What’s super-hot – and ultra-cool – on the Cote d’Azur this summer?

Whether it’s in real life, or a virtual trip you take to the Cote d’Azur this summer, Rive Gauche London’s Nicolas Roux guides you to the places you need to know.

Nicolas’s top three choices:

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes

On the southern tip of the Cap d’Antibes, the almost impossibly chic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is a place you mustn’t miss. You can’t fail to be awestruck by the classical Napoleon III architecture. But what I love is how the hotel blends this imposing first impression with a natural and informal aesthetic as you gaze across jewel-blue Mediterranean Sea.

The two styles meet in the newly renovated Bar La Rotonde, which exudes relaxed glamour in its organic oval shaped room. Mirroring the Rive Gauche ethos, service at the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc is discreet and flawless, matched by a couture interior design style that sets new standards in luxury and comfort. Expect an unforgettable experience that you will want to repeat year after year.

Why I go… to soak up its 150-year history and feel inspired by the stunning natural setting.
My top tip… takeatable at the exclusive Eden-Roch Champagne Lounge where you can savour the world’s finest champagnes.
Don’t leave without… taking a refreshing dip in the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc’s infinity pool, which is carved out of the rocks and filled with seawater.

Contact: Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/hotel-du-cap-eden-roc/

La Réserve Ramatuelle

You don’t have to travel far to escape the hedonistic glitz and glamour of Saint Tropez. A short drive delivers you to the door of La Réserve Ramatuelle, a fantastic hideaway that prides itself on subtle luxuries and refined simplicity.

Designed in the 1970s by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the hotel combines the lines of a traditional villa from the South of France with more modern architecture to blend seamlessly into the landscape. Rémi Tessier created the interiors and I love the resulting soft and calming atmosphere with its modern and linear shapes. It works in perfect harmony with the breath-taking sea views.

Relaxation is the raison d’être at La Réserve Ramatuelle, guaranteed by the exclusive spa complete with 11 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and steam room. If you want to refresh your mind, rejuvenate your sprit and rest your body, La Réserve Ramatuelle is the perfect place.

Why I go… to enjoy the reassuring sense of privacy that La Réserve Ramatuelle offers.
My top tip… head to the rooftop at night where you can enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine under the stars.
Don’t leave without… booking a Le Mer Custom Facial that is tailored to the unique needs of your skin.

Contact: La Réserve Ramatuelle
https://www.lareserve-ramatuelle.com/en

Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo

The iconic Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo is the epitome of Belle Époque architecture that is typical of Monaco. Nowhere is this opulent style more in evidence than in the flamboyant interior of the three-Michelin-starred Louis XV restaurant, presided over by the fêted Alain Ducasse.

I particularly love the elegance of the newly added Prince Rainier III Suite, which offers views over the rooftops to the sea beyond from its private terrace and infinity pool. What’s more, you can’t beat the hotel’s location, set on Monte Carlo’s legendary Place du Casino, where it boasts a prime position on the F1 Grand Prix racetrack. The Hôtel de Paris exudes unmistakable quality and is always my first stop upon arrival in Monte Carlo.

Why I go… for the ultimate in luxury and decadence.
My top tip… grab a post-dinner drink and take in the live jazz at the American Bar.
Don’t leave without… shopping!

Contact: Hôtel de Paris
https://www.montecarlosbm.com/en/hotel-monaco/hotel-paris-monte-carlo

And six more must-sees:

La Réserve à la Plage

If you love La Reserve Ramatuelle, then you must go to its beach club – one of the newer additions to St Tropez’s Pampelonne beach. Designed by Philippe Starck, this relaxed, elegant spot on the sand has the relaxed feel of a cabana and a mouthwatering menu by chef Nicolas Cantrel.

lareserve-plage.com

Hotel Épi 1959, St Tropez

When The Epi first opened in 1959, it became a much-loved destination for French film stars and the international jet-set. After a recent makeover by the American garden designer Madison Cox, the man behind Marrakech’s beguiling blue Jardin Majorelle, the hotel still hash all the charm of that Bardot-era St Tropez – the golden age of the Riviera. For those who like a taste of retro chic.

https://www.epi1959.com/

Chateau de la Messardiére

A new launch for Summer 2021, under the luxury Airelles brand, the palatial 19^th century Chateau de La Messardière – St Tropez’s biggest five-star hotel – has a hilltop perch, set over 25 acres, with breathtaking views over the Gulf of St-Tropez. Don’t miss its elegant wellness spa, with its colonnades, mosaics and Versailles oak floors, and dining courtesy of Nobu Matsuhisa.

messardiere.com

Pan Deï Palais

An ultra-luxury hotel with a fairytale story to tell. This historic townhouse, with just 12 rooms/suites in the heart of old St Tropez, was built by the celebrated French general and adventurer Jean-François Allard as a gift for the lover of his life, the Indian princess Pan Deï. This family home is like a mini Indian palace, with a sense of glamour and history at every turn.

pandei.com.

The Maybourne Riviera

Another newcomer for 2021, and from the same stable as The Connaught Hotel in London and The Maybourne Beverley Hills in LA, the strikingly modernist Maybourne Riviera is buried into the hillside above Roquebrune-Cap-Martin – home to Coco Chanel’s 1930s villa, La Pausa. To the east is the Italian Riviera, to the west is Monaco. And in front, the captivating Mediterranean Sea.

maybourneriviera.com