The South of France is unattainable to withstand, particularly in excessive summer time — so we advocate you give in to temptation. From secret hilltop hamlets and personal peninsula hideaways to Riviera retreats with critical design credentials, we’ve discovered the locations that bottle the area’s je ne sais quoi in resort kind.
Whether or not you’re in it for Michelin-starred menus, beachfront glamour or only a completely chilled pastis, these stays seize the Côte d’Azur and Provence at their most seductive. Learn on to find 10 of the most effective resorts within the South of France…
BY THE BEACH
Les Roches Rouges, Saint-Raphaël
Perched immediately above the glistening Mediterranean, Les Roches Rouges is a masterclass in low-key, high-impact design — all Nineteen Fifties modernist traces and pieds dans l’eau appeal. The view from the reception balcony plunges dramatically in direction of the limitless grande bleue, so dive straight in: whether or not into the saltwater infinity pool hewn from the rock, the picture-perfect freshwater pool or the crystal-clear Med itself.
The toughest resolution you’ll make is whether or not to snorkel earlier than or after lunch. Masks, flippers and basic Riviera-yellow loungers are all in prepared provide, together with a personal pebbly seashore and sufficient front-row sun-beds for everybody to really feel like a movie star. Attempt yoga by the ocean or a restorative therapeutic massage on the spa. A brand new assortment of design-led, sea-facing suites and a Michelin-starred restaurant has solely turned the dial additional towards chic.
Greatest room for sea-worshippers Most rooms right here include a sea view, however for the front-row and salty air on waking, guide one of many new suites which have sprung up beside the primary constructing — they have been made for Med-gazing, with lemon-yellow canopies giving classic Riviera glam with only a trace of retro Florida. Via the panoramic home windows, the ocean shimmers on the foot of your mattress.
Design particulars Inventive route from architect Antoine Ricardou has added a home-away-from-home spirit. Breezy balconies, terracotta tiles underfoot and a scattering of well-thumbed novels, give these rooms the texture of an artfully rumpled vacation house.
One thing to eat La Chicoula, the resort’s pine-shaded seashore eatery, is a Riviera tackle a typical French guinguette (a relaxed open-air café). Get pleasure from Niçoise salads, informal snacks and iced espresso throughout the day, or settle in at sundown as a DJ spins tracks and the cocktails maintain coming. Récif is the grown-up, Michelin-starred selection — chef Alexandre Baule’s elegant plates spotlight the most effective of native terroir. Then there’s Estelo, for relaxed eating inches from the ocean. Attempt the chef’s favorite Provençal aïoli, adopted by a frosty citron givré. Délicieux.
See the sights You’ll be forgiven for not transferring a lot, however when you should enterprise past the confines of the resort, hike the paths of the Esterel Mountains, or let the concierge plot a ship journey alongside the coast. Then once more, staying put with a relaxing rosé and that view of the Île d’Or sounds fairly good, too.
FOR OLD-SCHOOL RIVIERA GLAMOUR
Hôtel La Ponche, Saint-Tropez
Down a cobbled lane simply steps from the port, Hôtel La Ponche is the storied soul of Saint-Tropez. This legendary handle is woven into the city’s mythos as a lot because the starlets and scribes who as soon as lounged right here: Brigitte Bardot, Pablo Picasso, Jack Nicholson, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir to call just a few. If partitions may speak, they’d inform tales of late-night jazz, movie-star glamour and the filming of And God Created Girl — the Fifties flick that rocketed each Bardot and Saint-Tropez to fame.
To remain at Hôtel La Ponche is to slide into a special tempo, a special period. You’re moments from the super-yachts, however lightyears from the showy glitz. Right here, it’s all about understated glamour, yoga by the ocean and views that haven’t modified since Bardot first walked barefoot throughout the tiles.
Greatest room for a Riviera reverie Rooms and suites are named after their most iconic company, however you’ll really feel just like the star of your personal story whichever one you test into. Guide the Brigitte Bardot (aka ‘BB’) Suite for sea views from a personal terrace; or for one thing extra spacious, the Jack Nicholson Residence is as charismatic as its namesake: a 86-square-metre hideaway with two bedrooms, a separate lounge and a totally kitted-out kitchen.
Design particulars Fabrizio Casiraghi oversaw the inside renovations in 2021. Simple sophistication honours genuine Tropezian design: terracotta ground tiles, classic furnishings, impartial hues and whitewashed partitions let that famed mild engulf the rooms. Sink right into a headily scented bathtub, with bubbles courtesy of Acqua di Parma.
