Backstairs at The Ritz Paris

Many years ago, I used to stay at the Ritz Paris. It was elegance personified — and SO much fun. But times have changed. The Ritz recently re-opened after a complete renovation and its current room prices reflect the vast amount of money spent on the reno. I now prefer the Hotel d’Angleterre in the 6th which leaves me with extra money to spend on other adventures in Paris. Thankfully, the Ritz still has plenty to offer, even without spending over $1000 a night for a room. I can’t speak for the rooms but, at least in the public spaces, the original decor survives, shiny and clean but otherwise undisturbed. The Ritz bar still serves excellent champagne and the Hemingway Bar still turns out his unique recipe for daiquiris. (Add Maraschino liqueur.) Before drinking however, I recommend a stroll through the corridors. You will experience luxury at every turn. At the front of the hotel, the halls are lined with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens and grand staircases; at the back, dozens of glass cases display jewelry from the famous shops of the Place Vendôme. A high end shopping mall indeed. Even the back staircases and bathrooms are elegant and, best of all, at the back entrance on the rue Danou, you can choose between the Art Deco Bar and the Hemingway Bar — each tiny, pristine, perfect.