- Introduction: A Royal Visit To Versailles
- Review: Air France La Premiere First Class Boeing 777 (MIA-CDG)
- Review: Air France La Premiere First Class Arrivals Lounge Paris Airport (CDG)
- Review: Airelles Chateau De Versailles, Le Grand Controle (AMAZING!)
- Review: Bulgari Hotel Paris, France
- Review: Air France Business Class Airbus A220 (CDG-VIE)
- Review: Park Hyatt Vienna, Austria (World Of Hyatt Gem)
During our royal visit to Versailles, our primary destination was the incredible Airelles Chateau de Versailles. However, at the end of our trip, we also decided to spend one night at the 76-key Bulgari Paris (or BVLGARI Paris, if you prefer), which opened in late 2021.
Previously, we had stayed at Bulgari Milan, Bulgari Rome, and Bulgari Dubai, so we were also curious to check out the Paris property. Paris is arguably the world’s most competitive luxury hotel market, and I’ve made a point of trying to check out all of the city’s top properties, even if just for one night. I’ve reviewed properties like Cheval Blanc Paris, Four Seasons Paris George V, Hotel de Crillon Paris, La Reserve Paris, Le Bristol Paris, and Ritz Paris, among others.
So, how is the Bulgari Paris? Having now stayed at several Bulgari properties, I feel like I really understand the brand. It’s a remarkably consistent brand, for better or worse.
There’s a lot to like about the Bulgari Paris. Specific to this property, it has a great location. But as I’ve found to be the case with all Bulgari properties, the gym is excellent, there’s a beautiful pool and spa, and the dining options are great, including the signature Il Ristorante Niko Romito. Furthermore, if you’re into fashion, you’ll certainly appreciate the strong branding.
On the other hand, Bulgari properties don’t necessarily have a strong sense of place, with more of an emphasis on fashion than the destination. So it goes without saying that if you’re looking for an old world, historic Parisian property, then this probably isn’t the right place to book.
In this post:
Booking the Bulgari Paris
Even though Bulgari is a collaboration with Marriott, the brand unfortunately doesn’t participate in Marriott Bonvoy. That means you can’t earn or redeem points for stays at Bulgari properties, and also can’t take advantage of any Bonvoy elite benefits. It sure would be nice if that changed, just as Ritz-Carlton Reserve has joined Marriott Bonvoy.
As you’d expect, rates for luxury properties in Paris are really high, and vary throughout the year. Rates seem to start at a bit over €1,600 per night, and over some periods, start at over €2,000 per night. I’m not going to argue that any luxury hotel in Paris is a great value, but rather that’s just what hotels can get away with, given the demand.
For what it’s worth, Ford got a travel advisor rate for our one night stay (so we received a discounted rate). All opinions expressed are my own, and haven’t been reviewed by the hotel.
The best way to book a stay at any Bulgari property is through a travel advisor affiliated with the Marriott STARS program, so you can receive extra perks, like complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade subject to availability, a hotel credit, and more.
Since STARS is Marriott’s own proprietary program, these upgrades are prioritized over those through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, Virtuoso, etc.
Bulgari Paris location
The Bulgari Hotel Paris is located at 30 Avenue George V, in the 8th arrondissement, in what’s commonly referred to as the “Golden Triangle.” Paris is a sprawling city, and obviously there are varying takes on what the best location is.
Personally, I think this is a great location, as you’re walking distance to so many different areas. The hotel is also right across the street from the Four Seasons George V, and I’ve always been a fan of that property’s location. As you can see, the Bulgari has a much more modern facade than so many of Paris’ historic properties.

Bulgari Paris lobby & check-in
You can tell from the second that you arrive at the Bulgari Hotel Paris that it’s not your typical Paris luxury property. At the entrance are some gorgeous lighting fixtures, flowers, and a portrait of Monica Vitti (wearing a Bulgari necklace, as you’d expect!).


Reception is located just inside the entrance and to the left. The rest of the ground floor space is dedicated to the bar, lounge, and restaurant, so there’s plenty of space to lounge around, and I’ll talk more about that later.

