Regarding hotels, there is five-star rating – however, in
France
There is also the "Palace" tier.
And currently, the extremely select list of hotels meeting these criteria has grown for the first time in seven years—with six additional establishments receiving this prestigious designation.
The "Palace" designation exceeds France's typical five-star classification, granted by the French Ministry of Tourism to a select few hotels that embody the peak of French elegance and service.
Beyond being mere accommodations, these hotels have become attractions that effortlessly combine top-notch hospitality, stunning architecture, exceptional cuisine, and rich historical heritage.
The renowned brand was launched in 2010 to honor the top-tier French hotels that did not have an official rating higher than five stars.
On 2 June, during a ceremony held in Paris, it was revealed that 27 hotels retained their prestigious ranking, four lost it, and six received 'Palace' designation for the first time — three of these being located in the city itself.
Continue reading to find out about the six remarkable French hotels that have joined the list—and are now ranked higher than five-star accommodations.
Bvlgari Hotel Paris
Located on Avenue George V, within the prestigious "golden triangle" at the center of the city, Bvlgari Hotel Paris combines the brand's enduring elegance with modern architecture.
The establishment offers only 76 rooms and suites, with prices reaching up to £1,500 per night for one guest.
At a cost of approximately £30,000 each night, visitors have access to the property’s 10,000-square-foot penthouse spread across two levels. This luxurious space includes a personal cigar storage area, a hammam, a gym, and an outdoor garden designed with care, providing panoramic vistas of the Eiffel Tower from all directions.
Drawing inspiration from the ancient Baths of Caracalla, the hotel’s on-site spa includes a 25-meter swimming pool adorned with green, jade, and malachite mosaics highlighted by golden patterns.
The on-site dining establishment, designed by renowned three-Michelin-starred Italian chef Niko Romito, offers traditional Italian cuisine with a contemporary approach.
Not only are pets allowed at the hotel, but they are also cared for almost as much as guests, receiving personalized comforts such as warm woolen and cool cotton canine bedding.
Completing an exceptionally lavish experience, visitors requiring transportation to and from the hotel can travel in a Maserati.
Hôtel Fouquet's Paris
Located at the intersection of the Champs-Élysées and Avenue George V, Hôtel Fouquet's Paris features 1920s Art Deco decor.
boasting a deep history in air travel and French filmmaking.
Every year, the renowned César Awards take place at Fouquet's, the hotel’s on-site restaurant which has been a hub for movie stars and figures of the French New Wave since the 1930s.
The establishment includes 101 rooms and suites, with numerous ones providing vistas of the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées. Overnight accommodation in a Superior Room starts at just £740, whereas Premium suites may go beyond £2,000.
Many suites and rooms offer an individualized butler service, assisting visitors with their baggage, bookings, and in-room needs.
Visitors can escape the lively streets of the upscale area by unwinding at Le Joy, an hidden indoor garden located on the ground level of the hotel, featuring a bar and eatery offering fresh, seasonally inspired French dishes.
Additionally, the hotel provides a 15-meter warmed indoor swimming pool, a hamman featuring a celestial-patterned ceiling, and an icy chamber with a wall constructed from genuine ice located at The Spa Decorté.
The Hôtel Fouquet's Paris is well-known for welcoming pets – so much so that four-legged friends receive an individually tailored blanket during their initial visit.
Cheval Blanc Paris
Located beside the River Seine within the 1st District of the city, Cheval Blanc Paris blends effortlessly with the famous La Samaritaine shopping complex opposite the Pont Neuf.
The hotel, a top-tier property under LVMH, features 72 accommodations—46 of them being suites—with prices per night starting at £1,800 and going beyond £11,000. Its expansive 10,780 square foot penthouse, called The Apartment, may cost up to £39,000 for one evening.
Similar to Hôtel Fouquet's Paris, each visitor is provided with an around-the-clock private butler who manages all duties—ranging from unloading suitcases to filling bathtubs.
Each bedroom includes bathrooms covered in marble, equipped with large bathtubs, individual hamams for steam baths, and custom-made toiletries scented by the perfume creator of Maison Dior.
Created by Peter Marino, the hotel features one of the grandest spas in Paris: Dior Spa Cheval Blanc, celebrating the luxury brand through a combination of iconic Dior elements, custom artistry, and exclusive ingredients.
Visitors to the spa receive robes tied at the waist, inspired by the traditional style of Dior’s iconic gowns, and enjoy treatments using semi-precious stones.
An indoor swimming pool measuring 100 feet long is positioned exactly at the water level of the Seine River, equipped with reflective ceilings and impressive video displays that give the impression of swimming alongside the riverside.
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, Champagne
Located near Épernay, within the core region of Champagne, the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa is housed in a 19th-century coaching inn, offering a historic venue steeped in tradition.
The hotel has welcomed many French kings who paused there during their journey to be crowned in the neighboring city of Reims — and according to tradition, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte frequently came to stay at this place.
