crillon Bar.
Features include a children's program and expanded care for pets. Also provided are four Crillon Angels, who provide custom entertainment planning and a flower-arranging school. Boutiques provide luxury items, and a 24-hour exercise facility sports modern equipment.
A business center provides communication needs, and richly ornamented meeting rooms—three of them national landmarks—and a panoramic terrace serve up to 450 people. The three historic conference rooms connect and boast views of Place de la Concorde. Eight reception venues are also on the roster, accommodating 10-350.
The famous Salon Marie Antoinette is fabled as the locale of her regular music lessons. Fashion shows, bureaucratic functions, and ornate weddings or parties are de rigeur.
Each year, the Hôtel de Crillon holds the annual Bal des Débutantes (Debutante Ball) for the benefit of a charity. This unique and exclusive event, created by is a "coming out" party for twenty-four young women, aged between 16 and 19, whose families are all members of the elite worldwide. The list is a who’s who of royalty and the super rich.
The sundeck overlooks the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre, and is joined to a small, naturally lit fitness center open round-the-clock and complete with a personal trainer.
All guest rooms are air conditioned. The exquisite decor displays rich fabrics paired with stately colors, sparkling chandeliers, hand-painted cabinetry, and gold-leaf accents to create an aura of palatial living. Walls are gilded with gold, carvings, and intricate detailing. Guests can choose bed types.
Notable amenities include Web TVs (plasmas in some rooms) and extensive high-speed Internet access, as well as wireless Internet access; CD and DVD players are available on request. The white Carrara marble baths have separate showers, robes, scales and Annick Goutal toiletries. Executive rooms boast more space making them popular among repeat guests. The 39 suites and five apartments, which overlook the Place de la Concorde, are a tour de force.
The Grand Bernstein (named after the famous composer who often called this apartment home; it has been featured in numerous Hollywood movies) has three large bedrooms, four baths, two dressing rooms, Grand Siecle wood paneling, cigar cabinet, grand piano, two terraces, two computers with Internet access, two flat-screen TVs, and four music systems. Baths have steam chambers, saunas and jet tubs. Other suites can be put together in various conformations and feature connecting rooms for families. Rooms 409 and 511 boast the best Eiffel Tower vistas.
There a are 50 superior rooms and 18 deluxe rooms but we recommend that if you’re not doing a suite then upgrade to one of the 25 executive rooms which are all individually decorated.
Pets are welcomed with special gifts and a pet menu. A section of rooms are smoke-free. Turndown service is offered, and room service never stops.
Special attention is paid to women traveling alone, and the staff ensures their comfort and safety in addition to unique in-room amenities to suit their needs. The hotel's motto is, "Everything can be done on request."
Discriminating guests find a night here is an absolute treasure, and for many it is the only way they can imagine experiencing Paris.