Our check-in process was quick, and within minutes, we were escorted up to our room. The elevator bank is located between reception and the hotel’s food and beverage outlets.


Bulgari Paris executive suite
The Bulgari Hotel Paris goes from level minus three to level nine. We were assigned a room on the sixth floor.

Specifically, we were assigned room 601. This was an executive suite, marketed as being a generous 91 square meters (980 square feet). Even the entry level executives rooms at the property are quite spacious, at 42 square meters (452 square feet).

The room featured an entryway with a half bathroom and closet, and that then flowed into the living room.



In terms of design, this might just be my favorite Bulgari property, as I thought the suite living area was luxurious and residential. The living room had a huge “L” shaped couch, plus two chairs in the corner. I appreciated the comfort of that couch (since some hotels have furniture that looks nice but isn’t actually comfortable), though I do wish there had been a dining table, or something.



I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a room with as many books as this one had in the shelves around the TV!

The minibar was in the living room, and featured a variety of drinks and snacks for purchase, plus complimentary Nespresso coffee and tea.



There were double doors separating the bedroom from the living room. The king bed in the room was supremely comfortable, with a bunch of pillows, and a plush mattress. I also appreciated the technology around the bed, including easy to access outlets, plus controls for all the room features.



The bedroom had a desk with a chair, which was the only real table in the room.

As I mentioned earlier, the Bulgari is right across the street from the Four Seasons George V, so that’s what our room looked at. Even though the street by the hotel is pretty busy, I found the sound insulation to be excellent.

The main bathroom was off the bedroom, and was mighty impressive… with one exception. I don’t know why Bulgari properties do this, but there was a single sink, and not double sinks, which are ordinarily a standard at luxury properties, especially in suites.

Other than that, though, this bathroom was ridiculously luxe. It had a massive walk-in shower with the best water pressure I’ve possibly ever had. It was like being in a car wash for humans.


There was also a beautiful, marble soaking tub.

The toilet was in a room off the main part of the bathroom, and had a bidet-style toilet.

There was also a very nice vanity area, as you’d expect for such a fashion-focused hotel.

Toiletries were from… well, I think you can guess what brand. 😉


I also appreciated the huge selection of other products that were available, from shaving cream to a sewing kit.

There was also a lovely welcome amenity waiting for us on arrival, including some bottled water, chocolate, fruit, pastries, and a bottle of champagne. Parisian properties tend to be pretty generous with their welcome gifts.


All-in-all, I thought the suite was incredible, despite a couple of quirks. This isn’t your typical old world Parisian hotel, for better or worse. Of the Bulgari properties I’ve stayed at, I think this one might just have my favorite design.
Bulgari Paris spa & pool
The Bulgari Hotel Paris has an impressive wellness area, which occupies 1,300 square meters (14,000 square feet), across two floors (under the ground floor). I didn’t get any spa services, but the spa has nine treatment rooms, with treatments in partnership with Amala, Bellefontaine, 111 Skin, Ananné, and Augustinus Bader. You can find the full spa treatment list here.


The hotel also has a gorgeous 25-meter pool, which is open daily from 6:30AM until 10PM. It’s amazing how nice the indoor pools are at so many Parisian properties, as it has really become standard for the top hotels.




I also appreciate how Bulgari often has huge indoor hot tubs.

The wellness area goes beyond that, though, with an infrared sauna, steam room, and even an ice bath.




Bulgari Paris gym
The Bulgari Hotel Paris has a 24/7 gym, which is probably the best gym I’ve seen at any luxury property in Paris. So many of the historic properties in Paris have lackluster gyms, while this is obviously a benefit of a newly built property. The gym had a huge selection of equipment, for both cardio and strength training.








Bulgari Paris restaurant, lounge, and bar
The Bulgari brand is consistent when it comes to its food and beverage outlets at various locations. That’s great, in the sense that every property has the same excellent signature restaurant, so you know what to expect. But it’s not so great in terms of variety between properties, if you want to experience something new.
The Bulgari Paris has three food & beverage outlets, which are all located on the ground floor, next to one another.
First there’s the Bulgari Lounge, which is the all-day lobby lounge, where you can have everything from a coffee, to a cocktail, to an afternoon tea, and you can find the menu here. This is a cozy and comfortable space.






