A couple of years ago, my friend and I were feeling rather extravagant after an evening that turned from dinner into drinks, so we booked an impromptu trip to Paris. With a date in the diary and flights secured, we turned our attention to accommodation the following day. Lured by the promise of ‘views of the Eiffel Tower’, we booked a two-bed studio. Upon arrival, we scuttled past the fold-out mat masquerading as a second bed and made a beeline for the window to admire the tower in all its glory. Even from our tiny apartment, the cityscape was breathtaking.
Fast forward two years and you can imagine how impressed I was to be back in Paris, gazing at that same landmark, but from a very different setting. This time, each morning I opened the curtains at the grand Shangri-La Paris hotel to find the Eiffel Tower seemingly sitting in the back garden. It felt like a full-circle moment. Having welcomed royalty, dignitaries and celebrities alike, this home away from home for the world’s elite made me feel like a royal myself.
Better still, I wasn’t simply checking into one Shangri-La. The hotel group’s dual-city escape deal means you can experience both its landmark properties in Paris and London in one luxury weekend for up to 20% less than if you were to book them separately. Guests can begin in either city and enjoy at least one night in a luxury room or suite, signature dining experiences in both of the hotel’s restaurants, plus VIP experiences in each city. Also included in the deal are private station transfers to the Eurostar, which will deliver you from door to door in just over two hours. In one weekend, you can seamlessly experience two of Europe’s most iconic cities in one indulgent trip.
Below are the standout details from both capitals and the activities I’d recommend for a unforgettably lavish weekend.
First, let’s take it back to where it all began, experiencing the place I call home – London – from a very different perspective.
LondonSkyline dining
A loose definition of ‘Shangri-La’ is an earthly paradise, a hidden sanctuary tucked away from the rest of the world. It certainly feels this way at the London outpost, as it’s housed in the tallest building in the UK, The Shard. Occupying the upper floors, every room frames London like a living postcard.
You’ll be dining with a view too, as the hotel’s GŎNG bar and restaurant is located on the 52nd floor. The ‘Icons of Asia’ cocktails are unmissable, each one a tribute to an iconic story across a different continent. It seemed apt to opt for the Golden Orchard, a nod to Singapore’s ‘modern luxury and architectural ambition’. Cheers to that!
When it comes to ordering food, let the chef decide for you. The GŎNG platter is a hand-selected mix of the freshest-tasting sashimi and sushi. I definitely didn’t try to sneak an extra piece of California roll when my companions weren’t looking…
What to do
You can choose from three VIP experiences in London. If you’re a history buff, you can make your way around the ancient walls of the Tower of London and take a glance at the Crown Jewels. Or you can fast-forward a thousand years or so and take inspiration from one of the exhibitions at the Tate Modern, an institution of modern art, currently showing the interesting and colourful life of Tracey Emin. If theatre’s more your thing, then the guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe is not to be missed.
Bon voyage!
I’d never travelled via the Eurostar before this trip and it was everything that everyone had raved about: incredibly easy and far more fuss-free than flying.
The journey between the two hotels didn’t feel like travelling at all, but rather an extension of the Shangri-La experience. The calm of the luxe Premier lounges felt a world away from stressful airport check-ins. Not once did I feel that familiar baggage allowance anxiety or wonder whether you do or don’t need to separate liquids any more. Instead, I sat down in a comfortable seat with a coffee, pastry and complimentary magazine to hand – Good Housekeeping, naturally – with bottomless refreshments and snacks readily available.
But I made sure to save enough space for the onboard complimentary meal from a menu curated by Michelin-starred chefs, which completely changed my preconceptions about train food.
Thanks to the restaurant-calibre meals and seats with extra legroom, I’d comfortably swapped the mesmerising London skyline for a brighter, sophisticated Paris.
Paris A palace fit for royalty
Once the residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte, the Shangri-La Paris still exudes the grandeur of a Parisian palace, with opulent interiors that feel timeless. The extra-large king-sized bed was, without question, the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in and the plush bathrobes, marble bathrooms and other thoughtful touches made it a haven to return to after a day spent wandering the streets.
But the piéce de résistance was, of course, the view. Throwing open the curtains and the tall French windows each morning revealed La Tour Eiffel.
As I’d previously learned, it’s easy for any hotel to lean on its view of the Tower, but I can safely say that the interiors of the Shangri-La Paris took my breath away just as much (if not more) than the view itself.
Bon appétit
Though Paris certainly isn’t short on enticing restaurants spanning every type of cuisine, it would be a shame not to dine at at the hotel’s Shang Palace. This is far from your typical hotel offering – the haute cuisine Chinese restaurant has a Michelin star, and one bite of the crêpes de riz rouge is enough to leave you speechless. Even the lettuce tasted unlike anything I’d tried before.
While you can have breakfast in the restaurant, if you don’t fancy leaving your room (or your pyjamas), you’ll be pleased to know that room service is included in the dual-city escape. The pâtissier creates the most delicate, delicious raspberry croissants, but even the classic butter ones are a dream. Just make sure you bring your appetite!
Elsewhere in the city, it’s worth paying a visit to Le Grand Café for a glamorous, quintessentially Parisian dining experience. There’s every type of seafood you could wish for – with optional caviar, of course. If you’re after something lighter to break up the richness of French cuisine, the tuna belly potato salad is a wonderfully fresh choice. And a dirty martini – just the one! – is strongly encouraged. Don’t overlook the neighbourhood boulangeries either – sometimes all you need is a coffee and buttery croissant, and it’ll only cost a few euros.
What to do
There’s plenty to do at the Shangri-La, whether it’s admiring the artwork on the walls, ordering bespoke cocktails or booking in for a relaxing spa ritual. But if you can bear to tear yourself away from this peaceful haven, you have the option to secure VIP tickets for either the La Galerie Dior or the FoundationLouis Vuitton.
I’d recommend visiting the Dior exhibition, where you can take inspiration from the humble yet fascinating beginnings of fashion mogul Christian Dior himself and get up close to gowns worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana. The gift shop is a must if your goal is to take home something in a Dior bag (even if it’s just a postcard).
On that note, with Paris being one of the fashion capitals of the world, venturing into one of the shopping districts wouldn’t go amiss. The Champs-Élysées is synonymous with luxury, but if that’s more of a window shopping experience for you, head to Le Marais instead. The district is packed with independent boutiques and vintage shops brimming with preloved designer pieces – a thrifter’s paradise.
How to book
It’s not often you come across a luxury break that spans two major cities, with every detail thoughtfully taken care of. One day I was sipping cocktails high above London’s neverending skyline; the next, I was waking up to uninterrupted views of the Eiffel Tower. Even the journey between the two felt like an extension of the experience, making it feel less like visiting two cities and more like experiencing two sides of the same lavish experience.
Double Deluxe rooms at the Shangri-La Paris start from €2,400 per night. The ‘London and Paris with Shangri-La’ dual escape starts from £3,285. Eurostar offers direct services from London to Paris, with return fares varying depending on when you book. You can now book the Eurostar through Trainline, too.