Lutetia

Stendhal’s famous syndrome — wherein he was beset by panic upon being surrounded the sublime beauty of Florence — could equally apply to Paris, especially if you’re particularly sensitive to high-end hotels. This city is already packed to the rafters with five-star palaces of the most exquisite luxury, and to this number it now adds a name from the past: after a four-year renovation the 1910-vintage Hotel Lutetia, the only grand hotel on the Left Bank, is once again open for business.

Its distinctive silhouette is an artifact of the era, just when Art Nouveau was giving way to Art Deco. And while the renovation has certainly been sensitive to its history — of particular note are the ceilings, especially Bar Josephine’s fresco and the restaurant’s glass roof — it’s also brought the Lutetia up to 21st-century standard, adding a subterranean spa and swimming pool and a contemporary re-interpretation of the century-old style for the new guest room interiors.

It’s a smashing success, and the Lutetia once again joins the upper echelon of Parisian hotels. The beautiful Bar Josephine is joined by the fine-dining Le Saint-Germain, whose specialty is the plat du moment, a one-of-a-kind culinary creation for each individual guest. Meanwhile Brasserie Lutetia is both a neighborhood favorite and a destination unto itself, with a menu by the highly decorated chef Gérald Passedat.