Christian Dior showed his first collection in 1947, just across the street at 30 avenue Montaigne, and the conversation between the House and the hotel has carried on ever since. His Bar suit took its name from our bar. Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth moved between the salon and the hotel as though they were one address.

In 2008, that connection took a new form with Dior Spa Plaza Athénée, the House's first spa. Its philosophy comes straight from Monsieur Dior himself, who said: "I wanted to make women not only more beautiful, but also happier."

You lie back, and the ceiling becomes a sky.

Thousands of LEDs in the Dior Light Suite recreate the patterns of natural daylight, shifting gently overhead. There are three intensities – energising, relaxing and regenerating – for you to choose according to what you need. By giving your body the daylight it's been missing, it's designed to help rebalance energy and sleep, softening the appearance of fatigue.

We'd suggest it after a long flight, in the grey stretch of a Paris February, or for mornings after a night at Le Bar that became much more than you planned.

Couture is about fit, and our treatments follow the same thinking.

Le Soin Dior Privé Sur-Demande, found only here, is built around you: face or body, with electrostimulation or cryotherapy as needed, for a genuine reset. Kobi-Dior reinterprets the Japanese art of Kobido, using deep, precise massage to lift and sculpt the face. The Dior Sapphire Crystal Micro-Abrasion pairs exfoliation with light for skin that emerges radiant and refreshed.

For the body, Constellation is slow and enveloping, easing tension one muscle at a time. And New Look (named after the collection that changed fashion in 1947) is a lymphatic drainage treatment that leaves you noticeably lighter.

Some days call for more energy. The Dior Spa fitness studio is set up for one-to-one sessions with personal trainers, whether that's strength, cardio or an hour of yoga.

But some of the best wellness in Paris happens outside. Walk out of Hôtel Plaza Athénée, down avenue Montaigne, and you’ll reach the Seine in a matter of minutes. Go early, before the city fully wakes, and follow the river towards the Eiffel Tower while the light is still soft. Or wander through the gardens along the Champs-Élysées and stop at the Petit Palais, where the courtyard café is one of the calmest spots in the 8th.

A morning with a painting is good for the mind, too: cross the road, and you’re at the Grand Palais, where a constantly evolving programme of exhibitions means there’s always something fresh to see.

That's one of the quiet pleasures of staying at a luxury hotel in Paris's 8th arrondissement. The city's best walks, gardens and galleries are just outside, and the Dior Spa is waiting when you return.

Ready for more of the city? Explore our guide to the most beautiful shopping in Paris, or stroll around the famed Golden Triangle.