One thing to eat Michelin-starred chef Thomas Danigo (of Galanga fame in Paris’s Monsieur George resort) indicators the menu at Hôtel La Ponche’s restaurant. Lunch on the terrace is a Saint-Tropez must-do. Come sunset, ease right into a red-velvet armchair on the bar and order the Bardot-inspired signature cocktail: Tu Veux ou Tu Veux Pas, a sultry mixture of tequila infused with chilli and contemporary watermelon juice. For dinner, regionally sourced fish and Provençal delicacies take star billing: flame-cooked pink mullet, fillet of beef with chanterelle mushrooms, and a divine chocolate mousse with fior di latte ice-cream.
See the sights You’re within the coronary heart of the La Ponche quarter — the outdated fishing village the place all of it started. Wander the cobbled streets, browse the galleries and watch the world glide by from an iconic pink Sénéquier café desk portside. Saturday is market day so head to Place des Lices to choose up some Tropezian treasures.
FOR AN ARTFUL STAY
Toile Blanche, Saint-Paul de Vence
Among the finest boutique resorts within the South of France for these in search of serenity, Toile Blanche is an inventive retreat simply outdoors the hilltop village of Saint-Paul de Vence. This family-run sanctuary — half artwork resort, half bucolic hideaway — is a sensory feast come June, when the lavender blooms and jasmine perfumes the air. Your solely drawback right here will likely be selecting which of the three idyllic swimming pools to lounge by.
Disconnect, lock the cellphone away and embrace deep, restorative relaxation. Open year-round (and properly after the summer time crowds have dispersed), it is a place you’ll return to — and dream of — lengthy after check-out.
Greatest room for private-paradise seekers All 22 suites have been thoughtfully designed to really feel like your personal secluded haven, however for one thing additional particular, go for Suite du Bon-Vivant or Villa du Pénéquet (whose title fairly charmingly nods to the Provençal for ‘energy nap’), every with a personal pool set in a aromatic backyard.
Design particulars The Leroy brothers, artists and hoteliers in equal measure, have created one thing particular. A number of the buildings date again greater than 250 years, now restored in up to date type with impartial hues, mushy finishes and pure textures. Sculptures are scattered all through the grounds; the gallery house, Toile Blanche Modern, showcases the brothers’ work and that of their artistic group.
One thing to eat Toile Blanche’s signature restaurant celebrates seasonal ‘bistronomic’ delicacies. Attempt the basic bouillabaisse or petits farcis Niçois (stuffed greens), crafted with components from the on-site gardens or sourced from trusted native producers — finest loved en terrasse. At lunchtime, La Guinguette invitations you to take pleasure in its relaxed outside setting with tapas-style sharing plates.
See the sights Past the vines and olive timber, you’re moments from Saint-Paul de Vence, the historic mediaeval hilltop village and sanctuary for artists together with Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall (who selected it as his ultimate resting place). Spend a lazy afternoon discovering its artwork galleries, enjoying pétanque or venturing additional afield into the Côte d’Azur for extra Mediterranean magic.
FOR AN ULTRA-LUXURIOUS STAY
Cap Estel, Èze-Bord-De-Mer
Set on a personal peninsula between Monaco and Èze, Cap Estel has lengthy drawn big-screen stars and rock royalty, together with Greta Garbo, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles (there are whispers that Michelle [Ma belle] was penned right here).
The vibe could be very a lot ‘billionaire’s non-public villa’, with a Michelin-starred chef, Babylonian gardens, waterfalls, a tennis court docket and an infinity pool that spills into the Med. A second indoor pool, secreted away inside the rock-carved spa, appears immediately onto the waves, whereas the hidden seashore with a pontoon is ideal for a secluded swim. The final supervisor personally welcomes each visitor on arrival — and with service this seamless, it’s no marvel so many return.
Greatest rooms for luxurious lovers For Riviera romance, select one of many three deluxe rooms in La Mer, a stone edifice on the fringe of Cap Estel’s non-public seashore, the place balconies appear to drift above the Mediterranean in whole privateness.
Design particulars Le Cap is the Italian-inspired, neoclassical fundamental villa of Cap Estel, with rooms in Le Parc and La Mer as properly. The Les Jardins wing incorporates separate residences with sea views. Opulence comes as normal.
