Le Bristol Paris: Paris in Its Age of Innocence

Among Paris's grand hotels, Le Bristol is arguably the most dignified and elegant. Named after a British nobleman and bishop, it is also one of the best preserved. It was here that Newland Archer played out the heartbreaking final scene of *The Age of Innocence*, about to visit Madame Olenska before changing his mind at the last minute. Just like Le Bristol, the scene exudes a romantic yet restrained sentiment. Like a frosted cake, the hotel's exterior is a creamy Art Deco, while the interior is dedicated to 18th-century decadence. Spring is the most beautiful season here, with geraniums blooming on the windowsills and the scent of magnolias permeating the large garden. The swimming pool, a rare amenity in Parisian hotels, is small but charming, with large, transparent glass windows all around, allowing the bright Parisian sunshine to bathe it in a golden glow. Amidst 18th-century antique furniture, Gobelin tapestries, and artworks once exhibited in the Louvre, the hotel presents a quintessential pre-modern Parisian style. But historical connections aside, there's nothing old-fashioned about it. The penthouse, which has hosted everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Prince, has been cleverly renovated, replacing the once-ominous yellow with a modern white. These features make the hotel a favorite of fashion giants—you won't be able to book a room here during Fashion Week.