16 rue de Berri, Paris, France | 33 1 43 59 93 00
Classic, upscale hotel with Art Deco touches
Located in walking distance to the Champs-Elysees
Traditional rooms offer homey furniture, flat-screen TVs, and minibars
Classic suites with living rooms and, in some, balconies
Stylish restaurant and glass conservatory, a courtyard, and fireplace bar
Gym with cardio equipment, free weights, and a bathroom
Seven meeting rooms for up to 120 people
Business corner offers two PC computers and a printer
Valet parking (for a fee)
Concierge services available at the front desk
Pet-friendly rooms (for a fee)
Free low-speed Wi-Fi throughout and breakfast (when booked online)
Fee for high-speed Wi-Fi
Some rooms have slightly worn furnishings and small bathrooms
Refundable deposit due at check-in
No airport shuttle
Breakfast gets mixed reviews
The 174-room Hotel California is an upper-mid-range property near the Champs-Elysees, and a former haunt of American journalists and celebrities. This hotel has many appealing amenities, including 24-hour room service, elegant dining, fireside cocktail service, a courtyard with a fountain, and a gym; it is well-suited to business travelers thanks to its seven meeting rooms and a business center. Classic rooms and suites offer flat-screen TVs, safes and, in some, balconies with Paris views. Guests complain, however, about dull furnishings in some rooms and slow free Wi-Fi. Another option may be the Hotel Ares Paris, with stylish rooms and free high-speed Wi-Fi.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Classic, traditional hotel near the Champs-Elysees
The Hotel California opened in 1923 across from the Herald Tribune, becoming a haven for American journalists and celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Ernest Hemingway, and Orson Welles. The six-floor hotel features a red awning over the large entrance and arched windows on the ground floor that look into the lobby with marble floors, warm-toned wooden wall panels, long luxurious drapes, and chandeliers. Three thousand paintings and lithographs are on display throughout the hotel, including the clean hallways, with neutral furnishings and background music. There are two modern elevators. However, the hotel's heyday is behind it and some furnishings feel outdated.
The Hotel California offers a mosaic-tiled courtyard, with stylish dark rattan furniture, umbrellas, and a charming fountain. The Cadre d'Or restaurant serves American breakfasts in a bright and stylish setting with artistic ceiling lights, contemporary silver and yellow chairs, and booth seating. The restaurant’s glass conservatory -- with an illuminated wine cellar -- wraps around the courtyard, with sleek stools and bar tables. The bar features a flat-screen TV, grand piano, red and white striped drapes, tufted chairs, and a lounge with oil paintings and red classic chairs. Overall the atmosphere is warm and inviting.
Location
Located two blocks from the Champs-Elysees
Located in the Eighth Arrondissement of Paris, this hotel is in walking distance to the Champs-Elysees (with high-end shopping on the nearby Avenue Montaigne), the Arc de Triomphe, the Grand Palais, and two metro stations -- the George V and Charles de Gaulle - Etoile. The Eiffel Tower is 30 minutes away by metro. It’s a 20-minute metro ride to the Louvre. La Defense, the business district, is a 30-minute ride on public transportation. The Palace of Versailles is a 40-minute car trip. It’s 40 minutes by car to the Paris Orly Airport or the Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Rooms
Traditionally furnished rooms and suites with flat-screen TVs, sitting areas, and balconies
Rooms have classic furnishings with light or dark wood furniture, wall-to-wall carpeting, and color palettes in purple, gray, or green. Rooms categories include Classic Rooms (a decent size for Paris, at 20 square meters or 215 square feet), Family Rooms (sleeping four), and massive Prestige Suites. Amenities across the board include Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, minibars, safes, kettles, and writing desks. Some rooms show slight wear, such as scuffed furniture. Sleek tiled bathrooms have hairdryers, heated towel racks, bidets (in some), and showers or shower/tub combos. Higher-tier rooms have iPod docks, bathrobes, and slippers. Windows or balconies overlook the courtyard or Berri Street. Suites have sitting areas, dining rooms, and Nespresso machines. Certain rooms allow rollaway beds and cribs.
Features
Seven meeting rooms, a business corner, and a gym
The Hotel California is a business-oriented hotel with seven on-site meeting rooms named after cities in California: San Francisco (I and II), San Diego, Santa Monica, and Pasadena (I, II and III). Rooms can fit between 10 to 120 people. Modern audiovisual equipment and free Wi-Fi are offered. There’s also an Internet corner with a printer and two PC computers. The on-site gym is furnished with parquet flooring and is arranged over two levels, offering cardio equipment, free weights, a water cooler, a few lockers, two flat-screen TVs, and a bathroom with a shower and towels.
There is a lovely mosaic-tiled courtyard with a fountain and stylish tables and chairs. Breakfast is served in the bright Cadre d'Or, which has a glass conservatory overlooking the courtyard. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but if you want upgraded speed, that will cost a fee.
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