Saint James - Paris, France

Saint James Paris is a 5-star property located about 20 minutes walking from the Arc de Triomphe, or the Place du Trocadero, depending on which direction you head in. This beautiful building dates back to 1892, when it was the home of the Thiers Foundation, a scholarly organization here in Paris which supported young students. The property began serving as a hotel almost 100 years later, in 1991 and joined the Relais & Châteaux portfolio in 2011. Just this past year in 2024, Saint James earned 3 keys from the Michelin Guide, solidifying its place on the map among the world’s premiere hotels. Throughout the 130+ years of the property’s existence, it has been meticulously cared for and maintained, while also being tastefully and unobtrusively kept up to date with modern standards and technology.

Aside from the impressive visual appeal, Saint James is also known for its robust service and amenities. Besides the hotel’s awards and accolades, the property also boasts their own restaurant, Bellefeuille which earned 1-Michelin Star in 2022 and was recognized with a Green Star this year as well. Additionally, the property features an impressive spa, Guerlain, as well as a cozy bar, the Library, and a seasonal outdoor venue located in the garden, called the Terrace, which is open during the summer. The hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites, as well as a collection of private villas and apartments for those who are serious about making this a destination.

For our 2-night stay, we booked a Superior room, which was extremely nice on its own. The layout featured a spacious room with a queen size bed, and our room overlooked the side of the property. Aside from the bed, there were a couple chairs, as well as a small desk, a wardrobe closet, and a minibar. Entering the room, you passed through a short hallway with the toilet and a sink in a room on the right, and across from it was the shower and another sink. The bathroom spaces were pretty compact, but certainly usable. This room provided peace, quiet, and darkness at night time and overall felt clean and comfortable.

This was our first trip to France, so we really did not know where to begin. Thankfully, we were able to find a fantastic selection of hotels as part of Chase’s Edit® hotel collection through their travel portal, which provided a good starting point. Wanting to “go big or go home,” we sorted by the top-rated hotels. Saint James caught our attention right away, thanks to their beautiful architecture and grounds. The property does not really resemble a contemporary tourist hotel at all, but instead has the look and feel of a luxurious estate in the French countryside. And this is despite being right in the middle of the second most populous metropolitan area in Europe.

The first morning we were there, we ordered breakfast in the room. A table was wheeled in, and the chairs were arranged on either side of it, and it all fit perfectly in the space available. We had coffee, a selection of fresh bread, and freshly squeezed orange and grapefruit juices before setting out for our morning. Simple, wholesome, and clean.

That afternoon, after quite a bit of walking around and exploring the city, we enjoyed a couple drinks, as well as some snacks in the Library. There are definitely books here, and I would not be surprised if they could be lent if requested nicely, however, they appear to be more a part of the decor than anything. The Library is one of those spaces that just feels like it’s inviting you to curl up and take a nap, it has such a cozy feel, especially on a gloomy fall or winter day. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this space.

The following morning, I went down to breakfast myself in the main dining room. There were several others starting their day here, some overnight guests, some not. For this meal, I repeated my coffee, bread, and orange juice selection from the previous day, but also added scrambled eggs and bacon, as well as some seasonal fresh fruit. Needless to say, it was a pleasant breakfast, coming from Bellefeuille’s michelin-starred kitchen. Again, done simply but done well.

Overall, the experience here was terrific and we plan to be back. Everyone here was friendly and accommodating, from the valets to the concierge and all in between. Always professional and courteous, yet personable, which is definitely a skill, and exactly what you want in this industry. Given this, as well as the experience throughout our stay, It is no surprise that this is one of France’s premiere hotels, which has definitely earned its recognition. If you are visiting Paris and want to be close, without being among the crowds, this is definitely a hotel to consider for your stay.