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Oct 31, 2024

14 Family-Friendly Paris Hotels That Set a New Bar for Kid-Focused Amenities | Condé Nast Traveler

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All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Paris, The City of Light, is known for romantic rendezvous, gastronomic wonders, and stylish boutiques. But family hotels? Not so much. The French capital is notorious for being almost anti-kids—just ask any beleaguered parent who’s tried to navigate the Metro system with a stroller, or dared to request a high chair in a brasserie. The consensus seems to be that Paris simply isn’t geared towards little ones. And yet, some of the best hotels in Paris have sought to change that by offering clever packages and perks that will enchant kids and grown-ups alike.

From chic kids’ clubs and Olympic-sized swimming pools to treasure hunts and cooking classes, here are the best family hotels in Paris.

Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Avenue Montaigne

There are few addresses in Paris more fashionable than the Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Located on the impossibly chic Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement, this is the hotel of choice for tout le monde when fashion week descends on the City of Light, and you can expect to see glossy magazine editors and A-listers rubbing shoulders in the lobby or the newly-revamped Dior spa. All that might make you think this isn’t the sort of place you could bring your sticky-fingered sprogs—but you’d be wrong. The hotel is more than happy to welcome little ones, who’ll be delighted with the kid-centric amenities left in their room, from miniature toweled bathrobes and matching slippers to a teddy bear in the Plaza’s iconic shade of red. Winter is a particularly magical time to come when the hotel’s famous courtyard is lit with thousands of twinkling lights and covered over with an ice-skating rink, open for free to the hotel’s youngest guests every afternoon. Ask for a room on one of the higher floors for breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower, just across the Seine. —Luciana Bellini

11th arrondissement

An elegant home-from-home in the lively 11th arrondissement, Maison Bréguet is tucked away down an unassuming road, and is one of the only boutique hotels in the city with its own pool, as well as a hammam, subterranean sauna, and steam room complete with disco ball. Though the spa facilities are perhaps not as surprising as a minimalist design hotel welcoming families with such open arms. Those with babes-in-arms and younger children will love the extraordinary quietness of the high floors during nap times, and the use of complementary strollers while out and about, while those with older children are well-catered for with interconnecting rooms. Baby monitors, changing mats, babysitting services, and cots are also all happily provided by the staff, meaning nipping out for a nighttime tipple alone or enjoying an unhurried le souper on the restaurant terrace. And when they say family-friendly, they mean the entire family, as pets are welcome too—with dog beds, bowls, and food all available so you needn’t worry about all the extra packing. —Anya Meyerowitz

1st arrondissement

A luxurious ménage of quintessential Parisian views (thanks to its prime location on the Left Bank of the Seine, just steps from The Louvre), indulgent facilities—including a curved infinity pool, as well as an intricate marble hammam—and a family-friendly attitude at its heart, the Cheval Blanc is the ideal address for young globetrotters and their discerning parents. Though the City of Light awaits outside, inside, beyond the refined chaise longues of the lobby, another discovery is to be made: Le Carrousel, an enchanted kingdom for play, dreamt up by sailor Maud Fontenoy, especially for the Maison’s youngest guests. Le Carrousel sets the stage for children to uncover the wonders of nature, and for budding explorers to set off on authentic Parisian adventures, all under the watchful eye of dedicated Ambassadeurs. Outside of this indoor playground, all manner of other family-orientated activities can be arranged, from treasure hunts to guided tours and workshops. And to remember it all? Cheval Blanc Paris has partnered with none other than Maison Christian Dior to design a charming collection of elegant baby bedding and gifts, especially for the hotel’s littlest guests. —Anya Meyerowitz

Champs Élysées

The founders of Touriste Hotel—the group behind this property—both have children, so families are a natural consideration at their boutique properties. At Hôtel de la Boétie, cots and highchairs are available and triple rooms are recommended for anyone traveling with children. Each private and communal space is filled with artsy, creative interior details that will add to the fun of a room share and the excitement of staying somewhere new; think bright, graphic bathroom tiles, pink bedsheets, and frilly gingham cushions—a combination that’s visually pleasing whatever your age. One thing to note: the elevator is micro-sized and far from stroller-friendly, but the staff is accommodating and there’s space to store it downstairs. —Sarah Leigh Bannerman

