COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 91
HOTELS WE COVET
SHANGRI LA HOTEL
As you arrive at Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, its elegant façade brings to mind its
legacy as the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, Prince Roland
Bonaparte. Attentive staff and a pleasantly discreet check-in ensure that you
receive the royal treatment right from the start..
A Parisian landmark since the nineteenth century, when
it was built in 1896 as the home of French imperial
Prince Roland Bonaparte (nephew to Napoleon), the
Shangri-La Paris is perhaps the most grand of the
group’s portfolio. A five-minute stroll to the Seine, the
Eiffel Tower is just across the river and over half of the
hotel’s 100 rooms (and even some bathtubs) are privy to
her presence in the windows.
Despite the palatial interiors (a gold, cream and duck-egg
blue palette decorate the rooms), the atmosphere isn’t
poncey and guests will find themselves able to relax
as soon as they walk through the doors. Of the three
restaurants, two are Michelin-starred (including Shang
Palace, the only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in
France), but a trip to the Le Bar Botaniste is a must
for its rare botanical spirits and absinthe fountain (if
you dare).
In your room, commanding views of the Eiffel Tower
and the River Seine hold you transfixed. The old-world
elegance of the room, lovingly adorned with the fine
Paris, France
