The Côte d'Azur has been Europe’s number one destination for
glamour and sunshine since before holidays began! Otherwise known as the French
Riviera, the “azure coast” owes its name to the deep blues of the neighbouring
Mediterranean Sea. Paving the way for artists of the past and the sun seekers
of today, there’s much to be discovered on this sparkling stretch of coastline.
Beaches
With the plethora of beaches that line the coast, from
Saint-Tropez in the west stretching into the Italian Riviera in the east,
there’s sure to be the ideal sunshine spot to suit any taste. Luxuriate on the
beach club studded shores of either the public or private beaches in the
coastal cities of Cannes and Nice. Or head to Saint Tropez’s famed Pampelonne
Beach, made famous in the 1950s by Brigitte Bardot in And God Created Woman,
for some sophisticated sea-side pampering. If you prefer more laidback hidden
treasures, there are countless secluded coves in between where you can chase
the day away.
Food & Drink
Ideal for foodies, the Côte d'Azur offers a diverse choice
of local specialities and gourmet delights. Sample the Salade Niçoise in Nice,
the Italian-inspired dishes in Menton and the Michelin star studded restaurants
of Monaco and Cannes. In Marseille, you can enjoy the aniseed-based aperitif
Pastis before tucking into the region’s signature Bouillabaisse fish stew,
while Provençal rosés and vegetable Ratatouille can be enjoyed in most spots.
The coastal blend of sun-drenched Mediterranean cuisine with the traditional
herbs of southern France will be enough to set your mouth watering.
Culture
With the Côte d'Azur’s artistic history, wonderfully
preserved century-old beauty meets modern day luxury. Surrounded by yachts and
celebrities, there’s certainly an opportunity to live the high life –
especially with some of the glamorous events on offer, including the Cannes
Film festival and Monaco’s Formula One Grand Prix in May. Even simply wandering
the cobbled streets of the coastal towns and exploring the countless galleries
and museums along the way, you’ll be pulled into the timeless magic unique to
the Riviera.
Nightlife
Many of the beach clubs stay open well into the evening,
beginning with fancy wining and dining and turning to live music and DJs at
night. The classic clubs belong to the likes of Monaco, Nice and Cannes, with
the mot glitzy and glamorous venues residing in Saint Tropez. But various
hidden gems can be found in between, offering summer fun for the young at heart
along Mala Beach and the shores of Antibes and Juan les Pins.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Where else to kick off a round-up of illustrious hostelries
in the glitterati’s European summer hideout of choice than the institution
whose pool area was immortalized via the lens of Slim Aarons back in the Jet
Set heyday? Nestling on the southern tip of the Cap d’Antibes, this
Gatsby-esque building—whose décor remains authentically Gallic without a hint
of pastiche—has also kept its Hollywood-star credentials intact. Clientele
these days get to lounge around a large heated seawater pool hewn from the rocks.
Rooms start at €600 (around $665) per night.
Hôtel Lou Pinet
From the long-established to the gleamingly new: Hôtel LouPinet is a new opening stewarded by the founder of French prêt-à-porter brand
Naf Naf Patrick Pariente, along with his daughters. Its 34 airy, super-relaxed
rooms and suites—proper chunky keys in place of magnetic cards,
naturellement—are housed in a trio of Mediterranean-style buildings,
overlooking the largest swimming pool in Saint-Tropez. Each is characterized by
interior designer Charles Zana’s penchant for Provence’s rich arts heritage.
Rooms start at €600 (around $665) per night.
Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez
This all-new hotel was purchased by Bernard
Arnault’s LVMH Hotel Management in 2016. Nearly all of its 30 light-soaked rooms—calmly
nautical, with their azure and ivory tones—offer pinch-me panoramas the
yacht-studded Bay of Saint-Tropez. The Guerlain spa and Chef Arnaud Donckele’s
gourmet restaurant Vague D’Or turn the glamour factor up to 12.
Rooms start at €600 (around $665) for a Classic Courtyard
Room during low season.
Hotel Byblos
Brigitte Bardot—who once described Saint-Tropez as a “little
nook of paradise”—served as muse for Lebanese hotelier Jean-Prosper Gay-Para to
create the Byblos in St Tropez, whose floors have since also been
stardust-sprinkled by the likes of Jack Nicholson and Beyoncé (it was where
Mick and Bianca Jagger spent the night together, so to speak, post-nuptials).
The 180 square meter, chromatically fearless, zig-zag-happy suite designed by
Missoni Home in celebration of the hotel’s 50th anniversary (see below), which
overlooks the pool, is as charming and therapeutic as any suite in the region.
A night at the Missoni Suite starts at €4,500 (around $4,970).
Château Saint-Martin & Spa
If wooded serenity suits you better than coastal glitz, this
newly reopened hotel, built on the ruins of a 12th century Templar fortress,
offers views of the Mediterranean one way, the Southern Alps the other. Whether
reclining by the pool, utilizing the tennis courts or being pampered at the Spa
Saint-Martin by La Prairie, your mind will be captivated by the surrounding
Provencal landscape that’s oiled the creative cogs of the likes of Picasso and
Chagall. Rooms start at €330 (around $365) per night.
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