Travel trends come and go, but the Côte d’Azur remains an inexorably attractive destination for its limpid turquoise waters, festive beach clubs, arty cultural venues and superb regional cuisine.
Here are our top picks to help you find the right place under the dazzling Riviera sun.
Contact Indagare or your trip designer to start planning a trip to the French Riviera. Our team can match you with the itineraries, experiences and accommodations that are right for you.
For Chic Design
The Maybourne Riviera
Best For: Couples who cherish sleek modernist-inspired design, haute gastronomy, suites with private pools and a mesmerizing cliff-top panoramic view of the coast.
Vibe: Chic, polished, ultra-stylish
Where to Eat: Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten heads the hotel rooftop restaurant, now abc kitchens; the Riviera Restaurant serves a range of regional dishes from the Riviera, Corsica and Liguria; the more casual poolside eatery serves the likes of pizzas and burgers.
Top Tips: Book a signature Flying Cloud massage or Augustinus Bader facial in the holistic Surrenne Spa spa; take the shuttle down to the small private La Môme beach club by the rocks; reserve a visit to Eileen Gray’s nearby modernist masterpiece Villa E-1027 alongside Le Corbusier’s beach hut.
For an Exclusive Scene
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Best For: Couples or families with older children who cherish this storied glitzy seaside palace for its sheer beauty—vast manicured gardens, windswept pines and the iconic rock pool where you’re likely to be doing laps alongside a major movie star.
Vibe: Über-glamorous, sophisticated, private
Where to Eat: Elegant Mediterranean cuisine at Michelin-starred Louroc, helmed by chef Sébastien Broda, open for dinner; breakfast and Mediterranean-style lunches are served on the sunny terrace of the Eden-Roc Restaurant; for all-day service, The Grill offers a range of salads, pasta and fish. The casual Italian eatery, Giovanni’s (for guests only), is hidden away in the pine forest. Add to that numerous spots for cocktails, from the Eden-Roc Lounge to the Bar Bellini. Plus, this September, there will be a new Sunday brunch concept overseen by Michelin-adored chef Sébastien Broda and Tarek Ahamada.
Top Tips: Book one of the redesigned contemporary sea-facing junior suites at Eden-Roc. And the Dior Spa, housed in a jewel-box pavilion, offers exclusive body and facial rejuvenating treatments, also available in the privacy of a specially outfitted Dior seaside bungalow.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is one of the “Palaces de France.” There are 19 other such hotels in France and St. Barth’s—check them out here.
For a Village Oasis
Hôtel du Couvent
Best For: Couples, groups and families with older children seeking a subdued property with a sustainable-focus that is both central and a bit removed, as well as history buffs interested in the restored 17th-century convent setting.
Vibe: Monastic, stylish, tranquil urban oasis
Where to Eat: La Guinguette Café, the garden terraced lunch restaurant serving contemporary Mediterranean dishes; and Bistro des Serruriers, the ocher-walled eatery around the corner, offering assorted nibbles like pissaladière (a caramelized onion tart) and deviled eggs, plus traditional Niçois fare and a great range of organic wines and locally-brewed beer.
Top Tips: Take advantage of the courtyard, be it having a drink by the orange trees or checking out the Saturday farmers’ market.
For Sea Views & Beach Access
La Pérouse
Best For: Couples, families and groups who enjoy exploring the spirited neighborhoods of Nice’s Old Town and the antique-shop district near the port, but who want a berth near the beach.
Vibe: Relaxed chic, urban-meets-beach
Where to Eat: The hotel’s charming indoor/outdoor Le Patio, surrounded by lemon trees, serves excellent Mediterranean-style specialties. Across the street at the water’s edge, try the elegant seafood haunt, Les Bains du Castel.
Top Tips: Take advantage of Nice’s effervescent art scene and plan a visit to the Chagall Museum and the Matisse Museum. Pick up olive oil, soap, dried herbs and hip streetwear in the labyrinthic alleyways of Vieux Nice, then head to the city’s Golden Triangle, a short stroll away, for serious brand-name shopping.
For Glittering Grandeur
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
Best For: Couples and families with children who appreciate a quiet pocket of elegant seaside splendor, lush gardens, a stunning Olympic-size seawater pool and contemporary Pierre-Yves Rochon–designed rooms.
