Mandarin Oriental Hotel

251 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France

The location alone – on Rue Saint Honoré, one of the most fashionable stretches of road in Paris – goes some way to explaining the room rate. But perhaps the bigger reason is the oasis of luxurious calm you find yourself in when you step inside this 1930s Art Deco building. From the understated cool of the rooms with all the typical five-star trimmings, some with incredible rooftop views of Paris, to the indoor garden and one of the most relaxing indoor pools (waterfall included) I’ve swam in, there’s little that the Mandarin Oriental doesn’t do exceptionally well. It also boasts a spa with seven private suites, an excellent, well-equipped gym (I even used it), and a Thierry Marx restaurant with 1980s sci-fi decor that has managed to grab two Michelin stars within months of opening. Doubles from £780.