The British playwright W. Somerset Maugham famously called
the Côte d’Azur “a sunny place for shady people.”
But while it’s true that the
summer sun seems to shine brighter on the French Riviera, the jet set that
flocks to it every season is hardly of ill-repute. Indeed, Pablo Picasso,
Brigitte Bardot, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Edith Wharton have all been regulars;
today, the list of VIPs and A-listers who frequent the sun-dappled region goes
on and on. The appeal is no surprise. Here, you’ll find the world’s most
beautiful beaches lining its most stunning sea. Look further and you’ll
discover spectacular resorts sporting Michelin-star restaurants and exclusive
amenities. And this year, there are more reasons than ever to make a break for
Maugham’s “sunny place.
” Read on for this summer’s French Riviera hot list.
Hôtel Byblos Saint-Tropez
Since its grand opening in 1967, the chic Hôtel Byblos
Saint-Tropez has remained the place to see and be seen among the French
Riviera’s well-heeled crowds. The cliff-side resort, which was first
constructed by the Lebanese billionaire Jean-Prosper Gay-Para in an attempt to
woo the actress Brigitte Bardot, has today grown to resemble a miniature
Provençal village, dotted with colorful stucco villas and century-old olive
trees.
To honor its 50th anniversary this summer, the hotel has
partnered with luxury brands like Goyard, Audemars-Piguet, and Missoni Home to
create such customized guest offerings as a limited-edition watch and a
colorful new suite. Additional celebratory offerings include a special dish at
the Rivea by Alain Ducasse restaurant (sea bream marinated in N°50 olive oil
and served on a 50-year-old olivewood platter) and the recently renovated Les
Caves du Roy club. Of course, one thing that hasn’t changed a bit over the last
half-century is Byblos’s beautiful setting high above the Gulf de Saint-Tropez—still
the best in town. (byblos.com)
Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
The aptly named Le Majestic is all about movie-star glamour,
with a location right on Cannes’s Croisette, fronting the Mediterranean, and
right next to the red-carpeted steps of the Festival Hall. Inside,
black-and-white portraits of French movie stars like Hean Gabin and Alain Delon
line the walls. And in the dove-gray Christian Dior penthouse suite, you’ll
find a private salon.
This summer, the Majestic welcomes a new Biologique
Recherche Paris spa, offering personalized treatments and skincare. And at the
hotel’s beloved restaurant, Le Fouquet’s Cannes, a makeover by the Parisian
designer Alexandre Danan pays tribute to Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann’s iconic
art-deco style with luxurious and contemporary details in leather, velvet,
mahogany, and gold. (hotelsbarriere.com)
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
While the central chateau of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is
the last word in timeless elegance, it is possible to have some serious summer
fun among its impressive splendor. The 103-year-old hotel’s saltwater pool
carved out of a basalt rock cliff is the place to sip a crushed-ice Bellini;
the five clay tennis courts, meanwhile, are this seasons home to summer-time
coaching sessions. For the traveler in search of privacy, the Oetker Collection
hotel has also unveiled two newly renovated villas: Villa Les Cèdres is a
Provence-style mansion featuring elegant interiors and a private garden; Villa
Eleana comes with a spectacular swimming pool overlooking Juan-les-Pins bay.
(hotel-du-cap-eden-roc.com)
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
Set on the tip-top of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula amid 17 acres
of lushly landscaped gardens, Four Seasons’s exquisite white palace is truly
difficult to leave. This summer, however, the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is
encouraging guests to take off and get lost on the backroads of the French
Riviera and beyond with its En Route to la Dolce Vita package, an exclusive
driving experience that combines classic cars and swanky accommodations for an
unforgettable journey. Guests can choose from such vintage vehicles as a 1961
Giulietta Spider or Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabrio, hitting up favorite hot spots
throughout the Cote d’Azur and Italy. The road trip ends in either Milan,
Cap-Ferrat, or Florence, where guests will stay at local Four Seasons
properties. (fourseasons.com)
Hôtel Cap Estel
Set on a 5-acre peninsula, a seashell’s throw from Monaco
and Nice, Hôtel Cap Estel is surrounded by the sea, ensuring security and
exclusivity. Just 60 guests stay at the property at any one time, ensuring that
the infinity-edge pool, private beach, and Patrick Raingeard restaurant are never
crowded. This summer, Cap Estel regulars will find welcome changes in the
hotel’s stunning La Corniche suites, which have all been redesigned with bright
interiors and state-of-the-art technology. Same as ever, of course, are the
views of the sea, which can be admired from every corner of the iconic
property. (capestel.com)
La Réserve Ramatuelle Hotel & Spa
Just minutes from Saint-Tropez, La Réserve Ramatuelle is a
longstanding mainstay for the French Riviera elite. This summer, the hotel’s
well-heeled clientele is sure to clamor for a chance to stay at one of its two
new villas, which debuted at the end of last year’s season. The five-bedroom
Villa 1 pays homage to the Côte d’Azur’s iconic 1970s residential architecture
with white shutters and terracotta floor tiles. Set among lush Mediterranean
gardens, the villa’s swimming pool offers panoramic views, yet remains hidden
from plain sight. The three-bedroom Villa 2, meanwhile, features a crisp and
cool color palette and wide bay windows that keep the views of Escalat Cove and
Cape Taillat in view at all times. (lareserve-ramatuelle.com)
Hôtel Belles Rives
Antibes’s storied Hôtel Belles Rives oozes glamour and
history. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and Rudolph Valentino have all been
past guests. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote Tender Is the Night there, and Miles
Davis arrived for a stay in a pink Jaguar. Today, the hotel remains beloved for
its unsurpassable location steps from the belles rives (beautiful shores) of
the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea. This summer, the hotel will host an
installment of its acclaimed Bacchus Dinner series in its recently renovated La
Passagère restaurant. Priced at about $160 per person, the June 10 event will
feature cuisine by the Michelin-starred chef Yoric Tièche and pairings by sommelier
Michel Jeanneau of Champagne Roederer. (bellesrives.com)
Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel
The only Antibes hotel located right on the beach, Cap
d’Antibes Beach Hotel is a contemporary oasis with an unrivaled setting. This
season, the 35-room Relais & Châteaux is celebrating the arrival of summer
with eight recently renovated suites, each with a terrace surrounded by lush
Mediterranean gardens and swaying palms. At the Michelin-star restaurant Les
Pêcheurs, seafood is delivered daily via boat; the beachfront bar is the best
place in town for a rosé. Our favorite perk, however, is the hotel’s
reservation line for beach loungers—the only amenity of its kind in all of
Antibes. (relaischateaux.com)
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