Vibe: Belle Époque grandeur meets clean-line modernity
Where to Eat: Choices abound for every mood: a gastronomic feast at the intimate Le Cap; Mediterranean fare under the pines at La Véranda or at the stylish Club Dauphin; romantic dinners à deux in a vegetable garden tucked away on a bluff in the neighboring heights, La Table du Potager, all headed by Michelin-adored Yoric Tièche.
Top Tips: For special occasions, book the restored five-bedroom private hideaway Villa Beauchamp surrounded by lush landscaped gardens where you can lounge in a seaside cabana with a killer coastal view. For kids, there is everything from tennis to swimming, plus pastry classes, mocktail concocting and specially designed spa treatments for children.
For Understated Elegance
La Réserve de Ramatuelle
Best For: Couples and families looking for a relaxing retreat atop a wooded bluff with colossal-sized suites or private villas, only a 15-minute drive from buzzy St. Tropez. Highpoints include a serious wellness and fitness boot camp program, a sprawling state-of-the-art spa and outdoor pools.
Vibe: Stylish, unfussy, serene, upscale
Where to Eat: The two Michelin-starred restaurant La Voile helmed by chef Eric Canino features superb Mediterranean-inspired tasting menus; the sea-facing La Brasserie offers a variety of dishes from seafood to grilled meats; a third dining spot, Les Terrasses la Muña, excels in refined Japanese dishes.
Top Tips: Star attraction: the Pampelonne outpost, La Réserve à la Plage, the hotel’s private beach club with shuttle service. Expect a Starck-designed restaurant with a thatched wood roof and marble bathrooms and an upbeat boho chic vibe that attracts both families and the overspill crowd from Club 55.
For the Best Beach
Château de Théoule
Best For: Couples and families with children looking for a base in an artfully restored castle. Swim, relax, enjoy the spa and explore the wild hiking trails of red rock Estérel.
Vibe: Romantic, intimate, serene
Where to Eat: The beach restaurant, La Plage Blanche, located on a curve of sand, features delicious local cuisine and freshly caught platters of fish. Mareluna, the main restaurant headed by Michelin-adored Francesco Fezza, serves a taste of the Mediterranean as dictated by the seasons.
Top Tips: Take a spin on the winding coastal road with its heart-stopping views of turquoise creeks; visit the nearby Château de la Napoule for its gardens and eclectic art by Henry Clews Jr.; indulge in a shopping spree in Cannes, only eight miles away.
For a Quieter Scene & a Private Beach
Cheval Blanc St. Tropez
Best For: Couples and families who love the scene of St. Tropez but want to stay slightly removed from the crowds and enjoy direct beach access.
Vibe: Stylish, chic, luxurious, provencal
Where to Eat: The hotel’s lunch restaurant, La Terrasse, nestled under century-old pine trees which, come dinnertime, turns into the three-Michelin-starred La Vague d’Or.
Top Tips: Check out Indagare’s guide to St. Tropez’s beach clubs, the best of which are only a ten-minute shuttle ride away.
For a Castle Feel & Amenities
Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de la Messardière
Best For: Couples or families looking for a stylish European retreat who will appreciate the views of the hilltop perch a ten-minute drive from the village.
The Vibe: Resort, great views, 19th-century castle
Where to Eat: Jean-François Piège, which serves an exquisite, curated lunch menu at Jardin Topezina, the hotel’s beach club; the buzzy terrace restaurant Matsuhisa is another added plus.
Top Tips: Ask for one of the suites with a terrace or balcony overlooking the sea.
For Retro Glamour & Night Life
Arev St. Tropez
Best For: Couples and small groups who enjoy the convenience of a central location to all the village shops, restaurants and clubs—and will appreciate the bold colors and retro glamour.
Vibe: Chic, luxe, high design
Where to Eat: The Strand Restaurant, named after the oldest storied eatery in St Tropez, has a fun menu of seasonal Mediterranean cuisine and homemade ice cream and sorbets for dessert.
Top Tips: Check out the small lovely spa, which has an exclusive made-in-St-Tropez line of botanical beauty products and floral perfumes by ST Maison.
Explore All French Riviera Hotels
Published onMay 8, 2024
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