120 Best Hotels in France

Set within the Domaine de Chantilly, the largest princely estate in France, Auberge du Jeu de Paume combines its stunning setting with old-world elegance and modern comforts to create a deluxe country retreat. All of the beautifully appointed guest rooms have elegant furnishings, spacious marble baths, and floor-to-ceiling windows—the last being particularly appreciated because many accommodations overlook the château grounds, the historic Grand Stables, and Le Nôtre–designed gardens. For dining, look no further than the hotel's gastronomic Table du Connétable or the Jardin d'Hiver bistro, both featuring the ambitious cuisine of chef Clément Le Norcy, in whose expert hands dishes like succulent lamb with parsnip and black truffle, or crayfish with egg ravioli, chervil, and sweet onion are raised to an art form. There's also a cozy bar for a snack, teatime, or just an apéro. Other on-site perks include a spa, pool, and steam room.

Chef Alain Ducasse put this beautifully restored property—part of a convent once charged with shaping the future queens of Provence—on the map when he took over both the restaurant (now headed by chef Nicolas Pierantoni) and the inn, where guest rooms mix Louis XVI furnishings with regional accents, and the grounds have private gardens and vineyard views. The kitchen is still formidable, with creations that superbly balance flavor and texture—perhaps hake with sweet-almond puree and gnocchi or saddle of lamb with squash and fried chickpea panisse.

At the heights of Bonnieux, amid beautifully landscaped gardens set between the cedar forest and the village, Capelongue's converted stone farmhouses and cottages harmonize with the landscape and capitalize on sweeping Luberon views. Interiors mix contemporary elegance with smart details, like a cleverly built-in desks and minibars and relaxing lighting that recreates the warm Provençal sunlight. Lodging choices include rooms in the main farmhouse; stone cottages with garden terraces; duplex suites with balconies (some with kitchens); and the Pigeonnier, a gorgeously appointed private lodging with panoramic views. Relax by one of the two outdoor pools, and enjoy meals in the gastronomic dining room or the bistro, both with jaw-dropping views. The spa, which has a Roman bath and a hammam, offers cryotherapy as well as beauty treatments featuring products from the French luxury brand Biologique Recherche.

It would be hard to dream up a more graceful assemblage of setting, buildings, and decor than that at this elegant countryside bed-and-breakfast set in a beautifully refurbished and exquisitely decorated 18th-century château in the golden triangle between Blois, Chambord, and Cheverny. Your gracious hosts have thought of everything, from the inviting interiors—done up in an oh-so-chic mix of antique and contemporary—to the luxury bedding. Guest rooms offer meticulously restored period frescos and floor-to-ceiling windows, with lovely views of the river and giant bathrooms. Because there are only five rooms (as well as a private apartment), guests feel totally at home and are free to roam the grounds and gardens (complete with an Eiffel bridge), swim in the heated pool, play tennis, or fish in the nearby river. There is no restaurant, but the owners are delighted to arrange meals at the château from a local Michelin-starred chef. It's also within biking distance of the major Loire châteaux, but good luck tearing yourself away.

Set on a rocky spur just outside town, the former home of the count-bishops of Cahors has older rooms in baronial splendor (ask for one of these), as well as slightly less appealing modern ones; others have a mix of French Moderne and medievalesque furniture that can be jarring, but the ambitious restaurant and great views make up for a lot of sins, as does the spa, outdoor pool, and sunning terrace. One of the best guest rooms is \"Tour,\" with a clever ceiling that slides back to expose the turret. Duck, seafood, and truffles reign in La Duèze, the gastronomic dining room, where chef Clément Costes serves a contemporary gourmet \"cuisine de terroir\" equal to the wines from the estate's highly touted wine cellar (dinner only, closed Sunday and Monday), which you can enjoy on the lovely terrace on fine days. This talented chef also presides over the more casual but very good bistro, open daily for lunch and on Sunday and Monday for dinner as well. The hotel is happy to organize a tour and tastings of the estate's wines.

A stay at this sprawling family-owned wine estate, located between Narbonne's city center and its beaches, is like a course in the art of Mediterranean living complete with surrounding vineyards, sea breezes, an immense wine-tasting cellar, organic kitchen garden, and resident artist studios. Although the individual rooms breathe standard hotel, the grounds and restaurant ooze southern French luxury. Don't miss its annual Jazz à l'Hospitalet Festival, with top-selling jazz artists playing on the premises.

