Though it literally stands in the shadow of the Four Seasons George V, in the heart of the city's Golden Triangle, the Hôtel de Sers is such a class act that it is actually recommended by the folks at the Four Seasons when that hotel is fully booked. Built as the private residence of the Marquis de Sers in 1880, the hotel retains its Hausmann-era elegance in the form of a wonderful gallery of nineteenth-century oil portraits and a sweeping staircase leading to a bar with a white-marble fireplace that is an original fixture. The 52 rooms' appealingly plush and contemporary mood is set by chrome-and-oak furniture, plum and pearl-gray velvets, and limestone loos with Japanese-style sliding doors. Other top-notch touches include Ladurée pastries on the breakfast tray, Pierre Marcolini chocolates in the minibar, 24-hour room service, a superb staff, and a pleasant little gym that includes a sauna and a steam room.
When to go: Spring and fall.
Which room to book: Which room to book: Suites 75 and 81 have drop-dead views of the Eiffel Tower