48 Hours in Paris at Kimpton St Honoré: A Right Bank Reset Before Cannes

Room interior. Interior detail.

Kimpton St Honoré occupies a beautifully restored Art Nouveau building on Boulevard des Capucines, right at the intersection of the Opéra and Vendôme districts—the part of Paris that reads as Midtown Manhattan for anyone who knows New York. Interior architect Charles Zana designed each of the 149 rooms and 26 suites to feel like a private Parisian flat, complete with two gorgeous interior staircases. The renovation offers real square footage (rare in Paris), balconies on 30 of the rooms overlooking Boulevard des Capucines and the Opéra Garnier, custom comfy furniture in dusty rose and peacock blue, and a modern Deco design language that never tips into fussiness. I'll request an Essential Room with an Opéra view for you—it's pretty special (and incredibly soundproof).

Interior detail, balcony view.

Interior detail, bathroom.

The property's standout amenities are what earned it a lasting place in my recommendations. Sequoia, the on-site rooftop bar, is honestly the best I've encountered in Paris—an Art Deco winter garden with unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower and Opéra Garnier, marble tabletops, and lush greenery on every side. It's open for lunch by reservation and switches to a walk-in bar menu from 3 p.m. to midnight (weather permitting—the rooftop is open-air). My final night in Paris ended with a quiet glass of wine there, watching the city celebrate Fête de la Musique under the solstice moon. Below ground level, there's a proper indoor pool at the Codage Spa with a sauna, steam room, and fitness room; a legitimate spa treatment menu; breakfast included on most rate types at the on-site restaurant downstairs; and turndown service done properly. The hotel is genuinely pet- and child-friendly—not "we tolerate dogs," but a real welcome.

For a first 48 hours in this part of Paris, my recommended flow: begin at the Musée de l'Orangerie right at opening, an eight-minute walk through the Tuileries from the hotel. Sit in the Water Lilies oval rooms for as long as you need, then explore the Walter-Guillaume Collection downstairs. From there, wind through the 2nd arrondissement toward Boulevard Haussmann and Printemps for a shopping loop. If perfume is a personal ritual, Nose is my favorite guided fragrance experience in the city—fun to book ahead, but not necessary.

Musée de l'Orangerie, Water Lilies oval room—where every Paris trip should begin.

Nose: perfume shopping on the Right Bank.

For lunch, cross Rue Saint-Honoré to Bar Vendôme at the Ritz and sit in the interior courtyard if the weather allows. Yes, it's the Ritz; no, you don't need to be a guest to eat there. A cultural anchor after lunch: the immersive audio tour at the Hôtel de la Marine on Place de la Concorde, which drifts you through the 18th-century state apartments as they were once lived in—90 minutes, quietly powerful, and different from anything else in the city for €17. In the afternoon, cross the river to Le Bon Marché for slower shopping, and stop at La Grande Épicerie next door for something to bring home.

Lunch at Bar Vendôme at the Ritz Paris.

The Hôtel de la Marine, one of the most quietly powerful audio tours in Paris.

Kimpton St Honoré is one of Fora's most-booked mid-range Paris properties, and I now understand why. It's a genuine recommendation for first-time Paris travelers who want a central and walkable base; for families who need real square footage and a warm, kid-friendly welcome; for dog travelers who don't want to compromise on tier; and for anyone who wants an honest four-star luxury experience at a fair price point on the Right Bank. My Left Bank clients will still hear my Left Bank recommendations. But for a quick weekend before Cannes Lions—with a warm arrival, a serious rooftop, breakfast included, and a proper refresh at the end of a long travel day—Kimpton St Honoré earned every hour.

• Landing early? Ask the front desk for spa access before your room is ready. You can use the pool, sauna, steam room, and fitness center as soon as you arrive. I landed at 7 a.m. and my room wasn't ready until 2 p.m.—the pool refresh made the difference between a foggy travel day and a proper Paris arrival. Breakfast is available in the restaurant and is included in most rates.

• Musée de l'Orangerie has an on-site playroom for children that many families miss. If you're traveling with kids, ask about it at admission—it's a small gift when you need one.

• The Printemps flagship on Boulevard Haussmann offers a welcome discount to first-time international shoppers on top of the standard VAT refund. Ask at the ground-floor guest services desk when you arrive—real money on any real purchase.

• Sequoia rooftop bar is worth a stop even if you're not staying at the hotel. The walk-in bar menu runs from 3 p.m. to midnight. Note that the rooftop closes on rainy days.

• Bar Vendôme at the Ritz Paris is technically walk-in, but reservations are strongly recommended, especially on Sundays. The interior courtyard is the seat to request.

• For Paris dining more broadly, my rule for a short trip is simple: choose anywhere with a small menu and mostly local-looking folks at the tables. Both signals point to the same thing—a place that knows what it is, run by people who care. Skip whatever the algorithm keeps pushing to the top of your feed.

• Getting south to Cannes, Nice, Antibes, or Monaco? Take the TGV from Gare de Lyon, not the plane. Direct in 5.5–6.5 hours, significantly lighter security, no rechecking luggage, and no anxious 90-minute buffer. As long as you're not connecting from a Eurostar (which requires check-in security and arriving early), it's the most restful travel day option south from Paris.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Paris page.