There are few destinations capable of matching the true glory and splendour of the South of France.
For decades, film stars have flocked to Cannes, the jet set have tripped to St Tropez, aristocrats have ventured to Antibes, and well, Monaco is just Monaco, isn’t it?
It’s no surprise at all that along this stretch of idyllic coast, you can find some of the finest hotels anywhere in the world. So, whether you’re looking for a hotel that’s ultra classic and traditional, or perhaps an abode with a contemporary edge, you can rest assured that it exists in the south of France.
To cut down your search time a little, we have combed the shores to pick out a mixture of icons and hidden gems.
Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
French Riviera luxury peaks at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, a wildly extravagant–but–never–garish experience that is heightened by its Four Seasons management. Thankfully, the international luxury hotel chain allows itself to slink in the background, retaining the property’s much-admired old-school glamour.
Part of the magic resides in its exclusivity; during peak summer season, it’s one of the most expensive hotels across the continent, and rooms book up quickly. Otherwise, enjoy the Michelin-starred Le Cap restaurant, which presents a Provençal and Mediterranean menu and a list of 600 wines from France’s best vineyards. The spa facilities are particularly excellent, with some treatments taken outside in the balmy sea breeze.
The Elite Suites: Villa Beauchamp, Villa Rose-Pierre, The Penthouse
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
First built in 1870, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has the distinction of being one of the oldest major hotels across the French Riviera. Effortlessly fusing authentic 1920s stylings with timeless French glamour, there is something quite magical and undeniably enchanting about the Cap d’Antibes Palace Hotel.
Its place within literary history has been immortalized by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night, in which the hotel serves as major inspiration. Nautical hues of white and blue are subtle within the hotel which feels more akin to a mini palace, whilst the gardens and outdoor terraces are a true aesthete’s delight.
This is true luxury through and through, from caviar facials courtesy of the La Prairie spa to the Michelin-starred Louroc restaurant. We recommend the Eden-Roc Suite, which featured on our Top Suites of 2023, for its rooftop terrace, but truthfully, any room at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is an experience of thrilling beauty and exceptional service.
The Elite Suite: Eden-Roc Suite
Hôtel Martinez
Looming large upon the Promenade de la Croisette, the fabulously grand Hôtel Martinez is something of an establishment within Cannes, if not the wider Côte d’Azur. Recent renovations saw some sections of the interior completely rebuilt, but this should come as no alarm to long-time fans of the Art Deco palace: the glitzy Riviera aesthetic remains just as authentic.
Boasting a private beach, two-Michelin-star restaurant La Palme d’Or and brilliant vistas across the Bay of Cannes and the Mediterranean Sea, coastal chic meets South of France opulence for a hotel experience that is almost impossible to tear oneself away from.
The rooms, which number 410 in total, are exquisitely designed to encapsulate the spirit of the Riviera, with a pastel color palette and windows that maximize the outside views. We like the new Penthouse Apartments located on the seventh floor, which have been dedicated to Isabelle Huppert and the general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival Thierry Frémaux, and feature brilliant vistas across the Bay of Cannes.
The Elite Suite: Penthouse Apartments
Hotel Byblos
Mad infatuation, big money and Bridgette Bardot: Hotel Byblos is immersed in its own mythology of its birth, a tale that could only happen within the French Riviera. When Lebanese billionaire Jean-Prosper Gay-Para built the hotel out of love for the iconic 1960s model, he was creating a legend of the region and an indisputable bastion of the South of France luxury hotel scene.
Today, the Hotel Byblos is the crown jewel of St Tropez, one of the most enticing spots within the Cote d’Azur. Infinitely glamorous and effortlessly enticing, the hilltop village feel of the hotel renders it an immersive experience for its guests, in which its Greek stylings are gorgeously matched with French chicness for a delightful and luxurious vacation getaway.
Hotel owner Antoine Chevanne runs the show here; Byblos has been within his family since Gay-Para sold it to Chevanne’s great-grandfather in 1970. Despite its gild, Byblos is unique for its familial warmth; Chevanne’s mother designed the rooms, and the recently launched spa was envisioned by Chevanne’s own wellness journey. Romance, family and unapologetic glitz, with an iconic nightclub to boot – it doesn’t get more Mediterranean glam than this.
The Elite Suite: Missoni Suite
Cheval Blanc St Tropez
Back to St Tropez, where Cheval Blanc puts on an absolute show for its beloved guests. Under the flagship of LVMH, one might expect something big and flashy. Instead, it’s an absolute delight to experience the hotel’s bona fide sophistication, a true exercise in French chicness that feels more akin to a holiday home to Paris’s high society than an international hotel.
The intimate atmosphere is courtesy of its mere 30 rooms and heightened by its private beach, a rarity within St Tropez. Its restaurant, La Vague d’Or, boasts three Michelin stars, and its spa is courtesy of Guerlain, with services extending onto the beach. We like its one-bedroom Sea Suite, optimal for those seeking total privacy in one of the finest spots within the town; look forward to two gorgeous terraces with views over the Bay of St Tropez.
The Elite Suites: Duplex Pinède Suite, Villa Riviera
Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel
Built in 1848 as an embodiment of the Belle Epoque era, Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel hovers above the rousing Promenade des Anglais, edging the Golden Square and overlooking Le Jardin Albert. It has been studiously, gloriously and glamorously re-envisioned by Anantara as a pied-à-terre, a room of one’s own, as it were, in Nice.
Intimate, it manages contemporary appeal with sleek interiors and modern amenities while still being an ode to the past. Deftly, it references Nice’s turn-of-the-century hotspot status from bygone years while boldly embracing the needs of modern travelers.
There are 151 moderately-sized rooms, including 38 suites, all with marble bathrooms and decor that references the Mid-Century era that was Nice’s second renaissance. Many rooms face the sea, offering balconies meant for people watching in the park below and on the beach.
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