TL;DR

Chateau luxury: – magnificent 19th-century château; one of Paris’s grandest boutique hotels.
Historic elegance: – soaring interiors, beautiful gardens and timeless French refinement.
Outstanding facilities: – Michelin-starred dining, an exceptional spa and eco-certified luxury.
Prestigious location: – an elegant base close to the Arc de Triomphe, Bois de Boulogne & Eiffel Tower.
Check prices here

St. James Paris, in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, is, to our minds, the grandest boutique hotel in Paris.

It’s a neoclassical chateau, built in 1892, with grand hallways, soaring ceilings, imperial staircases, walled gardens, the works.

It started out as a private residence, before becoming student housing for the elites, then a gentlemen’s club, before its current incarnation as a terribly fancy hotel.

The whole experience is like staying at a Loire Valley chateau, but in the middle of Paris.

It has among its facilities one of the best hotel spas around, a Michelin-starred organic restaurant, and the whole hotel is certified eco-friendly.

It’s not cheap, of course, but people come here with the highest expectations and Saint James pretty much confirms them every time.

What are the rooms like?

49 rooms: – elegant accommodation inspired by the château’s timeless character.
Classic luxury: – rich furnishings, plush textiles and bold contemporary accents.
Beautiful suites: – spacious options with meticulous decoration and garden views.
Best value: – the Top Floor Junior Suites combine lovely views with excellent value.
Elegant comfort: – every room offers refined luxury, even the smallest categories.
See each room in detail here

Rooms have the timeless elegance that you’d expect from the architecture. Classic luxuries like rich wood furnishings and plush textiles abound.

There are some other very nice contemporary design touches too.

Vibrant patterns are romantic and elegant, but a bit bolder than they might be in a more traditional space. Saint James Paris goes beyond just florals and damask.

Rooms aren’t huge, it must be said, particularly the Boudoir Rooms, their entry-level choices, but even the smallest provide everything you need in terms of comforts.

Suites are indulgent, spacious, and painstakingly decorated.

Any one is a solid choice, though the Top Floor Junior Suites have lovely views over the gardens, and, overall, we think, provide the best value.

If budget is a non-issue, their top-of-the-range Prestige Suites will certainly impress, though, at almost double the cost of the Junior Suites, we think they’re not necessarily worth the extra.

What are prices like?

Check dates and prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Exceptional spa: – the Guerlain Spa includes a pool, hammam, gym & extensive treatments.
Michelin dining: – Bellefeuille serves refined seasonal cuisine using organic produce.
Elegant bar: – the atmospheric Library Bar is perfect for drinks in luxurious surroundings.
Private club: – the exclusive Saint James Club adds another layer of sophistication.
Garden terrace: – inventive cocktails served in a beautiful seasonal outdoor setting.

The huge Guerlain Spa and Wellness Centre is spread over two floors and includes a fitness area/gym, hammam, an indoor swimming pool, and an extensive massage menu.

Then there’s the food: the Michelin-starred Bellefeuille is a suitably indulgent venue for dinner.

It’s formal, fine dining, and with a dress code to match.

Food is seasonal and fresh, with many of the ingredients coming from Saint James’ very own organic vegetable gardens and orchards, the rest locally sourced.

If you’re not too hungry and want something cosier, head to the Library Bar, one of the hotel’s most atmospheric spaces.

There’s also the Saint James Club, an English-style social club, and, finally, a delight of a seasonal terrace, all gazebo and plant life and inventive cocktails in the sun.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Elegant surroundings: – one of Paris’s most refined residential neighbourhoods.
Green spaces: – Bois de Boulogne is perfect for leisurely walks and relaxation.
Famous landmarks: – close to the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées and Eiffel Tower.
Parisian cafés: – charming bakeries and cafés are scattered throughout the area.
Easy transport: – nearby metro stations make exploring the city simple.

There’s so much to enjoy about Paris’ relatively quiet, low-key 16th arrondissement.

We love the expansive green space that is Bois de Boulogne. It has lakes, woodland, gardens, and walking paths, and is just wonderful to wander around.

It’s quite popular, but never gets too busy, and having it as your backyard is delightful.

Nearby streets are all pretty and lined with classic Parisian cafés and upscale bakeries.

The Arc de Triomphe is walkable from St James, as is the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower, all of them under half an hour on foot.

When you’re ready to explore the rest of the city, you have the Porte Dauphine Metro just three minutes walk from the hotel.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We only spent one night. In the evening, we were truly impressed by our time at the Library Bar. In the morning, we discovered a beautiful inner courtyard, a cozy room, and it was very quiet. It was important for us that nothing disturbed our sleep. And within just a 15–20 minute walk, you can reach the Eiffel Tower….”

“The staff was exceptional, the place absolutely gorgeous, renovated with so much taste. Every detail was taken into account. I highly recommend this place for a more exceptional stay in Paris. Very special to have the ‘chateau’ feeling in the city….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”There were a couple of things we didn’t really like. The shower is in the bathtub, and water splashes everywhere, so we had to be very careful and used a lot of towels to clean it up….”

”Breakfast. It was quite simple and not very memorable. Also, the Eggs Benedict were overcooked — the eggs were hard instead of soft and runny. It didn’t ruin our stay, but for this level of hotel, we expected a better breakfast….”

Read all the reviews right here