One thing to eat Contemporary from his tenure at Le Jules Verne on the prime of the Eiffel Tower, chef Kévin Garcia has taken the reins at La Desk du Cap Estel, so count on gastronomic ingenuity. Within the gardens, Le Ficus is the resort’s Mediterranean restaurant, the place you dine alfresco above the waves because the solar dips beneath the hills.
See the sights Should you can bear to go away the cocoon of Cap Estel, Èze’s hilltop mediaeval village — with its jaw-dropping views from the Jardin Exotique — is minutes away. Should you fancy a flutter on the Monte-Carlo On line casino, Monaco is a 15-minute drive away.
A CHÂTEAU WITH ITS OWN BEACH
Château de Théoule, Théoule-sur-Mer
Poised between the pink rocks of the Estérel and the Bay of Cannes, Château de Théoule — with its non-public seashore, Michelin-starred restaurant and fantastically appointed spa — is definitely probably the greatest château resorts in France. This former cleaning soap manufacturing facility nonetheless is aware of methods to depart you feeling scrubbed up and complicated. The seashore right here is sheltered and mercifully freed from Cannes’ vacationer crowds, making certain you’re free to leap unbothered into turquoise waters and stretch out on the pontoon.
At Le Spa du Château, you’ll discover a mosaic-lined Jacuzzi, hammam, cold-plunge Nordic baths, sea-facing remedy cabins, and meditative corners for {couples}’ rituals. Afterwards, take your champagne apéritif to new heights on the rooftop bar, which has stay music from Thursday to Saturday.
Greatest room for royal aptitude Select from a up to date suite within the fashionable villa, a duplex in former fishermen’s residence La Maison des Pêcheurs, or a turreted room within the château itself. High billing goes to the Suite Panoramique, La Fleur de Jasmin, with its non-public terrace and plunge pool overlooking the Bay of Cannes.
Design particulars Come for the fairy-tale turrets, keep for the beach-chic aesthetic. The château’s heritage areas characteristic arched home windows, unique stonework and luggage of French character. Golden palms, velvet chairs and glinting chandeliers set the temper in Le Bar du Château. Over within the newer villas, it’s all about breezy, oceanside vibes.
One thing to eat Straight out of the blocks, younger chef Francesco Fezza earned a Michelin star for resort restaurant Mareluna inside seven months of its opening. Get pleasure from six- or eight-course tasting menus that draw on his Italian roots, French finesse and Japanese prospers. Down on the sand, beneath a cover of parasols, La Plage Blanche is a shaded escape for ceviche and cocktails. Attempt the Cap d’Azur with Menton lemon or a Hugo Spritz with elderflower. Très Riviera.
See the sights You’re in Théoule-sur-Mer, a quieter nook of the Côte d’Azur, and one of the charming. Right here you’re inside straightforward attain of the big-hitters: Cannes, Antibes and Good, by prepare (the station is a 10-minute stroll away). Nearer nonetheless, stroll the native harbour, discover the Estérel hills or paddle straight from the resort’s pontoon into the ocean.
THE BEST VINEYARD HOTEL
Domaine de Fontenille, Luberon
With a soundtrack of rhythmic cicada track, days at Domaine de Fontenille are properly spent wandering the property’s vineyards, lingering over lengthy lunches and whiling away afternoons by the pool. Ask the staff to pack you a picnic to take pleasure in within the 18th-century bastide’s attractive gardens, study all in regards to the varietals throughout a wine-tasting, or hop on an electrical bike to discover the neighbouring Provençal villages.
There’s loads of house for little ones to run round outdoor at this family-friendly South of France keep, the place they’ll meet the domaine’s donkeys and play pétanque and ping-pong. Come sunset, chill out in your roll-top bathtub tub earlier than donning your favorite French trend model for dinner — make it Maje, Sandro or Claudie Pierlot in a nod to the property’s retail-mogul homeowners.
Greatest room for wine connoisseurs Every of the 25 rooms and suites has its personal character — some with terraces, unique artwork, or sweeping views over the gardens’ historical timber. Households ought to go for one of many Status Duplex Park View, which comfortably sleeps 4.
Design particulars Stroll out of the again doorways of the honey-hued fundamental constructing, and the sight of the fountains — flanked by towering airplane timber and centuries-old cedars — gives the look you’ve arrived at a form of Provençal Versailles. The interiors are cultured and thought of, with a mixture of up to date artwork and classical French touches: parquet flooring, hovering ceilings and partitions hung with gallery-worthy items.