Then there’s the Bulgari Bar, which for all practical purposes overlaps with the Bulgari Lounge, since they’re right next to one another, and all the food and drinks come from the same place. You can find the menu here. While the seating is great, the bar sure is… bright.




Lastly, the hotel as Il Ristorante Niko Romito, the signature restaurant at all Bulgari properties. This is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can find the menu here.




The restaurant also has a terrace area, but it wasn’t in use during our winter stay.

In the evening, we had a cocktail at the Bulgari Bar. The bar has a special negroni menu, which I was happy to see, and we both enjoyed our drinks. I’ve gotta say, Bulgari properties have exceptional people watching opportunities.

In the morning, we had breakfast at the hotel, and you can find the menu below.



To drink, I had an americano and a fresh squeezed orange juice, and later on, I had a smooth cappuccino.


I ordered the American breakfast set, which included a variety of bread and pastries, fresh fruit, an omelet, and a side of avocado. Yum!


We didn’t have lunch or dinner at Il Ristorante Niko Romito this time around, but we’ve eaten at the restaurants in Dubai, Milan, and Rome, and we enjoyed our meals immensely. So the restaurant is worth visiting, it’s just that we didn’t feel like we needed a fourth visit to the restaurant, especially when we had just one night in Paris.
Bottom line
The Bulgari Hotel Paris is an excellent luxury hotel, though it’s very different than most of the other top properties in the city. The Bulgari Paris has an ideal location, fashionable design, and incredible wellness area, including an expansive gym and pool.
The thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t the place to stay if you’re looking for a historic property that gives you Parisian old world charm. I’d say this is more in the competitive set of Cheval Blanc Paris in terms of the guest who might consider staying here, rather than someone who might stay at Four Seasons George V, Hotel de Crillon, etc. There are so many great hotels in Paris, and which is best really depends on the vibe you want.
What’s your take on the Bulgari Hotel Paris?
This specific trip report series is very useful for people who want and can afford to drop $10k on 3 nights in Paris.
Obviously it's somewhat subjective, but I pretty strongly disagree with the idea that this is a good location. I guess if you're solely interested in being close to the major tourist sites near there (mainly the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower), it could be an ok location. But you're still relatively far from the center of Paris where most of the main attractions are (the Louvre, Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, the Marais,...
Obviously it's somewhat subjective, but I pretty strongly disagree with the idea that this is a good location. I guess if you're solely interested in being close to the major tourist sites near there (mainly the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower), it could be an ok location. But you're still relatively far from the center of Paris where most of the main attractions are (the Louvre, Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, the Marais, and the Latin Quarter), and the neighborhood is soulless and pretty dead.
Anyway, as a Parisian, I would never recommend someone to stay in the Golden Triangle or really anywhere close to the Champs Elysees unless they are dead set on staying in one of the ultra luxury hotels around there. Much better to stay somewhere closer to the center of the city or in a neighborhood with actual life.
I am a big fan of Bulgari and Bulgari hotels. Top class hotels in Paris are ridiculously expensive and the cheapest room - without breakfast - often costs £1500+ It is partly due to French regulations. But obviously there is a demand and lots of people are happy to pay that kind of money. On the other hand I agree most readers won't be able to afford to stay in such hotels or they can but don't want to pay let's say £10 000 for a weekend !!!
I think (and this is not a complaint, just a personal observation) that the blog is getting more and more into the stereoscopic levels of luxury, that are probably not all that relevant to that many readers. I understand that it may represent a new stage in your life as a family man, or Ford's access to properties at a heavily discounted price or anything else. I am just noticing that the relevance of the...
I think (and this is not a complaint, just a personal observation) that the blog is getting more and more into the stereoscopic levels of luxury, that are probably not all that relevant to that many readers. I understand that it may represent a new stage in your life as a family man, or Ford's access to properties at a heavily discounted price or anything else. I am just noticing that the relevance of the blog to me has really dropped recently.