Champs Elysées

Situated in the chic 8th arrondissement—just around the corner from the Champs Elysées—a visit to Le Bristol is always a sophisticated affair, and their offering for tiny guests is no exception. Its status as one of the best family hotels in Paris has been boosted thanks to one of the world’s smartest kids’ clubs, created in partnership with luxury French children’s brand Bonpoint. Little ones will be only too happy to spend a few hours here scrawling on the chalkboard walls and lounging in the teepees, while you pop out for a spot of shopping or to check out the latest exhibition at the Louvre. There’s even a specially tailored kids’ spa experience on offer, which includes a 55-minute massage to help them unwind after a hard day’s playing. Book up the family package and you’ll be greeted by a Hippolyte the rabbit soft toy—named after the hotel’s founder, Hippolyte Jammet—as well as cat-shaped cookies (a nod to the hotel’s famous resident feline, Socrate), a mini bathrobe, and a book that includes activities and suggestions for fun-filled walking tours around the city.

Champs Élysées

Trust the Four Seasons to pull out all the stops when it comes to their kids’ package, which at their Paris property is sweetly called Precious Little Moments. Book it and your little ones will be treated to a fully personalized room, designed depending on their age. For example, the tiniest guests can expect a cot made up with Tartine et Chocolat bed linen in the hotel’s signature shades of pearl grey and white, which has been specifically designed for a restful night’s sleep. A soft toy of the hotel’s mascot, Little George, is on hand for cuddles and the package also includes a family afternoon tea that comes with a cup of their iconic hot chocolate—which is widely hailed as the best in town. Babysitting is on hand with 24-hour notice, and kids are also welcomed in the hotel’s elegant roster of restaurants.

Champs Élysées

With its grand stone pillars and imposing façade, at first glance, this sumptuous Rosewood hotel might not seem like somewhere that would welcome children—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Little Rosebuds (as they’re affectionately known) are thoroughly spoiled here, with a plethora of personal touches. Rooms are turned into miniature kids’ wonderlands, complete with animal-shaped balloons and toys. Every tiny guest is given their own Bernie the elephant stuffed toy (the hotel’s mascot), and you’ll find matching Brai pajamas for the whole family to wear. Older kids are well catered for too, with in-room video games and an interactive Paris-themed book that comes with a Polaroid camera, and there’s a great kids’ menu guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. All the amenities you may need are on hand, from bespoke bath products and diapers to highchairs and bottle warmers. Its central location on Place de la Concorde means that the delights of the Jardin des Tuileries, with its seasonal fun fair, are only a short hop and a skip away.

Gare du Nord

What could be easier as you disembark the Eurostar—juggling multiple kids and items of luggage—than stumbling across the road and checking into this design-forward hotel? Children will adore the quirky aesthetic at this stylish city property, which draws on the diverse local community in the lesser-known 10th arrondissement. There’s plenty to explore in the whimsical lobby-cum-shop, done up to look like newsagents, while the rooms themselves (the larger of which are delightfully spacious by Paris standards and have plenty of space for a cot or extra bed) are a riot of color. Each room comes with a cuddly mascot, Super Filou, and on Sundays, the hotel restaurant, Neni, hosts a special brunch with a dedicated area set up for kids, complete with a ball pit, miniature kitchen, coloring books, and board games galore. Little ones will be happy doodling or rifling through the toy box, while parents can enjoy their croissants in peace.

Place Vendôme

Anyone who’s visited the Ritz in Paris is likely familiar with the hotel’s mascot—the Bellboy Teddy Bear—which is dressed in the Ritz’s distinctive royal blue. During the festive period, a giant, lit-up version of the bear sits pride of place outside the hotel on Place de Vendôme, popping up in many a holiday Instagram snaps. Naturally, little guests can expect this friendly face to make an appearance during their stay (you can pick one up to take home from the hotel’s eponymous boutique in the arcade), along with marshmallow teddies and biscuits as part of the in-room welcome. Adults and children alike will be enchanted by the azure-tiled pool in the subterranean Ritz Club, where kids’ swimming lessons can be booked. The on-site École Ritz Escoffier offers special cooking classes for little ones, where they can learn to make some of the hotel’s signature dishes for themselves.

