Galerie des Gobelins at the Hotel Plaza Athenee: Hot Spots in Paris

It's not just the bar that's the place to be in Paris. The Hotel Plaza Athenee, the 188-room embodiment of Parisian luxury set between Avenue des Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, is also home to La Galerie Des Gobelins, a newly-designed lounge area that's the talk of the town in Paris. The hotel recently unveiled a tremendous re-imagining by interior designer Pascale Benhamou, and the Galerie now features velvet sofas, a mosaic carpet, amber lighting from chandeliers, and made-to-measure furniture (like beaten-metal lampshades by Societé Lyonnaise Bronzes d'art Francais and pedestal tables of French-polished walnut by Taillardat). This chic, Parisian venue is the perfect spot to lounge after a day of shopping in the Golden Triangle. There's a "fashion parade of a menu" so you can enjoy epicurean delights like "Start the show" (nibbles), the "Spring & Tea Collection" (afternoon tea) and the "Hottest Fashions" (main courses). Desserts are crafted by Christophe Michalak, the world-famous Pastry Chef.