One thing to eat La Delicacies d’Amélie serves seasonal dishes on a shaded terrace overlooking the gardens. A lot of the menu comes straight from the property’s personal natural backyard or trusted native producers. Ask for a relaxing bottle of Fontenille Cuvée Les Impatients, the home’s glowing rosé, and let the afternoon unfold from there.
See the sights That is prime southern Luberon nation, with its fairy-tale hilltop villages, shaded squares and market-day color. Borrow an electrical bike and roll via the countryside to close by Lauris or Lourmarin, or keep inside the grounds and discover the 35 hectares of vines, woodland and fields.
THE BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPA HOTEL
La Réserve Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez
This impossibly serene sanctuary on the Ramatuelle hillside is barely minutes from Saint-Tropez, however removed from the madding crowds and chaos. The arrival alone feels cinematic: inexperienced hills roll out to disclose sculptural structure, as views of the Mediterranean pull you thru the foyer and out to a panorama that’s pure poetry. That is France’s smallest ‘Palace’ resort, and a keep right here will depart you feeling like royalty.
The Nescens Spa is 1,000 sq. metres of immaculate Swiss-inspired wellness: join distinction bathtub remedy, transferring between the infrared sauna and funky plunge tub, or check out some science-backed anti-ageing protocols. A 30-metre outside pool overlooks the verdant hillside and turquoise sea. There are 27 spacious rooms and suites, every with sea-views, a terrace and personal backyard; households ought to go for one of many 14 non-public villas.
Greatest rooms for {couples} and households For {couples} in search of an ultra-romantic expertise, the Taillat Suite Sea View is the one. It’s suspended above the ocean, with wraparound views from its 150-square-metre rooftop terrace — the Mediterranean is yours from daybreak until nightfall.
For households, Villa 7 is the gold normal: 4 bedrooms, a personal pool, trampoline, basketball court docket, and a gouvernante (housekeeper). As befitting a world-class spa resort, the primary constructing is as calm as could be, so households could really feel extra relaxed within the privateness of their very own luxurious villa.
Design particulars Wilmotte & Associés designed the property to stay in concord with nature. The sunshine-filled interiors are courtesy of designer Jacques Garcia; the ceramics and artwork nod to the golden age of mid-century French ornamental arts. All of it works to let that million-Euro view do the heavy lifting.
One thing to eat Chef Eric Canino’s two-Michelin-starred La Voile is a lesson in wholesome haute delicacies, whereas the resort’s brasserie and poolside is on the informal finish of the size. Sip a Paloma cocktail poolside or head to the roof, the place La Muña guarantees Japanese-Peruvian flavours and sundown recognizing.
See the sights A non-public switch can whisk you to La Réserve à la Plage — the resort’s non-public seashore — or drop you at any of Pampelonne’s famed seashore golf equipment for a suitably sun-soaked lunch. You’re simply minutes from the thrill of Saint-Tropez, the hilltop appeal of Ramatuelle, and — for wine connoisseurs — a constellation of vineyards ripe for tastings.
FOR A COOL POOL
Arev Saint-Tropez
This new child on the Riviera block is right here to shake up the scene with its red-white-and-blue maximalism, zero-faff check-in (totally through WhatsApp), and a pool so photogenic it deserves its personal agent. (Though, the resort truly says non merci to cameras — as a result of privateness makes for the most effective events.)
Sip spritzes to stay DJ units by the pool, then sleep off the festivities in your plush suite. In case your hangover is non-existent, padel courts are prepared for motion, and the health club has Peloton bikes and boxing gear. When it’s time to glow-up once more, the spa delivers LED facials and coverings by native model Maison ST. This place feels extra like your personal Tropezian hideaway than a resort.
Greatest room for poolside panache Unsurprisingly, the Poolside Suites put you simply steps from the motion, with a personal terrace main straight to the water. When you’re dry, put together for a sleep of desires within the ultra-plush mattress, full with Hungarian goose-down pillows and cover, plus silky-soft, 500-thread-count French bedlinen.
Design particulars Overlook beige: Arev is a riot of patriotic color, texture and cheeky French aptitude, with critical design pedigree. Anticipate candy-striped every thing, toile de Jouy prints and a way of playfulness that runs all through.
One thing to eat The Strand is a classy revival of Saint-Tropez’s iconic restaurant. Kick issues off with a glass of champagne from the classic trolley, adopted by the catch of the day, delivered every morning by the village’s fishermen. We liked the wood-fired sardines and the truffle ravioli — and it’s unwise to go away with no slice (or three) of the basic tarte Tropézienne. In the course of the Riviera’s lengthy summers, dine alfresco amid historical olive timber.
