Fouquet's Barrière

The contemporary design scheme here is opulent and playful, but those looking for a more classic French style would probably be happier at the Four Seasons George V or the Plaza Athénée down the street.

• Personal butler service on each floor of the hotel
• The romantic vaulted subterranean spa boasts a fifty-foot Jacuzzi
• Fouquet’s—the adjoining brasserie founded in 1899, which was frequented by of the likes Marlene Dietrich, Jackie O. and Catherine Deneuve—is still a great spot for people-watching

Legendary designer Jacques Garcia was given carte blanche at Fouquet’s Barrière—well, almost, since, according to one staffer, he was barred from using his signature crimson, with which he so memorably decked out the Hôtel Costes. Still, his vivid style—fin-de-siècle boudoir meets mod chic—is unmistakable and dominates throughout: there are monochromatic black-and-white marble floors in the lobby, presided over by dramatically oversized golden fauteuils with asymmetrical backs. The buzzy Lucien lounge is decorated like a living room with green- and purple-velvet sofas, fabric-clad ceilings and large bookcases stocked with art and fashion titles. Walls are covered in embroidered leather and illuminated by chandeliers made with dangling glass pendants. In the hands of a lesser talent, the variety of textures, patterns and materials would surely feel overwhelming, but Garcia manages to pull it all together into a masterful vision that’s opulent and playful at the same time.

The 81 guest rooms are comfortably sized—the smallest category clocks in at 400 square feet—and boast a myriad of high-tech toys, including LCD screens that are hidden in oversized mirror walls, movement-sensitive lights in the walk-in closets and, of course, WiFi throughout. All the design details are top-notch: fabrics, including heavy textured curtains and velvet-covered chairs, hail from Pierre Frey and Rubelli; bed boards are made of thick, gold-colored leather; bathrooms are clad in colored marble and come with deep soaking tubs and floor heating. The contemporary, sleek design scheme is not for everyone; if you’re looking for a more classic French style, you’ll probably be happier at the Four Seasons George V and Plaza Athénée down the street.

Each floor at Fouquet’s is assigned a personal butler, who can assist with everything from restaurant reservations to making arrangements at the U Spa. Housed in the romantic, vaulted cellars of Fouquet’s, the spa area has seven treatments rooms, a large heated swimming pool and fifty-foot Jacuzzi (open only to hotel guests).

Don’t miss having a coffee or drink at the adjacent Fouquet’s, a legendary brasserie founded in 1899 (a favorite of Marlene Dietrich, Jackie O. and Catherine Deneuve throughout the years), where the annual after-party for the César Film Awards takes place. Its terrace, near the top of the Champs-Élysée, must be one of the best people-watching spots in all of Paris. Other dining options include Le Gallerie Joy, a prime location for a business lunch or the one-Michelin-starred Le Diane for a more formal affair. Famed Cannes outpost, La Petite Maison is now the hotel’s fourth restaurant (open for dinner only).

Those who enjoy dramatic contemporary interior design, replete with decadent furnishings and high-tech toys.