Also kudus on the full disclosure part. I am wondering though how comfortable you'd be commenting on negative aspects of a property that's absorbed a big chunk of the cost///
Specifically, this hotel holds zero appeal for me. The location is very yawn - kinda where you'd go on your first day ever in Paris for a lot of landmarks and very little atmosphere. The building and decor is not at all my taste, but that's obviously a personal thing .
Paying 50EUR for continental breakfast is ludicrous, especially in Paris where the local boulangerie will sell the freshest pastries for practically nothing
@ Mike -- I respect your take and appreciate your feedback, and I'm sorry you find the blog less useful than in the past. Let me just add this...
I'm doing as many flight reviews as I've ever done in the history of the blog, and I'd like to think that's useful to the average person, since these are all reviews of airlines that anyone can redeem on.
As far as hotels go, I understand...
@ Mike -- I respect your take and appreciate your feedback, and I'm sorry you find the blog less useful than in the past. Let me just add this...
I'm doing as many flight reviews as I've ever done in the history of the blog, and I'd like to think that's useful to the average person, since these are all reviews of airlines that anyone can redeem on.
As far as hotels go, I understand there are more true luxury properties that are not bookable with points, and I understand that's not appealing to everyone.
However, I'm also reviewing lots of points hotels. During my last series, I reviewed the St. Regis Hong Kong, and during my next trip report series, I exclusively stayed at points hotels in Japan, and will be reviewing four of them.
As far as commenting on negative aspects of the hotel goes, a couple thoughts on that. First of all, the non-points hotels I review are generally ones that are very high quality, so often there aren't that many negatives. That being said, I also commented on several of the minor negatives in this review, from the property lacking a sense of place, to a single sink in a suite.
And yeah, hotel breakfast prices are crazy. But for those staying at these properties, they can at least book in a way that includes breakfast.
Ben, I too have noticed that your hotel review selections are peppered with the more than the occasional ultra luxury non points properties. I realize that many influencers/bloggers routinely promote these type of hotels, oblivious to (or, perhaps, intentionally despite) the fact that they are out of reach to mere mortals. But I suspect while many of your readers enjoy seeing reviews about aspirational properties, the unlocked value they seek is mostly for those hotels...
Ben, I too have noticed that your hotel review selections are peppered with the more than the occasional ultra luxury non points properties. I realize that many influencers/bloggers routinely promote these type of hotels, oblivious to (or, perhaps, intentionally despite) the fact that they are out of reach to mere mortals. But I suspect while many of your readers enjoy seeing reviews about aspirational properties, the unlocked value they seek is mostly for those hotels where the currency can be in points, not cash. It is easy to find and book 2,000E nightly rate hotels if you have deep pockets. What is not so apparent is how to stay at these hotels if you lack the means. I toiled away at a consulting gig for many years and had many competing demands on my resources—-spending thousands per night on a hotel was way down the list. The only upside to being away from home so much was the accumulation of points so that I could travel as a king on my personal time, but on a beer budget. That is why I have enjoyed reading your site all these years (for instance, trading 12 weeks of stays at the Marriott Des Moines for a week at the Ritz in Tokyo). For reviews of hotels that cater to the very well heeled, I can read the Rob Roy report (or the current digital equivalent).
I can see why the hotel doesn't have the exclusive "palace" rating.
You didn’t tell us whether you booked the base executive room (and got upgraded to the suite) or the suite. If the former, any chance that they actually did recognize your Ambassador status even if it’s not officially recognized with Bulgari? Or did they upgrade you because they knew Ford was a travel agent? This info is critical for the review.
yes and since for the n-time, the request to disclose the % amount of the "travel agent" discount has been completely ignored, I do find this review not realistic at all. For your reference, from my industry knowledge, these discounts can go as low as 90% and the establishment in question goes above and beyond to take care of the "guests". I know some people that paid as little as 100 USD equivalent for a...
