Review: the Hilton Paris Opera hotel (Part 2)

This is part two of my review of the Hilton Paris Opera hotel.  Part 1 can be found here.

As a reminder, the hotel provided us with a complimentary two night stay at the property to showcase what has been achieved following its $50 million refurbishment and reopening as a Hilton in January 2015.

In part one I wrote about the rooms and the gym.  Part two focuses on the executive lounge, restaurants and bars.

As you walk into the Hilton Paris Opera you find a sitting area to your left as well as the entrance to Le Petit Bar.

Le Petit Bar is open from 4pm until 10pm and is a classy spot for an evening drink.

The reception desks are to the left and right of these sculptures which mark the entrance to Le Grand Salon.

Le Grand Salon at Hilton Paris Opera

Le Grand Salon is the heart of the hotel. It is listed as a historical monument and has been fully refurbished whilst keeping its former glory alive.

The bar is open all day with a snack menu for breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner.

Hilton Paris Opera organises regular events for Hilton HHonors members in collaboration with various brands.  By coincidence there was an event for Hilton HHonors guests in residence during my stay and I got to try out some cocktails!

Executive Lounge at Hilton Paris Opera

The Executive lounge on the mezzanine level was lovely and, as well as looking fantastic, serves a full range of food and drink throughout the day. There were a good amount of tables and chairs:

…. and a TV corner at the far back

Coffee and soft drinks were available via self service all day.

In the morning the lounge serves breakfast (a slightly reduced version of the breakfast in the restaurant).

This was the impressive selection of sweets and snacks, though of course we all know that sugar is bad for us….

In the evenings between 6pm and 8pm the lounge served snacks including sandwiches, various salads and of course cheese.

Breakfast at Hilton Paris Opera

If you do not have club access, breakfast is served on the mezzanine level next to the executive lounge.

All guest currently receive free breakfast at Hilton Paris Opera which is a generous gesture.

Every morning you are offered a different freshly prepared fruit cocktail (non alcoholic!) when entering the restaurant.

The buffet was plentiful with various breads including white and brown baguette, cold cuts, cheese and salad as well as various fruits and hot dishes.

There is a second room with more tables at the back.

Le Pain Quotidien

Accessible from the street and from inside the hotel is the hotel’s own branch of Le Pain Quotidien.  I’m a big fan of these cafe/restaurants as the coffee is great, the food delicious and the wine organic.

Conclusion

Paris is a city for people who love to walk (or cycle). As the Hilton Paris Opera is within a 30 minute walk of all of the key tourist sites, I found it to be a great base for my stay.  The Paris public transport system is also very good, of course, but I found that most of the time you only save 5-10 minutes and miss out on all those pretty buildings on your way.

Hilton has done an excellent job with its refurbishment of Hilton Paris Opera and it deserves to be seen as one of the global flagship properties for the brand.  If you are looking for a gorgeous grand hotel in the centre of Paris with the right amount of historical Parisian chic and contemporary design, the Hilton Paris Opera is a great choice.

In terms of a Hilton HHonors redemption, it is usually 80,000 points per night.  On an average night at around €300 this is in line with Rob’s value of 0.3p per Hilton point.  You can also get a free weekend night at any Hilton hotel by taking out the free Hilton HHonors credit card and spending just £750 on it – and this would be a great place to use it.  As all guests currently receive free breakfast, using a reward night here offers better value than usual.

The official hotel website is here if you want to find out more.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

There are two dedicated Hilton Honors debit cards. These are especially attractive when spending abroad due to the 0% or 0.5% FX fee, depending on card.

You also receive FREE Hilton Honors status for as long as you hold the debit cards – Gold status with the Plus card and Silver status with the basic card. This is a great reason to apply even if you rarely use it.

We reviewed the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here and the Hilton Honors Debit Card here.

You can apply for either card here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 30th April 2025, the annual fee on the basic Hilton Honors debit card is halved from £60 to £30. The sign-up bonus is also easier to earn – you need to spend £1,000 either in the UK or abroad within three months. The usual bonus rule requires you to spend the full £1,000 outside the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

10,000 bonus points, Hilton Gold status and NO FX fees Read our full review

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

2,500 bonus points, Hilton Silver status and 0.5% FX fees Read our full review

There is another way of getting Hilton Honors status, and earning Hilton Honors points, from a payment card.

Holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card.  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton Honors points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points.