Tuileries Garden

There are plenty of stylish touches for kids at this Parisian grande dame of a hotel, starting with the fact that the hotel’s high chairs are designed by none other than Philippe Starck. You’ll find the designer's touch throughout the property, including in the whimsical Le Dali restaurant, where the ceiling is painted with ethereal clouds—Salvador Dali used to spend a month at the hotel every year. Taking a leaf out of the surrealist artist’s book, the emphasis here is firmly on the fun—the staff will set up treasure hunts around the hotel with their in-house mascot, Pistache, on rainy days, and when the sun shines you can pack the kids off to the Jardin des Tuileries across the road. There, the hotel can organize carousel rides and custom-made toy wooden boats to sail on the boat pond. And when the grown-ups want to treat themselves to a night in the hotel’s Versailles-esque restaurant, helmed by three Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, the concierge will hook you up with one of the city’s finest babysitters.

Saint Ouen

Billed as Paris’s original lifestyle hotel—and the brainchild of entrepreneur Cyril Aouizerate, co-founder of the popular Mama Shelter group—there’s lots to appeal to younger guests at this quirky spot right by the city’s legendary flea market, Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. In the charming courtyard garden, you’ll find ping-pong tables and plenty of space for kids to run around and blow off steam, while films are screened on the giant projector after dark. The design-led rooms are delightfully spacious and filled with curious knick-knacks, from Chinese shadow puppets to musical instruments. Every month there’s a different kids’ workshop on offer, where little ones can get crafty with cardboard and papier maché, and they go all out for events like Halloween, with face painting, games, and sweet hunts. What’s more, kids under six eat free in the restaurant, and there’s a daily gouter bio for children held in the lobby between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., where little ones are treated to an organic snack and a hot drink.

Arc de Triomphe

This Belle Epoque offering right by the Arc de Triomphe has all sorts of inventive ways to keep kids entertained, which come courtesy of its Peninsula Kids’ Academy. Budding chefs with a sweet tooth won’t be able to get enough of the Kids’ Candy Wonderland experience in the hotel’s kitchen, while sports buffs will love the Dream Team excursion, where they get the chance to go behind the scenes at Paris Saint-Germain soccer club. There are also treasure hunts in the Louvre and French lessons on offer, for those more culturally inclined. Kids are more than welcome to splash around in the indoor pool at the hotel’s spa—one of the largest in the capital—and there are children’s menus in all the restaurants. Don't miss the special kids’ brunch held every Sunday with French brand Tartine et Chocolat, where little ones can dig into some crafts and storytelling sessions.

16th arrondissement

This striking Art Deco gem—once a summer destination for stylish Parisians in its former life as the Piscine Molitor—is sure to set kids’ imaginations alight with its retro layout and bright color scheme. Situated on the western edge of Paris in the 16th arrondissement, tiny sports fans will delight in the fact that the Roland Garros stadium is right next door, while the grand park Bois de Boulogne is less than a five-minute walk away. All of the rooms are spacious by Parisian standards, and families can request connecting rooms, cots, or an extra bed, while there are kids’ menus on offer in each of the hotel’s restaurants. But the main draw here is the two spectacular swimming pools, with each room offering splendid views over them. Kids can drop by for an impromptu splash or book into one of the Aqua Kids classes, before checking in for a spa session and a fruity-scented kids’ massage.

Place du Trocadéro

Shangri-La is one of the most family-friendly hotel brands around, often partnering with charities like Make-A-Wish on fun initiatives for kids. At their Paris property—which was once home to Prince Roland Bonaparte and sits just across from the Eiffel Tower—the smallest of guests are brilliantly looked after by Bamboo the panda, the hotel’s mischievous mascot. At check-in, little ones are presented with their very own passport, which they can use to travel around the hotel and collect stamps at each checkpoint (at the Shang Palace restaurant or the spa, for example). In their room, they’ll discover a mountain of Bamboo-themed gifts, including a cotton backpack, a tiny umbrella for rainy days, a coloring book, slippers, and a panda-shaped cookie, as well as their own mini Bamboo stuffed toy to accompany them on their adventures around the city. He even makes an appearance in the restaurant, where kids can tuck into dishes using their very own panda chopsticks.

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller.

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