The legend that is Ritz Paris needs no introduction. A storied hotel that Coco Chanel, Marcel Proust and Ernest Hemingway all called home at one point, this Parisian institution in the prestigious Place Vendôme continues its legacy today. Its rooms and suites are a lesson in l’art de vivre; grand, gilt and magnificent, while the hotel itself boasts four impeccable restaurants and bars including the iconic Bar Hemingway (plus a famous Sunday brunch in le Salon), and the exquisite Galerie with five boutiques. Below, the subterranean Ritz Club & Spa is spectacular and features a Pool, Fitness Centre, Hair Salon by formidable Australian coiffeur, David Mallett, and Spa with skincare by Biologique Recherche and makeup from Serge Lutens (a long-standing guest of the hotel). As Hemingway once wrote, “When I dream of an afterlife in heaven, the action always takes place at the Ritz Paris.” Indeed.

For those on a budget yet with a discernible eye for design, Hôtel Panache is the one. In a handsome 19th-century edifice in the trendy 9th arrondissement, this boutique hotel is walking distance to some of Paris’ greatest restaurants, bars, attractions and shopping (including the wondrous and wildly dangerous Galeries Lafayette). Rooms are small yet impeccably stylish, featuring a melange of playful pattern and plush trimmings, its bulbous black and rattan bed head has become somewhat of the hotel’s signature. And while petite in size, remember, you are in Paris — living is subsequently smaller here.

The first hotel designed by illustrator extraordinaire, Luke Edward Hall, don’t let Les Deux Gare’s close proximity to the train station deter you. In fact, if you plan to travel outside of Paris, or rely on its metro to journey through the city, then this location is the perfect base. A design hotel in its purest form, expect Edward Hall’s bold, colourful flourishes everywhere; from red-fringed electric blue chaises to candy-striped bed heads — it’s a feast for the eyes.

A more recent addition to Paris’ rarefied hotel scene, the French outpost of J.K. Place is as glamorously opulent as its Italian counterpart, but with a Parisian twist. In the fashionable Rive Gauche (next to the Musée d’Orsay), this sumptuous stay replicates the Italianate décor of the famous J.K.Places in Rome and Capri, but is flecked with French antiques and vintage art thanks to Florentine interior extraordinaire, Michele Bönan. Along with 29 luxurious rooms, there’s a Spa with indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room area, fully-equipped gym and upscale Northern Italian restaurant called “Casa Tua”.

The hip new hangout for Paris’ it-crowd, Madame Rêve is more than just a swish hotel. The ultimate spot to be seen, this discreet, golden-hued hotel entertains cool, young things all the way from its lobby to its Rooftop, which offers craft cocktails and sweeping views of Paris’ most iconic monuments. A modern 5-star hotel, expect handsome, woody rooms (many with balconies), two restaurants and a boudoir-inspired Wellness Area, which includes treatment rooms, a fitness centre and even a sauna — again with breathtaking views over the city.

It makes sense that in the City of Love you’ll find one of the most loved-up hotels in the world. Full of quirk, panache and well, love, Hotel Amour has long been the spot for creatives and cool cats alike to call home (for a short while, anyway). A bohemian bolthole between Pigalle and Montmartre, this sexy boutique hotel has 29 unique rooms —one with a disco ball-lined roof, exotic courtyard garden, and a fabulous restaurant and bar filled with furniture and objects foraged over the years, and pin-up girls on the wall, naturally.

For a true expression of French quirk, travel into the recesses of fashion designer Christian Lacroix’s mind at Hôtel du Petit Moulin. In a former boulangerie (one of Paris’s first), this eclectic, brilliantly garish boutique hotel boasts 16 rooms and One Junior Suite each decorated differently; from celestial, starry-skied bedheads to butterfly-printed walls, each has a distinctly unique personality (and a big one, at that). Breakfast is served in a brightly-coloured dining room while there’s an Honesty Bar for late-night tipples.

