| What to expect: Originally built for the director of the Paris Opera, the independently owned Hotel Balzac has a 19th-century carved stone façade with an impressive staircase entrance. The lobby is decorated with oil paintings, tall windows, and crystal chandeliers. Demanding business travelers and vacationers appreciate the discreet and professional staff, and the hotel's atmosphere of a private Parisian townhouse. Amenity highlights: The Hotel Balzac features a Tuscan-style lounge with terra-cotta-colored walls, a stone fountain, and arched doorways under a glass atrium ceiling. Guests gather here to enjoy the buffet breakfast, read the complimentary newspapers, or order refreshments from the adjoining wood-paneled bar. The hotel's professional staff provides valet parking, 24-hour room service, turndown service, and wake-up calls. Insider tip: Right next to the main entrance of this hotel (in the same building) is the prestigious three-star restaurant Pierre Gagnaire, famous for its contemporary French cuisine. The hotel's concierge can reserve places for guests well in advance. Also, for quick and healthy meals, guests go around the corner to Flora Danica on the Champs-Elysées. It serves Danish-inspired sandwiches, salads, and soups. |