The 88-room Hotel Le Bristol opened its doors in 1925 during the Roaring Twenties, and today is still one of Paris' best-known luxury hotels. It offers impressive amenities for its small size, including a sunlit indoor pool (a rare find in Paris); a three-Michelin-star restaurant, Epicure; and a lovely spa with three floors featuring a Turkish bath and playroom for kids. Families are welcome in this posh environment: There's a dedicated Children's Programme, and little ones may appreciate the fact that there's a resident cat roaming the hotel. Rooms are elegant, aside from the dated comforters, and vary in size and price. The hotel -- located on one of the most high-end shopping streets in Paris -- is steps to the Hermes flagship store, as well as avenue Montaigne and Champs Elysees.

The smallest hotel in Paris with a “Palace” distinction, La Reserve Paris offers intimacy and luxury in a meticulously restored Hausmannian mansion. Its 40 exquisite, butler-serviced rooms and suites display damask silk wall coverings, oak herringbone parquet, velvet drapes, period artwork, and stunning Carrara marble bathrooms. Other highlights include its Michelin-starred restaurant, cozy library cocktail lounge, and top-notch spa. La Reserve has an enviable location off the Champs Elysees, and travelers who want to paint the town can consult the Clef d’Or concierges for restaurant reservations, opera tickets, and exclusive recommendations. However, all this white-glove service could feel a bit stuffy to some travelers; those seeking luxurious accommodations with a more relaxed atmosphere may prefer Grand Hotel du Palais Royal, which has an excellent location across from the Louvre.  

The upscale Hotel Bradford Elysees - Astotel, in the 8th Arrondissement between the Champs Elysees and the Faubourg Saint Honore, is close to several good restaurants, bars, and shops, yet it's calm and quiet, thanks to its location on the quaint Rue St. Phillipe du Roule. Its 50 rooms, some of which have balconies and decorative fireplaces, retain the classic elegance of Haussmann-style details while adding such modern amenities as iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, and minibars with free soft drinks. The hotel has an open honor bar in the afternoons, with free soft drinks and snacks. A full breakfast buffet is served every morning for an extra charge. Travelers could also consider the Hotel Le 123 Elysees, another Astotel property, with similar amenities but slightly lower rates.

Location is a huge plus for the upscale Hotel Le 123 Elyees - Astotel -- it's only two blocks from Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris. The hotel is surrounded by fine dining and upscale shops in every direction, and a metro station is only a two-minute walk away. Its 41 rooms are clean and comfortably sized, with excellent amenities that include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges stocked with free water and soft drinks, safes, coffeemakers, and robes/slippers. There's a bar and an extensive breakfast buffet, but no other meals are served on-site. However, free snacks and soft drinks are offered in the afternoon. Rates are competitive for its central location and category, but there are plenty of similarly priced four-pearl properties nearby, such as the boutique Hotel Mathis Elysees Matignon. 

The mid-range Hotel Augustin - Astotel offers heaps of style and a nice location in the 8th Arrondissement, surrounded by postcard-perfect Haussmann buildings, shops, and restaurants. While the area does lack nightlife, it's relatively quiet and close to loads of public transportation. Its 57 colorful rooms have punchy decor, and a few open onto balconies. Others have faux balconies -- tall windows with wrought-iron railings that feel balcony-esque when flung open. Guests rave about rooms' free minibar drinks, restocked daily. Other edibles on hand include a breakfast spread (usually included in rates) and free snacks set out in the dining room. That said, there's no full restaurant or bar on the premises. But most guests find the Augustin's charm and value more than compensate for any missing features. Travelers could also consider other properties in the Astotel group, like the Hotel Joke.

The Hotel WO is a clean, convenient 30-room boutique option with a focus on design. Rooms are small but charming, with flat-screen TVs, modern decor, and black and white photographs of Paris. It's true that some rooms are downright tiny, and in the bathrooms in Classic Rooms the shower area is practically on top of the toilet -- but booking a larger superior room solves this problem. Rooms on the upper floors are particularly desirable, as some have balconies and views of the Eiffel Tower. With free Wi-Fi and a convenient location for reaching popular museums and attractions, Hotel WO is a good pick.

An impressive property just off the Champs Elysees, Hotel Ekta is an excellent choice for those shopping for a stylish mid-range option. This 25-room boutique is impressively decorated with '60s inspired decor and funky Paris artwork throughout. Rooms are a bit on the small side, but they offer up thoughtful amenities like Nespresso machines and multi-country electrical outlets. There’s no on-site restaurant or gym, but continental breakfast is available every morning (for a fee) and the hotel has a private underground parking garage (rare for a Parisian boutique). Plus, Wi-Fi is free for all guests. Travelers looking for an equally trendy property with a few more amenities might prefer the pricier Hotel Pershing Hall, which has an on-site restaurant, spa, and fitness center but is farther from the Champs Elysees. 