yes and since for the n-time, the request to disclose the % amount of the "travel agent" discount has been completely ignored, I do find this review not realistic at all. For your reference, from my industry knowledge, these discounts can go as low as 90% and the establishment in question goes above and beyond to take care of the "guests". I know some people that paid as little as 100 USD equivalent for a couple in a suite for a full weekend in London, including food + wine pairing at the in-house Michelin starred restaurant. I am therefore CONVINCED that there will never be anything overly negative and I know for a FACT that these "guests" are shadowed by a PR or Marketing person of the hotel for the entire stay. Therefore, any mention of "the hotel has not checked our review" is mostly moot, because A) any problems would have been solved during the stay, B) the price, if at all, paid, would be ridiculously low and C) there is no incentive to leave a bad review.
@ Matrix.SG -- It sounds to me like you're talking about some sort of an influencer marketing stay, with mention of the meals and being shadowed by a PR person? That's not typically how travel advisor stays go...
@ Daniel M -- My information wasn't in any way on the reservation, as this was done through Ford. When a travel advisor rate is offered by a hotel, the assumption is typically that it's for a base room. Sometimes that's exactly what you get, while sometimes they offer great upgrades, depending on occupancy.
Thanks Ben. Does Ford have Marriott status, and could that have played a role in the suite upgrade? In any case, I think your readers are all curious whether Bulgari offers upgrades to elites despite not having to - for example, Ritz Millennia Singapore has given me suite upgrades numerous times despite not officially participating in Marriott Bonvoy. It’s disappointing that we don’t get a good impression of that because you used the travel advisor...
Thanks Ben. Does Ford have Marriott status, and could that have played a role in the suite upgrade? In any case, I think your readers are all curious whether Bulgari offers upgrades to elites despite not having to - for example, Ritz Millennia Singapore has given me suite upgrades numerous times despite not officially participating in Marriott Bonvoy. It’s disappointing that we don’t get a good impression of that because you used the travel advisor rate, though if using the travel advisor rate is the only reason that you reviewed the hotel, then it’s still worth it on the whole.
Good to see a luxury hotel in Paris that isn't into pretending it's in the 1930s. It will be a very cold day in hell before I pay these sorts of prices for a hotel room, but I am happy to see these places becoming more popular and attracting price-insensitive clientele away from the mainstream 4-5 star hotels that I do patronise.
To whom is this review supposed to appeal? Serious question. I’m guessing people considering a stay at a property on this level are not reading a blog like this.
@ Foster -- Obviously it won't appeal to everyone, and I get that. But I think you'd be surprised by how broad the readership of the blog (and interest in miles & points) is.
Miles & points attract all kinds of people. Some people just want to travel as inexpensively as possible (which is great), while others want to learn how to use miles & points to fly first and business class on long haul flights, so they can splurge more on hotels.
Those prices!
Scared me off.
This looks like any hotel in any city in the world. I can’t ever imagine choosing to stay there vs the George V or the Crillion or even the Park Hyatt
While one can easily look up online the cost of the executive suite, I think it would make the review more complete if you mentioned that the executive suite you stayed at cost 5500 euros per night. With that said, what a beautiful hotel. My preference would still be the Ritz or Cheval Blanc but this is a great alternative.
@ JetSetFly -- Fair point, thank you, and I'll try to do that in the future!
Is this brand truly worth paying over 1000$+
@ joe -- It's really hard to argue "value" with hotels nowadays, as it all comes down to what you're willing to pay, and how much you value an amazing experience. I mean, the Westin Paris Vendome charges $600+ per night, is a mega hotel with 440 rooms, and gets not-great reviews, but seems to be able to sustain those rates. Luxury hotel rates have changed post-pandemic, no doubt.
So what was the rate you actually paid?
That looks like a very nice hotel and very much out of my league. I do want to mention, if you like water pressure, the strongest shower water pressure I've experienced was at the Eastern And Oriental Hotel in Penang. I don't remember anything about the water pressure in any other hotel shower I've used.