The Peninsula Paris Review: A Smart Pick for Couples Seeking Classic Paris and Elevated Dining
Advisors love The Peninsula Paris for its spacious suites, standout dining program, and polished service—here’s how to book it best.
The Peninsula Paris lobby, where the hotel’s signature installation of suspended porcelain “dancing leaves” greets guests beneath soaring ceilings and polished marble floors. Photos: Courtesy of Peninsula Hotels
Walking into The Peninsula Paris feels like entering a world that remembers exactly what a palace hotel should be—and insists on delivering it with modern precision. On a cold day last December, my husband and I stepped through the grand doors on Avenue Kléber and were greeted by white-jacketed bellmen, soaring Beaux-Arts architecture, and the glow of the hotel’s bespoke crystal-leaf chandelier, part of a restoration that required more than 800 hand-blown pieces. The arrival sets the tone: bright, grand, and impeccably choreographed.
Originally opened in 1908 as the Hotel Majestic, the building’s history still hums in the background—its walls have hosted everyone from Marcel Proust to George Gershwin, who composed An American in Paris during a nearly four-week stay here. That legacy pairs seamlessly with Peninsula’s polished, Hong Kong-born hospitality. The hotel reopened in 2014 after an extensive four-year renovation, and what stands today is equal parts heritage and sleek, considered luxury.
Our suite felt almost unreal in scale: a separate living room, a king bedroom wrapped in crisp linens, and a marble bathroom equipped with a walk-in shower, deep soaking tub, and in-mirror TVs—consistent with the hotel’s room standards across all categories. Champagne and chocolate—in the form of a miniature bellman—greeted us, and the quiet, tucked-away layout made the space feel residential, a rare treat in a palace hotel.
Dining is where the property becomes unforgettable. LiLi, Peninsula’s Cantonese restaurant, nods to the brand’s Hong Kong roots with a dramatic opera-inspired interior and refined classics. But lunch at L’Oiseau Blanc—its two-Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant—was the highlight. Beneath a glass ceiling framing views of the Eiffel Tower, Chef David Bizet delivers a deeply French, terroir-driven tasting menu that feels like a once-in-a-trip experience. The hotel’s terraces and rooftop garden spaces, including the romantic open-air Le Rooftop above the building’s rosebushes, extend that skyline magic into warmer months.
By the time we wrapped in Bar Kléber under its gilded moldings and towering mirrors, warmed by heat lamps and fur throws outdoors, the hotel’s rhythm had become clear: this is palace tradition with real personality, built for guests who want classic Paris elevated by thoughtful detail rather than theatrics.
Here’s what luxury travel advisors should know before booking The Peninsula Paris.
Why Travel Advisors Book It
- Suites deliver exceptional square footage by Paris standards, and layouts feel genuinely residential rather than formal.
- The dining program—especially L’Oiseau Blanc and seasonal rooftop venues—offers some of the city’s strongest culinary upsell opportunities.
- Service is seamless across concierge, F&B, and guest transport, including Rolls-Royce and MINI Cooper chauffeur options.
- It’s a top choice for couples thanks to refined interiors, rooftop views, and an atmosphere that balances romance with discretion.
- Strong VIP handling and thoughtful touches (amenities, quiet rooms, precision housekeeping) consistently elevate milestone trips.
Rooms & Suites
The Peninsula Paris is known for having some of the most spacious guest rooms in the city—starting at a generous 320 square feet and climbing into true apartment-style layouts in the suite tiers.
For couples, Deluxe Rooms and Grand Premier Rooms offer the ideal mix of space, quiet, and value, while still featuring the Peninsula’s integrated tablet controls, marble bathrooms, and high-touch amenities.
Higher categories unlock a more tailored experience. The Deluxe Suites and Premier Suites add separate living areas, corner views, and deeper wardrobe space—ideal for longer Paris stays or fashion-forward clients who need extra room for outfits. Advisors booking special occasions should keep the Rooftop Garden Suites on their radar: located on the sixth floor, each comes with a private terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe and includes airport transfers, Champagne, minibar access, and a spa treatment per guest.
Connecting options are available, though limited—best requested at the time of booking. For honeymooners or anniversary travelers, the Historic or Katara Suite offers a stately, Belle-Époque feel, but inventory is limited and requires advance booking.
Food & Drink
The hotel’s culinary program is a major draw, and advisors can easily build a dining-forward itinerary around it. L’Oiseau Blanc is the crown jewel: a two-Michelin-starred restaurant with wraparound views and a tasting menu by Chef David Bizet that celebrates French terroir through seasonal, technique-driven plates. This is a high-demand booking, particularly for lunch under the glass canopy with views of the Eiffel Tower.