The West-End Hotel is a boutique situated within walking distance of the luxury shopping on the Champs Elysées. Rooms are individually decorated in a wide variety of textiles, ranging from historically-inflected to outright modern; some have balconies and spacious, sleek bathrooms. Generally, the hotel gets high marks for cleanliness, and the common areas -- with their mix of traditional furnishings and life-size black-and-white photographs of cinema actresses -- are striking and comfortable places to relax. Breakfast is free and there's an honesty bar, but no full restaurant.

Located on the Champs Élysées, the Fouquet's Barrière is one of the most famous and exclusive luxury hotels in Paris. It has a slightly modernized Haussmann-style exterior, while interior design combines baroque, surrealist, and classic style elements with contemporary flair. Sophisticated rooms start at 400 square feet, and black marble bathrooms have separate showers and tubs as well as TVs in the mirrors. The extensive features include three restaurants (one Michelin-starred), an upscale spa, and a gorgeous indoor swimming pool. The hotel deserves its five-star status, but this level of luxury comes at a very high price.

From Hans Christian Anderson to Emile Zola, Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lettres' 26 rooms bear the names of famous European writers (with Virginia Woolf as the only woman in the club). The four-pearl boutique property in Paris's 8th Arrondissement puts an energetic spin on contemporary decor and receives accolades for its design and attentive staff. Rooms are small but handsomely outfitted, with flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, free Wi-Fi, and Molton Brown products; minibars, however, are limited to beverages, so if the munchies strike, you won't find snacks. Springing for a top-floor suite buys Eiffel Tower views and soaks in a whirlpool tub. There's 24-hour room service and direct booking scores free continental breakfasts. If a full-service restaurant and bar is a must, the similarly priced New Hotel Roblin La Madeleine has both.

The mid-range Hotel Astoria Opera - Astotel Paris sits on the edge of Paris' 8th Arrondissement, within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Within a two-minute walk of the Rome metro station, guests can get to most major tourist attractions in a half hour or less. The hotel's 86 Single, Double, and Triple Rooms are cheery and modern but, in typical Paris fashion, small. They're outfitted with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Apartments with two connecting rooms are available too. The hotel has a chic, modern lobby and a bright breakfast room with a partial glass roof, where a daily buffet breakfast is served. Non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks are available for free throughout the day. The nearby New Orient Hotel offers similar property features but more traditional decor -- it's also pet-friendly.

Housed inside an 1858 mansion, the 50-room Hotel Marginan Paris is one of the few privately owned, five-pearl hotels in the City of Lights. Architect Pierre Yovanovitch -- who draws on Nordic, American, and French motifs -- reimagined the space and filled the common areas with swirly, custom-made furniture and hand-picked art pieces. Room design draws from the Scandinavian tradition, with its clean, minimalist lines. Bathrooms are similarly styled with plenty of smooth marble and ceramic surfaces. The hotel's on-site restaurant adds Asian touches to classic French dishes. A private movie-screening room is available, and the hotel's location off the Champs Elysee puts it within easy distance of several top attractions. Travelers seeking a luxury hotel with a more traditional aesthetic should consider the Hotel Lancaster, which is nearby.

This luxury hotel in Paris’ posh 8th Arrondissement merges the tradition of an 18th-century "hotel particulier" with neo-Asian design. On a small, quiet street off the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, famous for designer boutiques and haute couture, the hotel has 56 rooms that embrace an Asian-inspired dark and sexy design ethos with plenty of modern perks. The trendy restaurant continues the French-Asian blend and its bar, Le Qu4tre, is a destination for hotel guests and locals as well. The small fitness center includes and spa with a hammam and massage rooms. For an upscale option with a more overtly historic character, travelers can check out Hotel de l'Abbaye Saint-Germain, which has similar rates in the swank Saint-Germain neighborhood.

The 31-room Hotel Monsieur is an upscale boutique hotel situated in the city’s popular 8th Arrondissement, walking distance to the opera, upscale shops, businesses, and the Gare Saint-Lazare. Like other Paris hotels in this category, it’s compact but makes good use of space. There’s free espresso and an honesty bar in the lobby, a breakfast area where a daily breakfast is served (for an extra fee), and a basement wellness area with a gym, hammam, and couples' treatment room. Rooms, which range from tight doubles to spacious suites, are individually decorated with stylish, high-end decor and theater-inspired details, like rich red velvet drapes. Minibars, flat-screen TVs, and electric kettles come standard. As an alternative, travelers could also consider the New Hotel Roblin La Madeleine, which also has a restaurant but no wellness facilities.

The luxury Hotel Napoleon has 51 rooms and 51 suites, and a restaurant bar and lounge. The spa offers a menu of body and beauty treatments, and massages, and the seventh-floor fitness center offers views of Paris rooftops from the cardio machines. The Art Deco- and Empire-inspired rooms are well-appointed, some with canopy beds and all with fresh flowers and serious Napoleonic art, yet exude coziness. Within walking distance of the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, and the Charles de Gaulle-Etoile metro station, which connects to lines 1, 2, and 6, and the RER, the location is good for getting around Paris. The La Defense business district is six metro stops away.