The Peninsula Paris (Paris)

Opened in 2015 after a four-year, $850-million transformation, the Peninsula Paris in France proved worth the wait. It was once the Hotel Majestic, where George Gershwin penned "An American in Paris" in 1928.

The building's sculpted stone facade -- covered in intricate bas-reliefs -- was meticulously restored to its former neoclassical splendor. Inside are similarly restored marble, gilt work and 19th-century mosaics, which complement the hotel's modern artwork and fixtures.

There are 200 bright, spacious rooms, a 19,000-square-foot spa and a sleek indoor swimming pool. But what everyone's really here for is the rooftop restaurant, L'Oiseau Blanc, with its sweeping 360-degree views over the entire city.
The Peninsula Paris, 19 Avenue Kleber, 75116 Paris France; +33 1 58 12 28 88