Plaza Athénée — Restaurant in Paris

AVOID. CARTIER RING THEFT IN 35 MINUTES. NO FOLLOW-UP. EVIDENCE PROVIDED.

JUNE 19, 2025, AROUND 6:40 PM.

The Plaza Athénée: a palace in appearance only. Avoid.

The Plaza Athénée? A palace in appearance only. Avoid.

I am not an easily impressed client, and certainly not naive. I know very well the level of service one should expect from a palace in Paris. And I can tell you that what I experienced at the Plaza Athénée is simply unworthy of that name.

A Cartier ring stolen in their restrooms. A theft in a supposedly secure place, in a palace, in broad daylight. And the only response I received was:

“Nothing was reported to us, there is a significant flow, we cannot know.”

Excuse me? We’re talking about 35 minutes (photos as evidence). A flow? This isn’t a train station. We are talking about a private luxury hotel, where entry should be filtered, the premises monitored, guests protected.

Compare with the George V, where they ask where you are going, what you are looking for, and if someone can escort you — even to the restrooms. That’s what genuine palace service is: control, presence, traceability. There, they don’t talk about flow. They talk about seriousness.

But here? The Plaza Athénée lets anyone in and out. Passing tourists, people without reservation, strangers who want to “take photos” for their Instagram feed. You can not be a guest, enter, tour the lounge, go down to the restroom and leave. No verification. No interaction. No security.

And in case of theft? No investigation. No suspicion. No procedure. Not even an attempt to analyze. I sent them a detailed message with exact times, photos, context elements, proof. In return: a short, vague, almost automatic message. No follow-up. No engagement. Nothing.

And yet, they have access to the cameras. I have worked in luxury hospitality. I know how it works. When an incident happens, you cross-check the times, isolate the sequences, follow up. Here, nothing. Just a closing email, as if nothing happened.

And don’t think this is an isolated incident.

I was already overcharged for a tea-time I never ordered paid without discussion. Bills inflated from 40 € to 90 €, for no reason, with no correction. Staff sighing, complaining about guests behind the scenes, speaking poorly — you can hear it.

I was patient. I turned a blind eye several times. I continued to frequent this hotel. But this time, it’s about theft, and even more, a total contempt for the guest.

And here’s where it’s dangerous. Because if your Cartier ring can disappear from their restrooms and no one bats an eye, then your watch can vanish from your room, your wallet from a lounge, and nothing will be done. Staff member could even discreetly slip an item into their pocket: you would never know. And neither would they. Because there is no monitoring. That’s what they say.

So, let’s be clear:

This is not a palace. It’s a theatrical facade, without control or rigor. The Plaza Athénée is not the most prestigious hotel in Paris. Far from it.

You are given a decor. But not a structure. They want your money. But not your safety. They flatter you at the entrance. And erase you on exit.

Smart guests will go elsewhere. The true privileged know where to go. The George V, for example, or even Le Meurice, where I was once stopped by security at the time because they didn’t know who I was. And that’s very good. Because a real palace controls, anticipates, protects.

Plaza, on the other hand, opens its doors to all. It doesn’t filter, follow, or analyze. And when a theft occurs? It buries the issue. And makes you feel like it’s your problem.

Plaza Athénée: you made me lose a ring. But more importantly, you made me lose all trust. And that, you will...

Plaza Athenee is a five-star hotel located in the heart of Paris, France. It is known for its luxurious accommodations, impeccable service, and stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.

The hotel has 154 rooms and 54 suites, all of which are decorated in a classic French style. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with amenities such as marble bathrooms, king-size beds, and Nespresso machines. Some of the suites also have private balconies with views of the Eiffel Tower.

The Plaza Athenee is home to several world-class restaurants, including the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee. The hotel also has a spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.

Guests at the Plaza Athenee can expect to receive the highest level of service. The hotel's staff is attentive and knowledgeable, and they are always happy to go the extra mile to make sure that guests have a memorable stay.

Here is a more detailed review of the Plaza Athenee, in 200 words:

Accommodations

The Plaza Athenee's rooms and suites are among the most luxurious in Paris. They are decorated in a classic French style, with elegant furniture, rich fabrics, and marble bathrooms. All of the rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with amenities such as king-size beds, Nespresso machines, and flat-screen TVs. Some of the suites also have private balconies with views of the Eiffel Tower.

Service

The service at the Plaza Athenee is impeccable. The hotel's staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and always happy to go the extra mile to make sure that guests have a memorable stay. From the moment guests arrive, they are greeted by the hotel's concierge, who is available to assist with everything from booking restaurant reservations to arranging transportation. The hotel's other staff members are also extremely helpful and friendly.

Food and Drink

The Plaza Athenee is home to several world-class restaurants, including the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee. The hotel also has a brasserie, a bar, and a tearoom. The food at all of the hotel's restaurants is excellent, and the wine list is extensive.

Amenities

The Plaza Athenee has a variety of amenities, including a spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. The spa offers a wide range of treatments, including massages, facials, and body wraps. The fitness center is well-equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The swimming pool is located on the hotel's rooftop terrace, and it offers stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.

Overall

The Plaza Athenee is a world-class hotel that offers guests the ultimate in luxury and service. The hotel's rooms and suites are among the most luxurious in Paris, and the service is impeccable. The hotel's restaurants are also excellent, and the amenities are top-notch. If you are looking for the ultimate hotel experience in Paris, the Plaza Athenee is the...

Generally good, But frankly , not as a traveler, food can be better and our experience of service is very bad!

I was there with my customers during the fashion week . My customer ordered caviar, the 2 waitresses carried over the whole caviar stand with a big ice bowl (picture 7)and put on his side on the table , it’s a big exaggerating but fine,it is for indicated the luxury service of experience. after they serve my customer 2 spoons of caviar from the box, they left with saying “enjoy your course” , and they did not take the rest caviar in the box away . So when I customer tried to take another spoon from the box, 2 waitresses came with a huge panic saying” No no no ! this is very very expensive, you cannot have it, if you want more , you need to order again!” Then they brought the rest of the caviar away from our table .

My customer doesn’t speak French, but they can still understand from their behavior, we were all shocked by this! How come ? If the rest are not for us, why do you leave them on table ? Ok , if we consider this as a misunderstanding, as a Michelin level restaurant plus top list in Paris, how come the waitresses act so cheap? My customer would accept if they explain nicely . And he would like to pay for the rest of caviar , while all of us just saw the 2 ladies left with panic. This definitely disturbs our mood and make us unpleasant.

The bill has 10% +20% fee which is a bit confusing, as we know all price in france is including tax and service fee. But for a fancy restaurant ok, maybe it’s worth to add 15% more , but I do not know where is the 10%+20% comes from.

We spent 1500 euros for 4 people

We paid everything without asking but the service definitely destroyed our mood that night .

For reference , it was February27 , 20:30, 2024 our table is the first one when you enter the restaurant on the right .

I would like to complain immediately however we were so busy during fashion week

I would not recommend any of my customer dining...