Hotel Napoléon Paris

In 1923, the architect Henri Porteau built a home in what was once the private hotel of Count Tolstoi. In 1928, the Napoleon Bonaparte opened as a swanky hotel that hosted guests, including Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Salvador Dalí, Orson Welles, Miles Davis, Josephine Baker, and Ella Fitzgerald. Actor Errol Flynn nicknamed the hotel “The Place.” Today, the stately building is lined with manicured potted plants, and flags hang outside.

Still owned by the Kliaguine family, the hotel has accumulated furniture, art, and decor over many generations from guests and friends -- these gifts lend the hotel character and historic class. The vibe is refined and old-school. The art-filled lobby and bar are beautifully decorated in an elegant, classic style with many cozy seating areas. From the terrace, the view of the Arc de Triomphe is spectacular.

Located on the chic Avenue Friedland, the Hotel Napoleon is a short walk to the Arc de Triomphe, the Charles de Gaulle-Etoile metro station, and the Champs Elysées, in one of Paris’ most famous neighborhoods. There's several restaurants, ranging from the Michelin-starred to lovely cafes and brasseries. Charles de Gaulle-Etoile metro station connects to three other metro lines, and the RER that serves suburban Paris

Rooms are decorated in a lavishly classic Empire-inspired style, with draped canopy headboards and luxurious bed linens. Some bathrooms are small, but all have marble and glass appointments, and l'Occitaine toiletries. Fresh window boxes of geraniums outside each room window and plush robes are nice touches, too. Traffic noise can be heard in the rooms facing the streets, so guests seeking quiet should request courtyard rooms. Suites have sitting areas and sofa beds, and the Imperial Suite also has a dining area, at least two bathrooms, a business corner, and is large enough for small meetings. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and minibars.

The hotel has its own mobile app, with advice and information about visiting Paris, and iPads are on display in the lobby for guests' use. The fitness center is small and basic but pleasant, offering lovely views from the seventh floor elliptical machines. Function and meeting rooms of various sizes are available for business meetings and events. The Bivouac Café, the Hotel Napoleon's restaurant-lounge, is a gorgeous space, serving classic but inventive cuisine, and a special cocktail menu.