See the sights You’re simply 5 minutes from the boutiques of Saint-Tropez and the golden sands of Plage de Pampelonne. Probably the most enjoyable solution to get there’s clearly in one of many resort’s customized Citroën Méharis.
A SPA HOTEL IN CANNES
Hôtel Belle Plage & Spa, Cannes
Positioned within the palm-fringed nook of Le Suquet, across the nook from Cannes’ outdated port and La Croisette, Hôtel Belle Plage & Spa is a modern, up to date bolthole. From uninterrupted sea views on the rooftop bar and restaurant to the huge three-floor spa, every thing is designed for fashionable decompression.
Once you hear the decision of the ocean, constitution the resort’s non-public 20-metre Ferretti yacht for a golden-hour glide to the Lérins Islands, or keep put for a bespoke remedy on the spa. You’ll be prepared in your Cannes close-up very quickly.
Greatest room for soothing sea views The standout is the Suite Belle Plage, which has three terraces and à couper le souffle (actually, ‘to chop the breath’) sea views. For households, the adjoining residences with two bedrooms and a kitchen provide independence.
Design particulars That is pared-back Mediterranean luxurious: sculptural curves, peaceable palettes and bespoke Italian-stone finishes. The spa villa is steps away, hidden on a leafy, palm-filled terrasse; reset with a Himalayan salt sauna, a eucalyptus hammam, some Watsu aquatic remedy or a spell within the fashionable health centre.
One thing to eat Get pleasure from a rooftop breakfast, lunch or dinner with a beneficiant serving to of panoramic Med views at Restaurant Bella, whose seafood is sourced immediately from native fishermen. Sunsets right here over the Esterel mountains are unforgettable, and finest loved with a relaxing rosé. Throughout the Spa Villa Belle Plage, attempt the black cod (marinated for 72 hours), Wagyu beef or a platter of artfully introduced sushi at Shiso restaurant.
See the sights Le Suquet is the oldest quarter of Cannes, the place cobbled lanes and native markets are l’ordre du jour. Uncover classic trend treasures (bonjour, Saint Laurent earrings) and cease for oysters and champagne on the Forville Market, open each day. The concierge can organize lunch for you at superstar hotspot La Guérite, the place Sir Elton John has been identified to offer impromptu performances.
FOR A HILLTOP HIDEAWAY
Hôtel Crillon le Courageous, Crillon le Courageous
Within the storybook village of Crillon le Courageous, the five-star Hôtel Crillon le Courageous is peak Provençal: Seventeenth- and 18th-century homes stitched into the hillside, on the fringe of a valley spanning vineyards, olive groves and the distant rise of Mont Ventoux. The resort could be very a lot an extension of the cobbled lanes, Romanesque chapel and ivy-draped façades that kind the village’s coronary heart.
Life right here is unhurried, so linger by the tranquil pool or descend into the vaulted calm of the Spa des Écuries, housed within the former stables. The rituals cowl every thing from bespoke facials to reflexology and mum-to-be massages, but it surely’s the foot-and-leg sports activities remedies that win medals with hikers and Tour de France devotees alike.
Greatest room for valley views Suite 18, a Signature Ventoux Suite, is a scene-stealer. It has twin bathtub tubs for leisurely soaks à deux, and a terrace on the prime of a vine-covered tower for admiring the majesty of Mont Ventoux.
Design particulars Eight Genoise-tiled buildings are strung collectively by secret passageways and charming courtyards. Interiors are by Charles Zana, who has balanced conventional Provençal appeal with crisp up to date class: wood beams, classic furnishings, lovely linens and tomette tiles beneath foot.
One thing to eat On the resort’s restaurant La Desk du Ventoux, the temper shifts with the sunshine, from rosé-drenched lunches on the terrace to candlelit dinners that commemorate the seasons. Chef Thomas Lesage curates refined, terroir-driven menus. The wine record is, in fact, a tribute to the area, with Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Ventoux reds in straightforward abundance. Head right down to the elegant bar on the bottom ground of Maison Roche, the oldest a part of the resort — the high-ceilinged house is an idyllic night spot for enjoyable over your pastis.
See the sights Lace up your boots and got down to discover the ochre-streaked trails of the Vaucluse and Mont Ventoux.
Drive the Côte d’Azur in type with our dream South of France road-trip itinerary, or plot the right weekend in Cannes