Arguably one of the chicest stays in Paris (and there’s a lot), the new-ish Chateau Voltaire is drawing a very well-heeled crowd to its impeccably designed maison. In a privileged location between the Jardin des Tuileries, the Opéra Garnier and the Louvre, this stunning space blends the quaint nostalgia of an auberge with the quality and service of a five-star hotel. With 31 elegant rooms and 1 spacious suite, each subtly unique, guests are transported to a stylish yet discreet Parisian universe. With trompe-l’oeil-lined corridors and Art Deco flourishes, the art de vivre continues at the hotel’s restaurant, Emil Brasserie, and lofty cocktail bar, La Coquille d´or (the Golden Shell) — both remarkable expressions of Parisian refinement. A modern-day château in every sense.

There’s a spot of fantasy in Paris’ 9th district. The lively new love-child of interiors maestro, Martin Brudnizki, and Michelin-starred chef, Dominique Crenn, beams with both colour and whimsy. On the outside, a lush garden oasis. Inside, it’s not much different, as the bucolic, botanical vibes continue to its tree-fringed, floral-couched, eternally sunny restaurant, Golden Poppy. There’s also a Bar and Café, both of which celebrate floriculture and nature joyfully. The ultimate hotel for Parisian escapism, everything from its spirited bedrooms to its magical rooftop evoke a definite wow-factor.

Luxury on the Left Bank, Hôtel Lutetia is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Paris. Since 1910, this palatial landmark in worldly Saint-Germain-des-Prés has stood as the grand dame of the Rive Gauche, bridging both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements in legendary fashion. Today, Lutetia has been masterfully restored and modernised by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, offering exquisitely elegant rooms, a brasserie, two bars, a salon, and stunning Spa, Pool and Sauna — all the while preserving its Art Deco grandeur.

An extraordinary city calls for an extraordinary hotel, and that hotel is the Plaza Athénée. Positioned on Paris’ most ritzy strip, Avenue Montaigne, this lavish lodging is one of the finest expressions of luxury in the French capital. And much like its well-heeled neighbours, the hotel has a tie to high fashion: Christian Dior was a regular visitor who staged many of his fashion shows and photoshoots here. Of course, the Dior Spa is a spectacular, beauty-filled homage to the couturier, but if you’re after the height of gastronomy, head to one of the five exquisite restaurants and bars, including Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée, an unforgettable Michelin-starred experience led by visionary chef Jean Imbert.

For an affordable yet utterly hip stay in Le Marais, these cool quarters hit the spot. Cosy yet desirable, Hotel Sookie is like a private house full of funky objets d’art, books, records and abstract art. In a palette of rust, sage and brown, its well-appointed rooms feature a melange of marble and hand blown glass sconces, porcelain, textured wallpaper, linen curtains, raffia-trimmed mirrors and vintage velvet bed covers. Downstairs, a painfully cool coffee shop serves fresh brews to the fashionable guests who stay (and those who simply drop in for a café and Œuf Bénédicte).

A stay at Hotel Costes will likely conjure some celebrity spotting, with the Parisian icon a haven for the hedonism of the rich and famous. On the storied Rue Saint-Honoré, this moody, musky, red velvet-cloaked hotel is decadent at every turn, with its theatrical rooms and suites full of rich brocades and antique wallpaper. In the centre, revellers converge in the alfresco restaurant and terrace, while hotel guests sip martinis in the discreet bar next door, making their way back to their boudoir through the dark lobby, which is (dramatically) bathed only in candle-light.

An urban retreat in the Latin Quarter, this Mid-century Modern masterpiece is one of Paris’ best new hotels. Reflecting a passion for its Left Bank location, Hôtel Dame des Arts channels the spirit of freedom, culture and creativity through a contemporary lens, with interior architect Raphael Navot creating a space that plays with curvature and natural materials that at once feel timeless and trendy. With terrace rooms that overlook the Eiffel Tower, a secret garden courtyard, striking Wellness Centre, and a Rooftop view that rivals even the best in Paris, this singularly stylish hotel is a must-stay for those seeking streamlined luxury.

Synonymous with uber-luxury, the Parisian outpost of Peninsula Hotels is suitably palatial and stamped with French heritage and savoir-faire. Near the Arc de Triomphe, the hotel houses 200 opulent rooms, including 93 spacious suites, some of which are inspired by Haute Couture. Dining options are vast and varied, including the first-class culinary experience, L’Oiseau Blanc, and LiLi, a gourmet Chinese chinese. While the Wellness offering includes a Pool and the largest luxury hotel spa in Paris — perfect to submerge yourself in after a long day of sightseeing.