"Please note: this review is solely about the HOTEL BAR and not accommodations.
I never imagined I would be writing a review like this because the bar at Hotel Regina had been one of my favorite places in Paris. I had visited several times over the years, and the staff even recognized me and welcomed me back. Unfortunately, what happened on this visit was so appalling that I will never return.
I ordered a €25 glass of champagne, which was served in a coupe glass alongside small dishes of cashews and olives. Within minutes I noticed flies swarming around the food. Then the unthinkable happened: one of the flies landed on the rim of my champagne glass and fell directly into my drink.
I immediately called the waiter over. He apologized, removed the glass, and brought me another. Hoping that would solve the problem, I covered the dishes of nuts and olives with a napkin because the flies were clearly attracted to them.
It only got worse.
Almost immediately, more insects began gathering on top of the napkin. Then I watched another insect crawl around the rim of my replacement champagne glass. At that point I was completely disgusted and had lost all confidence in the cleanliness of the establishment. There was no way I was going to continue drinking.
I politely explained that I should not be expected to pay for champagne served in these conditions. Astonishingly, the waiter insisted that I pay anyway—even though I hadn't even consumed a full glass because insects had contaminated it.
Charging a guest for insect-infested champagne is unacceptable for any establishment. For a luxury Paris hotel, it's inexcusable.
Instead of correcting the situation immediately, they handed me the bar manager's business card and told me to complain the next day. I had the concierge at my nearby hotel call on my behalf, only to be told there would be no refund.
Only after I returned to the United States and endured weeks of emails and a frustrating back-and-forth did they finally agree to reimburse me. Even then, instead of simply refunding the credit card they had charged, they required my banking information and sent an international wire transfer—a completely unnecessary hassle for a €25 charge.
What baffles me most is that this happened during chilly weather, not the height of summer. Why were there so many flies inside a supposedly elegant hotel bar? It certainly made me question the sanitation standards behind the scenes.
Luxury hospitality isn't measured by chandeliers or expensive champagne. It's measured by how you respond when something goes wrong. Hotel Regina failed spectacularly. A manager should have apologized sincerely, comped the drink immediately, and done everything possible to restore a loyal customer's confidence.
Instead, they argued over €25.
They didn't just lose a customer—they lost someone who had happily recommended this bar for years.
My advice is simple: don't go. Paris is filled with beautiful hotel bars where guests are treated with respect and hygiene isn't an afterthought. Hotel Regina is no longer one of them."
