Review of Mandarin Oriental, Paris

Located just north of The Louvre on Rue St Honoré, right in the heart of Paris’ luxury shopping district with some of the city’s chicest boutiques, the Mandarin Oriental, Paris is also within strolling distance of Opéra Garnier and Place Vendôme. The hotel is a perfect choice for a romantic retreat in the City of Light. Both the River Seine and Musée d'Orsay are just a leisurely stroll from the hotel. 

Mandarin Oriental, Paris is located 33 kilometres (20 miles) from Charles de Gaulle Airport and just a short car journey from the Eurostar terminal at Gare du Nord.

The 99 rooms and 39 suites offered at the Mandarin Oriental, Paris are among the most spacious in the city. Many overlook the leafy gardens; while some have balconies or terraces, others enjoy views of famous Parisian landmarks including the Eiffel Tower.

Rooms are the last word in luxury boasting velvet chaises and armchairs, plush drapes, soft carpets or wooden floors with occasional rugs and contemporary art lining the walls. 

Large beds demand to be jumped on and are resplendent with 500 thread count luxury Egyptian linen. Guests are offered a sizeable pillow menu – they can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and fillings. There is even a rose scented feather pillow for maximum pampering.

Mini bars are stocked with the expected high-end offerings including Champagne, spirits, and chocolates - each room has a Nespresso machine and tea-making facilities.

Stunning bathrooms are whitewashed, huge and lavish offering walk-in showers (appointed with dual-head showers) and deep soaking egg-shaped bathtubs. Designer bathroom amenities are furnished by Diptyque. Freshly cut flowers are a welcome addition as are the extras of hair straighteners and a yoga mat – secreted in one of the many hidden wardrobes.

There are ten different categories in the 39 suites, all with varying levels of opulence. The chic Couture Suite is a stylish one-bedroom suite with living room, dining area and kitchenette, perfect for visitors to Fashion Week. Panoramic Suites have balconies or terraces, and the contemporary Mandarin Penthouse Suite boasts a private lift that whisks guests to a duplex one-bedroom slice of heaven – garnering fabulous views, chandeliered living and dining rooms, study, steam room and its own private gym.

The Parisien Apartment on the 6th floor is 430 square metres and emulates a dream pied á terre with generous outdoor terrace space. This delightful area is beautifully designed with seating among flowers and shrubs.

Discreet and flawless Mandarin Oriental service is legendary - exceeding guests’ expectations is a top priority for the service team. This starts with in-room check-in, affording added privacy and completed with a flute of Champagne.

The lobby is a welcoming space, where comfortable armchairs flank a golden fireplace, luring guests to sit and relax. On hand is a stand filled with an array of art books. Stunning, colourful art installations include butterfly and floral themes.

A tranquil moment in the courtyard is a must. Surrounded by scented flora, the inner garden to the hotel is an oasis in one of Europe’s busiest cities. Enjoyed in the warm sunshine of a Parisian summer, it can also be appreciated in the winter as it is heated and partially covered. 

Mandarin Oriental, Paris also has wonderful relaxation facilities including a blissful 14-metre lap pool perfect for a refreshing dip and a welcome treat.

The Mandarin Spa is a haven of Zen-like tranquillity – a pearlescent white and silver space with seven treatment rooms with origami flowers stitched onto walls. At a spacious 900 square metres, it is among the largest in Paris. On arrival, shoes are swapped for slippers and a personal therapist will design a treatment to suit guests needs. There are also seven private spa suites with changing areas and the couples’ spa suites come with private vitality pools.

The Spa offers a holistic experience and Mandarin’s signature ‘Time Rituals’ that encourages guests to book time rather than specific treatments, services are tailor-made and highly trained therapists meet individual needs. It all begins with a soothing foot ritual.  This ‘spa concierge’ service provides guests with a better understanding of their health issues and how best to address them therapeutically with nutrition counselling, yoga, meditation, beauty, and relaxation therapies. 

Mandarin Oriental’s signature spa product line was developed specifically for the Group by Aromatherapy Associates. 

Guests should leave time to experience the oriental steam room, book a treatment in the Guerlain spa suite before enjoying a balancing Oriental meridian massage on the rooftop.  Finally, curl up with a book in the white banquette seats by the pool.

