« To keep a guest demands as much skill as to win one”
Hotel Cap-Eden-Roc
Every season going back as far as 1870, visitors in search of the essential Riviera have made their way to this elegant hotel, secluded between its own private bay and parkland. Originally opened as a writers’ retreat at the very southwest tip of the Cap d’Antibes, the beauty of the site first attracted the likes of Le Figaro’s founder Auguste de Villemessant, later to be restored and expanded as a hotel in 1889. In fulfilment of a long-time dream that was sparked upon sighting the hotel from a sailboat, Maja and Rudolf-August Oetker acquired the property in 1969 , reviving and enhancing its charms over the ensuing half century.By 2016 their efforts had earned the hotel the prestigious Palace distinction, duly recognized for exceptional characteristics and qualities. This Oetker Collection property has also become engaged in preserving the coastline’s remarkable biodiversity, providing support for the nearby L’Espace Mer & Littoral, the exhibitions of the latter just a stone’s throw away. In addition to its range of spacious suites and private villas, the hotel boasts the whole raft of country club facilities – among them tennis courts, cabanas, a pair of seaside bars and restaurants spread out on gorgeous terraces, as well as a striking seawater pool carved into the rock.
5 STARS
Belles Rives
Encapsulating the allure of the Côte d’Azur, the Hotel Belles Rives is set within a delightful cove of Cap d’Antibes, offering a blend of glamour, serenity and exclusivity. Among the first to succumb to its charms was renowned American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose later novel – Tender is the Night – would be inspired by the seaside extravagance enjoyed here in the company of such stars as Pablo Picasso, Olga Khokhlova, Ernest Hemingway and Rudolph Valentino. Descended from a long line of hoteliers, Boma and Simone Estène arrived shortly thereafter, falling in love with and expanding the Art Deco-style hotel. Realizing the family dream, their grand-daughter Marianne Estène-Chauvin finally acquired the hotel in full in 2001. The hotel now features 43 luxurious rooms and 5 suites, along with two fine restaurants, one of which has a Michelin Star, a parivate beach, a water sports club and an elegant, waterside piano bar.
Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel
Overlooking the sea, the rooms and suites at this 5-star hotel feature high-end, contempo- rary design, while guests can enjoy the private sandy beach, infinity pool, fitness facilities and lush, Mediterranean gardens.
Hotel Juana
This small, refined seaside hotel in Juan-les-Pins boasts a deservedly long and colourful history, counting the Aga Khan, the Duke of Windsor and Winston Churchill among its prestigious guests.
Imperial Garoupe Beach Hotel
With its exceptionally secluded setting along the Cap d’Antibes and its spacious, personalised rooms and suites, the Imperial Garoupe Hotel offers utter tranquillity with a dash of character.
4 STARS
Hotel Royal Antibes
Boasting its own private beach only a short hop from the city, Royal Antibes offers 64 contemporary- style rooms, suites and apartments, a seaside restaurant and lounge and a magnificent spa complex (open to non-guests).
Hotel Sainte Valerie
Situated at the centre of Juan- les-Pins, a stone’s throw from both pine forest and seaside, this essential French Riviera hotel offers both refinement and comfort, having remained in the family since 1945 and thus rooted in a long tradition of hospitality. Bougainvillea brushes the balconies belonging to the bright and spacious rooms, each of which bears the name of a flower and is set around a garden heart, where the pleasant, shady patio is scented with a rich blend of Mediterranean and exotic trees and flowering shrubs.
Villa Fabulite
Rich with the sweet scent of Provence, this peaceful, idyllic villa is attractively laid out around a Mediterranean garden filled with lemon, orange and olive trees just 100m from the sea. Housing 15 comfortably, beautifully- designed rooms, the lush grounds feature an attractive swimming pool, a sun terrace and a restaurant serving market-fresh Provençal cuisine, sourced from local and seasonal products and perfectly paired with wine list selections. Just over a kilometre north of the villa are the renowned botanical gardens of the Villa Thuret, while a short hop further along brings you to Antibes or Juan Les Pins.
