Le Bristol Paris

The Bristol's cat, Fa-Raon, has his own Instagram following and patrols the lobby with the entitled air of a guest who has never been presented with a bill. It's that kind of hotel — supremely elegant but with a streak of warmth that the more austere palaces sometimes lack. Opened in 1925 on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, next door to the Élysée Palace, the Bristol became the de facto embassy hotel and has hosted more heads of state than most countries' foreign ministries. 190 rooms, the three-Michelin-starred Epicure restaurant (where Eric Fréchon's truffle macaroni has achieved something close to cult status), a rooftop pool overlooking the Paris skyline, and a 1,300-square-metre French garden.