Hotel Saint James Paris

The delightfully eccentric Saint James is unique in Paris: a hotel that resembles a small château set at the end of an (albeit short) drive. In a smart western suburb, near the Bois de Boulogne, the St James is part hotel and part gentleman’s club, where you can dine surrounded by heavy painted portraits, or in the towering, wood-panelled library.

A tasteful revamp has seen the magnificent staircase and rooms decked with tartans and chinoiseries, perfect for playing out country house fantasies. There’s a North-African-influenced cellar spa for post-sightseeing pampering, and friendly, polished service.