DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE      
THE RITZ PARIS:
WHERE PLACE VENDÔME DEFINES THE ART OF LUXURY.
The Ritz Paris asserts itself more than ever as one of the ultimate stages of global luxury, a condensed showcase of French refinement and worldly legends, right in the heart of Place Vendôme. Behind its classic façade, this palace blends history, exceptional architecture, masterful craftsmanship, and an elite clientele, creating a unique performance of the French art of living. The architecture of the Ritz Paris follows the pure tradition of the grand hôtels particuliers of Place Vendôme, echoing its majestic Louis XIV façade, punctuated by tall windows, understated pilasters, and a harmonious cornice that embraces the square’s perspective. Inside, the palace cultivates a resolutely classical style, inspired by Louis XV and Louis XVI décor, where patinated woodwork, finely carved moldings, veined marble, gilded accents, and crystal chandeliers form a coherent and refined decorative vocabulary. The enfilade salons, opening onto the square or inner gardens, are conceived as true living stages, adorned with thick carpets, monumental fireplaces, and intricately framed mirrors that amplify the light and create a sense of theatrical depth. In the rooms and suites, the same spirit of “subtle luxury” prevails, with cream, gold, or pastel tones, sumptuous silks, 18th-century-inspired furniture, and fully concealed technology, preserving the illusion of a timeless private apartment.  A Historic Jewel in Place Vendôme Overlooking Place Vendôme, perhaps one of Europe’s most beautiful urban compositions, the Ritz Paris occupies the former Hôtel de Gramont, a townhouse built at the beginning of the 18th century. Behind its classical façade, punctuated by pilasters, tall windows, and arcades opening onto boutiques and salons, the palace unfolds a refined scenography where marble, woodwork, gilding, and masterful perspectives compose a cinematic setting. Located at 15 Place Vendôme, just steps from Rue de la Paix, Place de la Concorde, and the Tuileries Gardens, the hotel enjoys a privileged position at the crossroads of haute jewelry, haute couture, and the institutions of the French Republic. In this environment, where jewellers’ houses, luxury boutiques, and grand ministries share the façades, the Ritz embodies an address whispered about more than it is publicly displayed. The Visionaries and Great History The Ritz Paris was born in 1898 from the dream of a visionary Swiss, César Ritz, already hailed as the “king of hoteliers and hotelier to kings,” in partnership with the renowned chef Auguste Escoffier. Together, they acquired the former Hôtel de Gramont and entrusted its transformation to architect Charles Mewès, who designed a revolutionary hotel for its time, featuring private bathrooms, electricity, and telephones in the rooms. From the moment it opened, the Ritz established a new language of luxury, combining unprecedented technical comfort with absolute discretion, soon becoming the benchmark for the great European palaces. The hotel quickly became a privileged stage of history: a headquarters for occupiers during World War II, a refuge for royalty, diplomats, and writers, it weathered crises and renaissances without ever losing its aura as the ultimate address.  Owners and Transformations After César Ritz, the property remained in the Ritz family until the 1970s, notably under his son Charles Ritz, a figure of post-war Parisian elegance. Following his death, his widow Monique Ritz ultimately sold the palace in 1979 to Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed, who turned it into a flagship of his empire. Al-Fayed undertook massive investments, estimated at around $50 million, to restore and modernize the Ritz while preserving its Belle Époque style, adding a swimming pool, spa, and contemporary amenities. Closed in 2012 for extensive renovations and reopened in 2016, the palace is still owned by the heirs of Mohamed Al-Fayed, who continue to uphold the vision of a timeless hotel adapted to the demands of the 21st century. Interior Architecture and Atmosphere The Ritz cultivates sumptuous classicism: enfilade salons bathed in light, monumental staircases, marble fireplaces, thick carpets, and glittering chandeliers create a décor that is at once theatrical and intimate. The rooms and suites, many overlooking Place Vendôme or the gardens, reinterpret a Louis XV and Louis XVI vocabulary, where silks, moldings, gilding, and period furniture converse seamlessly with fully concealed modern technology. In the basement, a spa featuring a neoclassical-style swimming pool, treatment rooms, and relaxation areas extends the idea of a secluded sanctuary, almost timeless. In both public spaces and suites, the hotel draws extensively on Belle Époque references, haute couture, and French decorative arts, creating an aesthetic continuity that reassures a loyal clientele.  Legendary Suites and Stratospheric Prices With its signature suites, the Ritz Paris ranks at the pinnacle of the global ultra-luxury accommodation hierarchy. Among them, the Coco Chanel Suite – a sprawling apartment of approximately 155 m² – served as the couturière’s residence for over three decades, decorated to her tastes with Coromandel lacquers, Chinese furniture, large baroque mirrors, and generous sofas. The prestigious suites, including the iconic Imperial Suite and the grand suites overlooking Place Vendôme, command dizzying rates of up to around €40,000 per night for the most spectacular configurations, depending on season and level of personalization. These suites, often reserved by royal families, billionaires, and global stars, include dedicated butlers, enhanced security, private dining rooms, reception salons, and sometimes even exclusive wellness areas.  A Clientele of Stars and Royalty For more than a century, the Ritz Paris has attracted an unbroken procession of sovereigns, aristocrats, industrialists, and cultural icons. The hotel is intimately associated with Coco Chanel, who lived here as if at home, but also with Ernest Hemingway, whose name now graces the famous Bar Hemingway, a meeting place for writers, filmmakers, and visiting actors in Paris. The address has also welcomed members of European and Middle Eastern royal families, Hollywood icons, and fashion figures, making the Ritz lobby a discreet yet privileged observatory of the international elite. The tragic night of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed, preceded by a dinner at the Ritz, indelibly inscribed the hotel in the modern collective imagination.  Gastronomy and the French Art of Living At the Ritz, gastronomy is not a mere complement: it extends the original vision of César Ritz and Auguste Escoffier, who aimed to make the hotel a temple of taste. From fine dining to more intimate salons, the palace’s tables uphold a certain French classicism while embracing contemporary inspirations, staged with silverware, porcelain, and choreographed service as ritual. The bars, including the legendary Bar Hemingway, cultivate the art of exceptional cocktails, frequented by international regulars, connoisseurs, and passing travelers attuned to this blend of nostalgia and sophistication. Altogether, the experience is holistic, where every detail – from flower arrangements to the scents in the corridors – is designed to embody the French art of living at its pinnacle.  A Symbol of Global Luxury More than just a hotel, the Ritz Paris has become a benchmark—a word even—used to describe the utmost in refinement and exclusivity. In the collective imagination, “going to the Ritz” means entering a parallel, codified world, where time seems suspended and where the concept of service borders on an obsession with perfection. On an international scale, the palace remains a symbol of Parisian prestige, on the same level as the Eiffel Tower or the Opéra Garnier, yet reserved for a select circle of “happy few” able to cross its threshold as insiders. The Ritz Paris thus represents not only an address but a culmination: that of total, silent, almost secret luxury, bathed in the mineral light of Paris and Place Vendôme.