Agence de Conseil en hôtellerie et gastronomie

Chef Arnaud Faye’s poached langoustine is one of La Table du Connétable’s remarkable dishes. (Nausheen Shah)

To the Big Bopper’s dismay, the chances of finding any lace in this town today is slim to none, but what you will find instead is opulence so fine that it was lavish enough to inspire Marie Antoinette.

Chantilly, a town situated just 25 miles outside Paris, seems to have undergone a series of revivals surrounding its famous Château since it started being built in 1528, and its newest addition allows us well-heeled commoners to live like kings.

The Auberge du Jeu de Paume, a Relais & Châteaux property that opened in September 2012, is the only hotel to have ever been built on the estate of the Château of Chantilly and includes private access to its royal gardens. The four-star resort offers 68 guest rooms and 24 suites. Its Michelin-starred restaurant, La Table du Connétable, led by astounding chef Arnaud Faye (who has worked in Paris with Michel Roth at the Ritz’s Espadon and Thierry Marx at the Mandarin Oriental), dazzles and, dare we say, is worth the trip in itself. Perfectly executed dishes include poached langoustine with white asparagus lacquered in Bi Yun Tian tea and French caviar, Quercy lamb with crispy eggplant ravioli and escargot with sponge parsley. A more relaxed dining option is also available in the hotel’s Jardin d’Hiver. Plus, the Auberge soothes its guests in a 6,000-square-foot Turkish-inspired spa complete with an indoor swimming pool, a starry-night hammam and must-have local specialty treatments such as the Crème de Chantilly body wrap. (Rooms from $250, aubergedujeudepaumechantilly.fr)

When exploring this fantastical town, its rich palette begins with the Château of Chantilly, which not only inspired Marie Antoinette to design Versailles, but was also featured in the James Bond film, “A View to a Kill.” In addition, the castle preserves the Condé Museum, which houses one of the oldest historic art collections in France, only surpassed by the Musée du Louvre. And for all you equestrian lovers, the Grand Stables, arguably the most luxurious horse lodging ever built, have reopened to the public.

So make like the haute bourgeoisie to Chantilly because at least you can have your crème and eat it, too. Oh baby, that’s what I like.