A fully equipped gym keeps guests in shape in the ‘Fitness Room’, open 24 hours a day for guests’ convenience. The hotel also offers a superb hammam.

Children or ‘Young Fans’ are serviced by a children’s concierge who will advise on special family times at the pool (between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.) and are able to organise gaming consoles.

Four double rooms and a suite are suitable for guests with wheelchairs. Pets are very welcome, and charges apply.

While the Mandarin Oriental, Paris style is contemporary, there are plenty of references to the buildings’ Art Deco roots in the plush rooms and suites. The hotel offers plenty of creature comforts.

Oriental touches reflect the hotel group’s heritage and splashes of romance with beautiful floral arrangements are typically French. Butterflies bring the beautiful gardens inside starting with the pretty installation in the reception of 138 Swarovski crystals. Ceramic and fabric butterflies are a theme throughout the hotel.

Colour is embraced in a palette including gold, silver, magenta and plum or yellow, brightening up rooms with their pale coloured walls.

The epitome of contemporary luxury, the hotel effortlessly blends fashionable French sensibilities and artistic creativity with subtle hints of its Oriental heritage such as origami flowers stitched onto the walls in The Spa. 

This serene pied á terre is a home from home for a raft of celebrity Fans. The Mandarin Oriental, Paris is a magnet for a sophisticated set, the well-heeled clientele drawn here for stellar service, the facilities and the genuine warmth and hospitality that the staff offer. 

Mandarin Oriental, Paris is a dining hub for guests and locals, with a trio of restaurants and bar, including Sur Mesure which holds two Michelin stars, all overseen by celebrity French Chef Thierry Marx. He showcases his skills in molecular gastronomy and haute cuisine in the all-white, futuristic-looking fine dining room which is designed to make gourmands feel like they are eating in the clouds.

The sweetly scented Camélia serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a romantic and partially al-fresco restaurant with terrace space, where diners can watch the chefs at work at a live cooking counter that seats ten. Breakfast is a typically Mandarin affair – with more on offer than the eye or stomach can process. The continental breakfast is a smorgasbord of pastries, du pain, fresh fruit, and healthy options, while Chinese, Japanese, and American breakfasts are also available. The hotel is renowned for serving a fine Eggs Benedict - indeed Hollandaise is considered one of the five mother sauces in French cuisine.

For all-day dining, Camélia is popular as it serves sumptuous meals with a European bent. A starter of heirloom tomatoes and burrata, spiced with strawberries and vanilla olive oil is delicious and Squid ink risoni with cuttlefish tagliatelle and crisp vegetables are popular and delightful choices.

L’Honoré - named after the hotel’s prestigious address - is found in the lobby and a top spot for a smoothie or a poke bowl, serving international favourites all day long.

Bar 8 is a beautifully designed low lit space welcoming guests with evening cocktails in a golden and glass room with gentle music which spills out onto a terrace on balmy summer evenings. Street food-style light bites are served from midday and later there’s gourmet tapas from 6 p.m. Sip a ‘Once Upon a Time … Paris’ cocktail to round off the day, which blends Roederer Champagne with Chambord, Cognac Martell VSOP and Tobacco Liquor.

The Cake Shop at the entrance to Camélia is a sweet stop for delicious patisserie, frequented by in-the-know locals as well as guests.

Fabulous in-room or suite dining with Thierry Marx flair is available from 6.30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Enjoying the Lobster Club Sandwich while looking out at the Eiffel Tower is an unforgettable experience. For couples, there is a special treat - The Paris by Marx – a four-course culinary journey through his signature dishes.

The hotel continually implements initiatives to be “naturally better” including eliminating single-use plastic, using biodegradable cling film and reusable containers in the kitchens. 

‘Acting responsibly’ means that Mandarin Oriental Paris was the first hotel in France to obtain the HQE (High-Quality Environmental) certification and can save between 20 and 30 per cent in energy consumption when compared to a non-HQE building, including more efficient ventilation systems, and air conditioning and heating operated by fresh air supply from the interior wooded and landscaped areas.

A drip irrigation system is also in use, where the hotel grounds and gardens are only watered at night and in the early morning to minimise wastage through evaporation. 

Initiatives back-of-house include motion activated sensors installed on water taps and guestrooms feature dual-flushing toilet cisterns and eco-mode handheld showers.