Hôtel Ritz Paris

The Hôtel Ritz is a hotel located at 15 Place Vendôme, in the heart of Paris, France. It is one of the most prestigious and luxurious hotels in the world and is one of the seven recognized Parisian palace hotels. Established in 1898, it is the oldest Ritz Hotel in the world.

History

The building was constructed in the early part of the 18th century as a private dwelling. In 1854 it was acquired by the Péreire brothers who made it the head office of their Crédit Mobilier financial institution.

The façade was designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart. Converted to a luxury hotel by Swiss hotelier César Ritz, it opened on June 1, 1898. Together with the culinary talents of minority partner Auguste Escoffier, Ritz made the hotel synonymous with opulence, service, and fine dining, as embodied in the term ritzy.

The Hôtel Ritz consists of the Vendôme and the Cambon buildings with rooms facing Place Vendôme and on the opposite side, rooms overlooking its famous garden. The hotel became a favorite of many of the world's wealthiest people, with luxurious suites named for some of its notable patrons from the past. These include Ernest Hemingway, for whom a bar in the hotel was named, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Iranian leader Reza Shah, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Maurice Chevalier, Jean-Paul Sartre, Elton John, plus couturier Coco Chanel who made the Ritz her home for more than thirty years.

The Ritz today

The Hôtel Ritz Paris currently offers 159 rooms, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, two bars and a casual dining restaurant. The rooms start at €770 a night. Suites start at €1,600 and can go up to €13,650 a night for the most prestigious ones (Suite Impériale). The hotel's restaurant, L'Espadon, was awarded a second star by the 2009 edition of the influential Michelin Red Guide.

It is owned by the businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. In 2010, many years after the death of his son, he wants to sell the hotel.