3 STARS
Hotel Mademoiselle
Just 50m from a private beach off a buzzing pedestrian street in the heart of Juan-les-Pins, this small and charming boutique hotel aims for the sweet spot between guesthouse and upscale resort – between home and away. Entirely renovated in 2012, it offers 14 unique and colourful rooms arranged in tasteful, Art Deco style, as well as a bright and beautifully- tiled pool area lined with palms and flowering trees, which faces onto a pergola-shaded patio where a gourmet breakfast is served.
Hotel La Place
Conveniently set between the railway station and the beach, marking the entrance to the old town of Antibes, this recently-renovated boutique hotel offers brightly- coloured, air-conditioned rooms.
Hotel Le Grand Pavois
Set at the edge of Juan-les- Pins, this Art Deco hotel boasts a panoramic rooftop terrace and 60 spacious rooms, most with balconies overlooking the sea, pine forests or mountains.
Hotel Mas Djoliba
Set amid peaceful gardens just a short walk from both the city and the sea, this small and friendly, villa-style hotel offers an ideal base for exploring the area or simply for relaxing in the sun by the pool. With a history that traces back to 1925, the unique 3-storey building contains 13 spacious and well-fitted rooms, some with their own garden patios or terraces, offering views to the sea as well as to the pine- dotted peninsula of Cap d’Antibes.
Hotel Le Miramar
Just steps from one of the most beautiful beaches of the Cap d’Antibes, this hotel has 14 well- kept rooms and wonderful terrace views of both bay and mountains.
Villa d’Elsa
Behind the nostalgic Art Deco facade of this whitewashed villa in the heart of Antibes hide 15 uniquely-designed vacation apartments, each fully-equipped with all manner of mod cons.
Hotel Mimosas
A five-minute walk from Juan-les- Pins’ centre in a quiet residential neighbourhood, this friendly hotel occupies a 20th-century mansion facing an expansive garden and swimming pool.
2 STARS
La Jabotte
Hidden discretely from view just back from the sandy Plage de la Salis, this charmingly secluded hotel has welcomed travellers since as early as 1923. Begun as a family boarding house with dormitory beds and a lively, youth hostel vibe, it later shifted from a gîte and table d’hôtes to a soulful B&B, ultimately passing to its present owners in 2013. Today, the hotel features nine colourful rooms, each fitted with its own private terrace, most of them wrapped around a pleasantly shaded garden patio.
Hotel Le Ponteil
Housed in a 1920s villa at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this charming hotel is just a 2-minute walk from the beach and 10 minutes from the centre of Antibes. Recently refurbished, its 12 spotless and air-conditioned rooms are bright, comfortable and well- equipped, some with private terraces or openings to the hotel’s flower-filled garden – a delightful haven shaded by palms and pines where a lovely breakfast is served. It makes an excellent base for exploring the area, with a warm welcome offered by the friendly hosts.
Hotel Le Relais du Postillon
Right in the heart of Antibes, this quaint hotel has 16 unique, air-conditioned rooms, some with balconies overlooking a park. There’s also a garden patio and a cosy fireplace by the bar.
GUEST HOUSES
La Clé de la Porte
Nestled in Antibes’ oldest quarter, this B&B is within easy reach of the city’s historic sites, as well as its bars, restaurants and sandy beaches – among them the Plage de la Gravette, only steps away to the northeast. The rooms, suites and apartments have all been carefully restored to retain their historic charm, while each has access to the B&B’s restaurant and the lovely garden and terrace. The site’s long lineage is on proud display in a Roman well dating to 200AD, while its wine cellar traces even further back to the year 0.
La Bastide du Bosquet
Housed in an idyllic, 18th-century family home, roughly midway between Antibes and Juan- les-Pins, this thoroughly- equipped space can be reserved exclusively to accommodate large parties (of up to 12).
Rue Sade B&B
A romantic setting at the very centre of Antibes, this B&B features well-kept rooms, welcoming hosts and a rooftop terrace with lovely views over the town.
