Le Meurice

I have stayed at Le Meurice three times. Once in 2019, twice in 2022. Each time felt somewhat different.

Many people have a certain imagination about palace-level hotels in Paris. Photos on social media make these places look like museums. Golden ceilings, crystal chandeliers, doormen in tailcoats. Le Meurice has all of these. The first time I walked into the lobby, I was indeed stunned for a few seconds.

I booked a Deluxe room facing the Tuileries Garden. The price in September 2022 was €1,450 per night, breakfast not included. Breakfast was an additional €85 per person. I didn't order it. I walked to the corner café and had a croissant and espresso for a total of €6.80.

The room itself is 42 square meters. Hotels in Paris are generally on the smaller side, and this size is normal for the palace level. The bathroom has Hermès toiletries, and the bathtub is deep. The mattress is custom-made with a soft feel. The windows have good soundproofing—the traffic noise from Rue de Rivoli is almost inaudible.

On Service

Many hotel reviews will tell you that Le Meurice's service is "impeccable." My experience was as follows: The first stay, check-in took 25 minutes with two groups of guests ahead of me. The second stay, the concierge helped me book a table at Alain Ducasse's restaurant—this is indeed very difficult to reserve, and they got it done. The third stay, I asked room service to bring a pot of hot water and waited 40 minutes.

Dining & Value

One issue I particularly care about is the value for money of the dining. The hotel has two restaurants. Lunch at Le Dalí averages €120-150 per person. The tasting menu at Le Meurice Alain Ducasse is €395 for dinner, not including wine. With wine pairings, a dinner for two easily exceeds a thousand euros.

I had lunch once at Le Dalí. The appetizer was foie gras, the main course was pigeon, and the dessert was lemon tart. The execution was good, the plating was good, the server's explanation of the dishes was good. But I've had pigeon of similar quality at a small restaurant in the 6th arrondissement for €38 as a main course. That pigeon at Le Dalí was €72.

Palace Comparisons

Paris has a total of 12 palace-level hotels. Le Meurice is one of them. There are also the Ritz, Plaza Athénée, George V, Bristol, Crillon, and so on. The hardware differences between these hotels are actually not as large as the price differences. During the same week in 2022, I checked the base room prices at each: Le Meurice was €1,450, Ritz was €1,680, Plaza Athénée was €1,520, Crillon was €1,390.

A difference of two or three hundred euros—how much difference is there in the actual stay experience? To be honest, not that much. The locations are different, the décor styles are different, the restaurant chefs are different. The core elements—bedding, bathrooms, basic service—are all at the same level.

What I personally prefer about Le Meurice is its location. The hotel's front entrance faces the Tuileries Garden, a five-minute walk to the Louvre, ten minutes to the Seine. The Ritz is at Place Vendôme—beautiful, but surrounded by jewelry stores with less everyday atmosphere. This is personal preference.

The Details

Let me mention a detail that few people talk about. Le Meurice's corridors are very narrow. From the elevator to my room, I had to walk about thirty meters down a corridor where two people walking side by side would feel a bit cramped. The carpet is very thick, making it difficult to push a suitcase with wheels. The building dates from 1835, and there's no way to change the structural limitations.

Also the elevators. The hotel has a total of three guest elevators, and during peak times you have to wait. One morning when I was catching a flight, I waited almost four minutes for an elevator. This kind of thing doesn't often happen at newly built hotels. That's just how old buildings are.

Minibar prices in the room: a small bottle of Evian water €8, a can of Coca-Cola €12, a small bottle of champagne €95. I never touch the minibar when staying at hotels. At the Monoprix supermarket downstairs, the same Evian water is €1.20 for a large bottle.

Le Meurice is a very good hotel, comfortable to stay in, with service that is attentive most of the time. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is a €1,450-per-night hotel experience. You pay this price, you get the corresponding value.

Will I stay there again? Yes. Next time I'm in Paris with enough budget, I'll still book Le Meurice. I really like the view of the Tuileries Garden—opening the curtains in the morning and seeing that expanse of greenery puts me in a good mood. I won't order that €72 pigeon again, but I have no complaints about the hotel itself.

Booking Notes

One final word about reservations. Le Meurice is often fully booked during peak season. During July and August, Fashion Week, and the Paris Motor Show, booking two months in advance doesn't guarantee availability. The low season in January and February is much easier, and prices are also one or two hundred euros cheaper. Direct booking on the official website sometimes has packages that include breakfast or spa treatments. Slightly better value than booking through OTAs.