Ritz Paris

César Ritz, the "king of hoteliers," opened the Ritz Paris in 1898. It was revolutionary, the first luxury hotel with en-suite bathrooms, electricity, and telephones in every single room. Coco Chanel called it home for 34 years. In 1944, Hemingway famously "liberated" its bar. After a substantial €400 million renovation, the hotel welcomed guests again in 2016, its gilded details shining anew.

Hemingway's old haunt, this tiny bar – just 25 seats – is packed with his memorabilia. Head barman Colin Peter Field mixes what many call the world's best cocktails; try the legendary Serendipity. Expect to pay around €35 for a drink. You’ll need a reservation and smart attire just to get in.

The Ritz Paris's L'École Ritz Escoffier runs from two-hour workshops to multi-day programs. Hotel chefs lead these classes in kitchens equipped with top-tier gear. You can focus on French pastry or haute cuisine techniques. All instruction is available in English and French.

Classic rooms begin around €1,200 nightly. The Coco Chanel Suite commands €20,000 per night. For the truly extravagant, the Suite Impériale can top €30,000. Each room, from the smallest to the grandest, was painstakingly brought back to its original 18th-century glory, now featuring discreetly built-in tech—think touch-panel controls hidden behind antique moldings.

A standard room at the Ritz Paris begins around 2,000 EUR to 2,500 EUR nightly. These aren't just rooms; they're an experience, perhaps with a view of Place Vendôme. Specialty suites? They’re another league entirely, often priced from 5,000 EUR to upwards of 20,000 EUR per night. Think Coco Chanel’s former residence, complete with original furnishings. The price reflects size and exclusive details.

You don't always need a reservation at Bar Hemingway, especially earlier in the day. But I'd book ahead if you're going in the evening; that small space fills up fast. Expect to pay between 30 EUR and 40 EUR for a cocktail, like the famous Serendipity.

At the Ecole Ritz Escoffier, class lengths vary. You can pop in for a few hours or commit to several days. A single half-day session, typically 3-4 hours, runs 250 to 450 EUR, perhaps learning to perfect a classic crème brûlée. Longer courses or professional programs will set you back several thousand euros.