LiLi offers elevated Cantonese cuisine in a theatrical Haussmann-meets-opera setting. Between dim sum, Peking duck, and live music on select evenings, it’s a strong option for guests seeking variety beyond French dining—rare at a Paris palace hotel.
La Terrasse Kléber delivers alfresco dining along Avenue Kléber (a major warm-weather favorite), and The Lobby remains a classic for breakfast and Afternoon Tea. For summer stays, Le Rooftop becomes one of the city’s most romantic open-air spots, with small plates and a garden-inspired cocktail list.
Pre-bookings are essential for all signature venues. For milestone trips, advisors can arrange the ultra-private Secret Table on the roof, an exclusive two-person dining experience with Champagne and wine pairings.
Experiences & Amenities
The Peninsula’s atmosphere encourages guests to stay on property as much as they explore the city. The aviation-themed L’Oiseau Blanc, complete with a 36-foot replica aircraft suspended in flight above Paris, is a standout visual moment. The hotel’s chauffeur-driven fleet—including a 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II—adds a touch of cinematic arrival and is a strong upsell.
Beyond the property’s visual drama, the concierge team is one of its true differentiators. During my stay, two standout experiences were arranged with notable finesse: a direct introduction to the manager of Silencio, David Lynch’s storied Parisian nightclub, which translated into a seamless, line-skipping arrival on a packed night, and a private tasting at The House of Kaviari, a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of France’s most respected caviar houses. These touches underscore a reality advisors consistently appreciate here: when a guest needs access, the hotel delivers it quietly and flawlessly.
Wellness & The Spa
Set across nearly 20,000 square feet, The Peninsula Spa is a sanctuary beneath the hotel—quiet, warm, and unexpectedly spacious. Six treatment rooms, separate saunas and steam areas, a 65-foot pool, and two couples’ suites anchor the wellness offering. The hotel recently introduced facial and body treatments by Margy’s Monte Carlo, a Swiss rejuvenation brand known for targeted, technology-driven therapies, including the 100-minute Plasma Botolift Facial.
Advisors booking wellness-centric trips can pre-arrange spa packages, couples’ treatments, and poolside time, particularly useful on colder Paris days. The gym features state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, and the spa’s tea lounge provides a quiet finish to any treatment.
Family & Multi-Gen Appeal
While The Peninsula Paris is well-positioned for couples and culture seekers, it also works well for families who prefer an elegant, urban base. Larger suites offer ample space for rollaways or multi-room configurations, and connecting rooms can be secured with advance notice. The central location makes sightseeing simple, and the concierge can arrange kid-friendly cultural experiences, including museum visits, patisserie workshops, or Seine cruises.
There is no formal kids’ club, which may matter for longer stays or younger families, but older children often appreciate the indoor pool and the novelty of the Peninsula’s vehicle fleet. For multi-gen trips, suites with terraces or separate living rooms provide the best balance of privacy and communal space.
Sustainability & Accessibility
The Peninsula Paris approaches sustainability through its restoration practices and ongoing operational choices. The hotel’s meticulous renovation preserved original stonework, slate roofing, and wood elements—using traditional artisans and methods that supported heritage craftsmanship in France. Its culinary program incorporates seasonal French sourcing, particularly in its Michelin-level venues.
Accessibility is strong for a historic building. Elevators serve all guest floors, several rooms are configured for step-free access, and public areas—restaurants, bars, terraces, spa, and pool—are designed to accommodate guests with mobility considerations. Advisors should notify the hotel at the time of booking of any specific accessibility needs so the team can match clients to the most suitable room category.
Location & Access
Set in the 16th arrondissement, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, The Peninsula Paris is located in one of the city’s most elegant and walkable neighborhoods. Guests can easily reach Avenue Montaigne, the Champs-Élysées, top museums, and major monuments on foot. Despite the centrality, rooms remain impressively quiet.
The transfer time from Charles de Gaulle Airport is 40–50 minutes by car, and the hotel’s chauffeur service makes arrivals and departures more seamless. Metro access at Kléber and Charles de Gaulle–Étoile stations keeps the rest of the city within quick reach.
How to Book Smart
The Peninsula Paris participates in American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, Virtuoso, and Travel Leaders SELECT, giving travel advisors access to the best available preferred partner benefits. Across those programs (as well as the property’s own Peninsula PenClub), clients typically receive daily breakfast for two, a one-category upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), early check-in and late check-out opportunities, and a property credit (which varies by program, market, and season).
Suite bookings often include elevated perks like minibar access and even round-trip airport transfers. Some offers also include hotel credits usable toward spa treatments, making suites a strong value for milestone-trip clients. L’Oiseau Blanc, LiLi, and the ultra-private Secret Table should be reserved well in advance. For improved upgrade odds and smoother availability, shoulder periods—April, early May, and late September—tend to perform best.