Each of the 47 rooms includes bespoke bedding, natural oak and stone elements, meditation boxes at the bed, as well as private terraces and balconies providing sweeping vistas of vineyards throughout the valley – although prices range from £550 to £1,500 per night.
The hotel's Destination Spa covers an area of 16,000 square feet and functions as the area's initial comprehensive wellness facility.
Visitors can choose to swim in a 25-meter indoor pool featuring full-height glass walls, or an open-air plunge pool nestled among vineyards.
A personalized Hair Spa service is offered to guests receiving specialized micro-peptide therapies and beauty products from Biologique Recherche.
Hôtel Martinez, Cannes
Celebrated as one of the globe's most luxurious accommodations, Hôtel Martinez in Cannes combines 1920s Art Deco design with strong ties to Hollywood history.
The establishment houses one of the priciest penthouse suites across Europe, with an average rate of £39,411 per night.
Spanning more than 1,000 square meters, the space consists of two large suites dedicated to famous figures from French cinema: Thierry Frémaux and Isabelle Huppert.
The establishment, serving as an essential center throughout the Cannes Film Festival, has welcomed a constant stream of renowned visitors over time, including actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Bruce Willis, along with supermodels like Bella Hadid and Naomi Campbell.
Numerous stars have eaten at La Palme d'Or, the on-site Michelin-awarded dining spot known for its 'seafood-themed, sunny-style meals.'
At the L'Oasis du Martinez, the hotel’s acclaimed floral garden and pool area offers visitors the chance to swim in the beautiful Yves Klein-blue swimming pool or unwind in the green sunlit spaces.
Four Seasons Hotel Megève, located in the French Alps
Located in the French Alps, the Four Seasons Hotel Megève is a mountain getaway that stands alone as the only hotel providing ski-in and ski-out access to the Mont d'Arbois slopes.
The resort boasts remarkable historical connections to one of the most powerful families globally, having been developed in partnership with Baroness Edmond de Rothschild, combining modern architecture with exquisite artworks from the family’s exclusive art collection.
There are 55 lodging options at the resort, where regular rooms cost between £500 and £700 per night, and more spacious suites range from £2,500 to £5,000 each night.
Travelers looking for complete privacy can reserve the Suite Idéal – a cabin situated at the peak of Mont d'Arbois, reachable solely via gondola or snow scooter.
Every room and suite includes a personal concierge as well as a ski facility offering boot heating and snowboard polishing prior to heading out onto the mountains, alongside refreshments and soothing hot cocoa.
At dinnertime, visitors have the opportunity to experience gourmet dining at La Dame de Pic – Le 1920, or enjoy sushi at Megève's inaugural Japanese eatery: Kaito.
In addition, the hotel houses the largest spa in the French Alps—a space spanning 900 meters featuring both indoor and outdoor swimming pools equipped with massage systems and under-water sound features.
The 33 Palatial Hotels of France 2026
Paris
Bvlgari Hotel Paris – upcoming 2026 (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Cheval Blanc Paris – upcoming 2026 (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Fouquet’s Paris — newly selected for 2026 (MICHELIN Recommended)
Four Seasons Hotel George V (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Plaza Athénée Hotel, part of the Dorchester Collection in Paris (Three MICHELIN Stars)
The Reserve Paris - Hotel and Spa (Three MICHELIN Keys)
The Bristol Hotel in Paris (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Le Meurice, part of the Dorchester Collection in Paris (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Mandarin Oriental Lutetia Paris (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Shangri-La Paris (One MICHELIN Star)
The Peninsula Paris (Two MICHELIN Stars)
The Alps
Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles - Courchevel
White Horse Courchevel – Courchevel (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Fouquet’s Courchevel – Courchevel (MICHELIN Recommended)
Four Seasons Hotel Megève – Megève – opening in 2026 (Three MICHELIN Keys)
Royal Hotel - Evian-les-Bains (One MICHELIN Star)
The Peak at Courchevel - Courchevel (Two MICHELIN Stars)
K2 Palace – Courchevel (Three MICHELIN Stars)
South of France
Airelles Gordes, La Bastide - Gordes (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Saint-Tropez Airelles, La Messardière Estate — Saint-Tropez (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Saint-Martin Chateau & Spa – Vence (One MICHELIN Star)
White Horse St-Tropez – Saint-Tropez (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, part of the Four Seasons Hotels collection — Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Recognized with Three MICHELIN Stars)
Cap-Eden-Roc Hotel – Antibes (Three MICHELIN Keys)
Hôtel Martinez Cannes – Cannes – newly opened in 2026 (MICHELIN Recommended)
The Reserve Ramatuelle Hotel, Spa & Villas – Ramatuelle (Three MICHELIN Stars)
Villa La Coste – Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade (Trois Clés MICHELINE)
South West
Eugenie's Meadows — Eugénie-les-Bains (Two MICHELIN Stars)
Caudalie's Sources — Martillac (Three MICHELIN Keys)
Eastern France
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa – Champillon – opening in 2026 (Three MICHELIN Keys)
Overseas
Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France - St. Barth Island of France (Two MICHELIN Stars)
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