Hotel Prince de Galles

Just steps from Vuitton and Le Fouquet’s on the Champs Elysées, Prince de Galles, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, is located on the quieter Avenue George V.

• Oasis-like interior courtyard with original mosaics and palm trees
• Beautiful design elements throughout the hotel
• The enormous private terrace of the Appartement Parisien suite, which boasts incredible views of the Eiffel Tower and Paris’s iconic Mansard-style rooftops

Originally built to host the Prince of Wales (Edward III) during his annual trips to Paris, the Prince de Galles (the name is a reference to Edward’s French title) is a triumph of Art Deco architecture and interior design. Many of the hotel’s beautiful original decorations have been painstakingly restored to their former glory and Pierre-Yves Rochon’s new interiors complement the 1920s style beautifully. Period design details like the geometric green, blue and gold mosaics in the hotel’s oasis-like interior courtyard are echoed in tile motifs in the guestrooms’ spacious bathrooms and the spa’s sauna.

Eighteen of the hotel’s 152 rooms are Makassar Suites whose spacious separate bedrooms and sitting rooms feel very much like a private apartment. So-named for the dark Makassar wood, from which the custom-designed dressers and desks are made, these suites are outfitted with other luscious furnishings (in either a blue or beige color scheme) including buttery leather armchairs, velveteen sofas, lacquer tables and, in some cases, a regal marble fireplace. Though not as roomy, the Mosaic Suites and Art Deco Deluxe rooms are comfortable and feature views onto the grand Avenue George V or the splendid palm trees in the hotel’s courtyard. The slightly more feminine décor features flowered carpets, celadon lamps, and replicas of de Lempicka paintings. Across the board, the most original decorative aspect of the suites and guestrooms is found in the bathrooms. Playing off the hotel’s original mosaic wall and floor motifs, the showers are tiled with small green, blue, and gold patterns. In addition, the bathrooms feature marble floors, separate shower and bathtub, and Bulgari products. One of our favorites in the Lalique Suite on the top floor ,which is a duplex layout with terraces and has a great bathroom with views of the Eiffel Tower.

There are two dining options at Prince de Galles, both located on street level and both bathed in natural light from large glass windows looking out onto the hotel’s mosaic-tiled courtyard. Les Heures, the hotel bar, is open from 7am to 2am for drinks and has an all-day menu of light fare. Comfortable couches, soaring ceilings and natural light make this a delightful spot to enjoy breakfast or a cocktail. The hotel’s formal dining room, La Scène, is so-called because it boasts an open kitchen. From this central stage, executive chef Stephanie Le Quellec (who became a household name in France when she won the French version of “Top Chef” in 2011) turns out inventive dishes based on seasonal produce and Provençale flavors. During warm weather, both Les Heures and La Scène serve en plein air in the hotel courtyard.

Style conscious travelers who like to be in the thick of things will adore being on Avenue George V. Toile-lovers and traditionalists might be happier at Le Bristol.