Hotel Francois 1er

After the Paris Marathon 2026, we stopped at Hôtel François 1er for celebratory drinks while meeting a friend who was staying there. He'd cycled over from London, and it felt like a nice place to unwind after such a big day. The decor is beautiful and quite regal. The reading room, breakfast area, and bar all look carefully put together, and the little hidden doorways and passages were a hit with our children. Everything was clean and well maintained, with furniture and finishes in great condition. It felt accessible and suitable for families, and payment by cash or card was easy. We enjoyed the drinks, especially the beer and champagne, which suited the occasion. The children liked the apricot juice, and the white beer was good too. It's expensive, but the quality seemed in line with what you'd expect from a hotel like this. The service was polite and professional, though a bit slow. We waited to be shown to a table, and sometimes the bar was unattended, so ordering took longer. Once we were served, everything went well. The lovely space could use a little more atmosphere, perhaps some background music or a pianist. Even with the slower service and quieter feel, we'd come back for drinks, especially for a special occasion.

I've been back to this hotel many times, and the service has been consistently good on every visit. The location is wonderful, less than five minutes on foot from George V metro station and right by Avenue des Champs-Elysées and Avenue George V. The rooms are clean and comfortable, with soft slippers and L'Occitane toiletries. I love the interior design, especially the breakfast room and foyer, and the staff are courteous and helpful. Breakfast is among the best continental breakfasts I've had: fresh coffee and baked goods at each table, plus a good selection of quality French produce. I always feel a bit nostalgic when I leave and look forward to coming back.

The breakfast was great, and many thanks to Tan and Beatrice for making the service so warm each morning. The room was comfortable and the street fairly quiet, even though it was very close to Champs elysees.

The breakfast area and service were very good, and the day and night front desk staff were welcoming. The room was small, about 26cm, but manageable, and the bathroom was clean and fully equipped. My good impression took a hit on October 9, though. At checkout at 5:00 am, the early morning attendant was unfriendly and refused to give me a small complimentary bottle of water. That behavior overshadowed all the positive experiences at the hotel.