Born in the Belle Époque, Ritz Paris founder, César Ritz, was far from old fashioned. Although he embraced classic elegance in terms of interiors, he pushed boundaries when it came to comfort. The hotel was the first in the world to have electricity on every floor and rooms with private bathrooms. 

If these walls could talk, they’d tell outlandish tales of literary legends including Proust, who was a frequent visitor throughout his life. While on his death bed with pneumonia in 1922, he sent his chauffeur, Odilon, to fetch him a bottle of beer from the Ritz – apparently, nothing else would do. American writer Ernest Hemingway, a well-known lover of quality libations, was such an enthusiastic patron of the bar it’s still named after him; he was frequently joined over a dry martini (or several) by F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein. 

Perhaps the hotel’s most celebrated association is with Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, who moved in in 1934 and remained until her death in 1971. Although they were relatively humble suites under the eaves, she transformed 304 and 305 with lacquer screens, a palette of wheat and gold, and artworks from friends such as Jean Cocteau and Christian Bérard. It was in this tasteful haven that she conducted her controversial love affair with Nazi agent Hans Günther von Dincklage, whom she allegedly passed information to. 

Interestingly, documents recently released from the French archives also list Chanel as a member of the French resistance, with some historians claiming she hid a radio used to help Jewish families escape in her house on the Riviera. It seems the political leanings of the first lady of French fashion were less minimal than her classic style.

The Ritz Paris has been shaped by legendary bartenders like Frank Meier and Colin Peter Field, each leaving a distinct mark on the art of mixology. Austrian Frank Meier was the head bartender from 1921 to 1947, serving iconic figures like Hemingway and Chanel. During his career, he crafted over 400 cocktail recipes, which were captured in his 1936 book The Artistry of Mixing Drinks, later translated into French as L’Art du Cocktail and republished in 2024.

Colin Peter Field, born in England has been head of the Hemingway Bar since 1994 and often lauded as one of the world’s best bartenders. He is known for innovative creations like the Picasso Martini and the Serendipity, as well as for establishing a groundbreaking bartender degree in France. Together, their legacies define the Ritz as a pinnacle of cocktail culture.

Today, it continues to be a bastion of Parisian heritage with a forward-thinking outlook. Espadon, the hotel’s African-inspired fine-dining restaurant, was awarded a Michelin star in 2024 and in the same year, the hotel launched its first collection of upcycled jewellery, crafted from repurposed materials to showcase its eco credentials and set an example that luxury can go beyond mere decadence. The grand old siren of Paris shows no signs of giving up her place on the world’s hospitality stage, it would seem. 

Tempted to book a trip to this grande dame hotel? Why not book via ASMALLWORLD Collection, where in addition to staying at one of the world's best hotels, you will receive VIP benefits such as a room upgrade, hotel credit and more at no extra cost.