The French Riviera has always held a special allure, particularly for us Vitamin D-deficient Brits who flock there each summer for a restorative dose of sun, sea and style. Year on year it continues to intoxicate, drawing us back into its thrall with a spate of hotel, restaurant and bar openings (and reopenings). As the mercury inches ever higher and the pull of the Mediterranean grows impossible to resist, take note of these Riviera hot spots, launching just in time for summer 2024.
Palm Beach Cannes
After undergoing a four-year renovation, the iconic Palm Beach Cannes is set to reopen during the Cannes Film Festival this year. The waterfront resort, which has formerly hosted the likes of Grace Kelly, Winston Churchill and JFK, is set to feature the first-ever waterfront saltwater pool on the Riviera, offering stunning views of the Bay of Cannes. It will also boast a fitness centre, wellness area, luxury boutiques and ballroom.
La Réserve Hotel Ramatuelle
Perched on a cliff edge and surrounded by the azure of the Mediterranean Sea, La Réserve Ramatuelle feels miles from anywhere, despite being only minutes from the shops, restaurants and beaches of glitzy Saint-Tropez. This May, the five-star hotel (comprising 19 suites, 8 rooms and 13 pool villas) reopens for the season with freshly designed interiors, overseen by Michel Reybier in collaboration with renowned designer Jacques Garcia. The decor pays tribute to the Riviera’s golden age of decorative arts, embodied by the likes of Picasso and Cocteau. Expect hand-painted frescoes, intricate mosaics and colourful ceramics throughout the amenities and rooms.
Amazónico Monte-Carlo
Amazónico, the Latin American club-restaurant concept that’s swept Madrid, London and Dubai, is the latest jewel in the Monte-Carlo crown. Set in the iconic Place du Casino, it features an airy outdoor terrace and a sumptuous club and lounge, where you can sink into plush furnishings as you tuck into dishes like fresh sushi, raw seafood and grilled meats. Live bands and resident DJs promise a suitably festive atmosphere.
Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez
Boasting direct beach access, a three-Michelin starred restaurant and a stunning infinity pool, Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez has long been a favourite among well-heeled frequenters of the French Riviera. As if we needed any more reason to visit, the luxury hotel has launched three brand-new wellness retreats for the summer season – Harmony, Energy, and Wellbeing – which each feature a results-driven mix of one-to-one personal training, sculpting spa treatments, hiking, paddle boarding, deep tissue and Shiatsu massages and yoga. When all that activity makes you hungry, renowned French chef Arnaud Donckele will be on hand to whip up Michelin star-worthy meals.
La Guérite
La Guérite, a Riviera institution since 1902, is back for the 2024 summer season. Nestled on the rocky cove of Ile Sainte-Marguerite near Cannes, it requires arrival via shuttle boat from Port Canto (or, by private yacht, if you want to fit in with the many high profile guests). Chef Yiannis Kioroglou serves up fresh Southern European cuisine in the restaurant, while DJs spin tracks as the sun goes down.
Elsa Restaurant
Renowned two Michelin-starred chef Marcel Ravin has recently taken the reins at Elsa, an elegant restaurant on Monte-Carlo beach. His new dining concept “Jardin Marin” pays tribute to the Mediterranean, with a menu inspired by the region’s marine life. Expect daring combinations such as tuna Rossini or iodised celery with plankton, all presented in an elegant, airy space with stunning sea views.
Château de Théoule
Having only just opened this spring, Château de Théoule is already shaping up to be an in-demand Riviera destination. Set along the Côte d’Azur and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the property, which dates back to 1630, houses 33 rooms and 10 suites. The hotel boasts access to a private beach, two bars, a spa, an outdoor swimming pool and two restaurants. Get booking.
Arev St Tropez
Promising “bespoke old-school glamour” in the centre of St. Tropez, Arev is guaranteed to be all over your Instagram feed this summer. The boutique hotel boasts 50 individually designed rooms and suites, many with private gardens; a sparkling pool surrounded by striped cabanas; a glamorous Champagne lounge and a luxurious spa offering treatments with Tropezian herbs.
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