There was much deliberation whether or not Shangri-La, could successfully transport is signature brand of Asian hospitality to European soil. In reality, it seems to have been a breeze. No doubt, choosing the city of Paris as the brand’s European flagship, bumped up its X factor, as did the decision to locate the hotel in the lavish 1896 former home of French imperial Prince Roland Bonaparte (Napoleon Bonaparte’s grand-nephew). Here, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the Louis XIV-style palace now houses 101 rooms and suites each one set amongst painstakingly restored interiors that honour the integrity of the original home.
Registered by the Shangri-La group with Monuments Historiques, the building’s storied heritage remains beautifully intact. Working with architect Richard Martinet and an experienced renovation team, interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon guided the smooth transition from a 19th century palace to a 21st century luxe hotel. The result is a majestic property where hand-carved mahogany panels, cast-iron gateways and stained-glass windows sit side by side with marble columns and flooring. Rooms and suites were custom designed by Rochon to fit the listed building’s unique structure, ensuring modern additions such as silk-threaded wallpaper, and refined crystal hardware blend seamlessly with existing features.
Various features vie to be the hotel’s pièce de résistance, including the three restaurants that span European and Asian cuisine, with two — the French L’Abeille and the Cantonese Shang Palace — boasting Michelin stars. CHI, The Spa, once Prince Bonaparte’s stables, also throws itself into the mix with a 15-metre mosaic swimming pool, but surely nothing beats the Shangri La’s location, which faces the Seine and the Eiffel Tower and offers a postcard perfect view of Paris.
ADDRESS
10, avenue d'Iéna
-
Waiting for Ideas have recast the turntable as a minimal aluminium altar for vinyl worshipThe PP-1 turntable is an ultra-minimal, all-aluminium record player designed to enhance the vinyl experience
-
Fendi celebrates 100 years with an all-out runway show at its new Milan HQIn the wake of Kim Jones’ departure, Silvia Venturini Fendi took the reins for a special co-ed A/W 2025 collection marking the house’s centenary, unveiling it as the first act of celebrations within Fendi’s expansive new headquarters in Milan
-
‘Leigh Bowery!’ at Tate Modern: 1980s alt-glamour, club culture and rebellionThe new Leigh Bowery exhibition in London is a dazzling, sequin-drenched look back at the 1980s, through the life of one of its brightest stars
-
All aboard the world’s most luxurious train journeysStay on track with our pick of the most luxurious train journeys around the world, whether in 1920s-style opulence or contemporary chic
-
Night at the museum: the best art hotels to book nowSleep amid surrealists at London’s Broadwick Soho, or wake up to contemporary favourites at New Hotel in Athens – indulge in an immersive art hotel experience
-
Shop hyperlocal gifts, from Harlem to Hawaii, at R Finds’ global online storeWallpaper* goes shopping with R Finds, Renaissance Hotels’ digital marketplace, which connects travellers – and armchair travellers – with local makers and stores, one gift at a time
-
This Italian Bistrot in Paris offers all-year-round ‘felicità’A diminutive of the Italian word for family, Miglia is a cosy trattoria radiating warmth, friendliness, and traditional flavours
-
Ski in, ski out at Courchevel’s hot new piste-side dinerLoulou, the new Courchevel restaurant inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s muse, is playfully elevated by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s pop art branding
-
The cosiest alpine retreats to book in EuropeBrowse the Wallpaper* edit of European alpine retreats where to fully embrace the ski season
-
First look at Maison 3, an eclectic new Parisian bar for sleepless nightsMaison 3 is an enigmatic space with a sensual atmosphere brought to life by the French studio Les Beaux Jours Architectures
-
The world’s most enticing new hotel openingsExplore the best new hotels in the world, from a bijou addition to the London hotel scene to a lush safari adventure in South Africa
