Regal retreats
3 stylish stays in Paris and Britain to book this season
PARIS
Longing for a taste of old Paris? Stay at Le Meurice (from $820; DorchesterCollection.com). Since opening in 1815, the opulent hotel has hosted the crème de la crème of society — from royalty like King George VI to rappers like Jay Z. And, earlier this year, the grande dame received a $2 million facelift courtesy of famed French designer Philippe Starck. Its Le Dali restaurant on the main floor, which pays homage to Salvador Dalí, has been updated with pink copper light fixtures, white marble tables and a new ceiling that features drawings by Stark’s daughter, Ara. Meanwhile, the 160 rooms have retained their Versailles-like aesthetic — rooms are decked out with Old World molded wall paneling and 19th-century furniture, along with lush marble baths fit for royalty. — Christian Gollayan
THE COTSWOLDS, ENGLAND
It’s the food that stands out at Lygon Arms, a newly renovated coaching inn that dates back to the 1300s (from $320, LygonArmsHotel.co.uk). Some 100 miles northwest of London — in the Cotswolds, the bucolic weekend destination of choice for the capital’s elite — the hotel serves up seasonal menus and local produce. A bar and grill and a separate wine bar opened at the end of the summer. Bites at the latter include Mediterranean-inspired tapas (think spicy sausage arancini), while the grill offers plenty of fish and pasta dishes — including portobello mushroom lasagna and duck terrine. Another reason to go? The Lygon Arms has hosted glamorous guests: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton escaped here in 1963, at the peak of the scandal surrounding their love affair. It’s no wonder why: Centuries-old stone fireplaces, rich wood paneling and beamed ceilings from the 1600s, alongside sumptuous velvet couches, offer an intimate backdrop for a romantic weekend and an overall luxurious experience. A spiffedup spa features a gorgeous indoor plunge pool. It’s a two-hour train journey from London’s Paddington to the nearby town of Evesham, which is a 15-minute drive from the hotel (from $52 for a one-way ticket). — Heather Hauswirth
LONDON
The Ritz is the Union Jack of hotels (from $428; TheRitzLondon.com). The classic establishment in the West End is so quintessentially British that the final scene of “Downton Abbey” was filmed in its restaurant. The 111 rooms and 23 suites are lavish: Think chandeliers, settees and vanities. The shimmering detail on many of the walls is actual 24-karat gold leaf, maintained by a gilder who’s worked at the hotel for a quarter-century. At 111 years old, the Ritz has played host and home to some of the world’s most notable celebs, politicians and royalty: Prince Charles, Charlie Chaplin and the Rolling Stones among them. (Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died in the hotel in 2013.) The Ritz Restaurant is perfect for a filling English breakfast or Michelin-starred Beef Wellington. The hotel lives up to its recently bestowed “royal warrant”: Descending the hotel’s staircase into the red-carpeted lobby is a positively princely experience. The Ritz still enforces a dress code — men must wear a jacket and tie in the restaurants and stay “smart casual” everywhere else. (Though it adds to the elegance, it can also heighten stress levels.) Best for a special occasion or a fat expense account, the Ritz brags a century of splendid service, extravagant atmosphere and delicious excess. After all, this is the origin of the word “ritzy.” — Johnny Oleksinski The authors were guests of the hotels.