There is no better way to experience old Haut-de-Cagnes's grand castle views than to stay in this acclaimed 13th-century manor, perched on the ramparts of the Grimaldi fortress. No detail was unturned to complete the storybook allure: rooms, named after artists connected to the village, are gorgeously Provençal and look out over the vieille ville and on to the sea, while the bathrooms are so luxe you'll want to take them home with you. If you're arriving at the town square by shuttle bus, the hotel's voiturier will be sent to pick up your luggage.

Retired chef Olivier Roellinger and his wife, Jane, still preside over their family's luxurious hotel empire, which includes the beautiful, castellated, 1920s waterfront Château Richeux. The rooms are sumptuously appointed, large, and airy, with a voluptuous mix of the modern and the antique. Readers rave about Le Coquillage, the hotel's Michelin-starred bistro, which specializes in local oysters and seafood platters served up in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere—the weekday lunch menu is good value for money. The Richeux is built on the ruins of the Du Guesclin family's 11th-century château, 5 km (3 miles) south of Cancale, and is surrounded by a \"Celtic garden.\" Request one of the rooms with large bay windows, which have stunning views of Mont-St-Michel. Several miles away are two more private adjuncts to the Château, also overseen by the Roellingers: Les Rimains, with four guest rooms set in a very handsome Breton stone house, perched over Cancale's harbor; and Gîtes Marins, with two airy, almost Cape Cod–style seaside vacation houses fit for several people.

Behind a locked gate at this sprawling property five minutes from Châteauneuf-du-Pape center, contemporary, wooden eco-cabanes sit beside, just over, or even on top of a secluded emerald-green lake. Each chic cabin is slightly different, but all have decks at least as large or larger than the indoor space and all provide enough style and amenities (most have a sauna or hot tub) for them to feel like far more than just rustic cabins in the woods. Healthy gourmet dinners (served cold) and breakfasts are delivered to your cabin via golf cart at your desired hour. You can enjoy hiking paths, a large pool, and a treatment room with a full range of spa offerings.

Settling into this gracious retreat under the dappled shade of tall trees deep in the Provençal countryside is the easiest thing you'll ever do. Inside, a rare attention to detail was paid to the elegant-country room decor—each one unique but all with a sophisticated contemporary vibe, original artwork (the owners are art dealers), and giant bathrooms. Outside, lounge at the grassy poolside, stroll the lush gardens, hike through the nearby woods and vineyards, or sample the estate wines along with local gourmet treats at the state-of-the-art tasting room. At the gastronomic restaurant and separate bistro, locally sourced gourmet cuisine is paired with the domaine’s fine wines, produced on the premises. And if that’s not pampering enough, a small spa with a steam room offers a range of massages and treatments.

A stay at this lovely restored farmhouse in the tiny hamlet of Les Martins—strategically set between the villages of Gordes, Ménerbes, and Lacoste—lets you enjoy all the wonders of the region without the crushing crowds. There's nothing quite like a meal cooked to your tastes and served alfresco under ancient trees and amid flower gardens. In summer, play pétanque, or cool off in the pool; in chilly weather, enjoy an apéro by the fire. Here, life slows down in the most pleasurable Provençal way.

From the graceful setting—with Blois and the Loire River set out before you—to the luminous interiors and extraordinary dining, staying at Fleur de Loire is an experience to be savored. Guests are welcomed with a serene decor that extends from the common areas to the elegant contemporary rooms, two gourmet restaurants, and a Sisley spa—with sauna, hammam, pool, and fitness room—all in a sophisticated palette of pastel hues flecked with silver and goldlike glints of light shimmering off the river. But the main draw is Christophe Hay’s gastronomic restaurant, where the two-Michelin-starred chef’s deep appreciation for the bounty of the Loire is expressed in dishes of rare refinement. His Armour Blanc bistro (in a separate contemporary building), billed as a “prelude” to the two-star experience, offers plenty of thrills too and is the setting for breakfast, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river, town, and a picturesque bridge. The first-floor pastry shop and bakery serves as a tearoom for gourmet snacks throughout the day.

Despite its splashy name, this gracious five-star hotel keeps a surprisingly relaxed profile. Housed in an 18th-century mansion just steps from the Palais Royal gardens and across the way from the agency where a certain Emily in Paris works, the hotel's focus is less on flagrant luxury and more on the essentials that make a hotel truly grand—service, quality, comfort, refinement, and quiet. From the magnificent wrought-iron staircase to panoramic views of Paris from the rooftop terrace, the bright, spacious rooms—many with private balconies—feature a classic-modern decor in pleasing pale hues with ample marble bathrooms. A menu of lighter fare is served in the lovely winter garden. There's also a cozy cocktail bar and a full-service spa.

This hotel—its facade a riot of pastel-green timbering, checkerboard walls, and Anglo-Norman balconies—has been a town landmark since it opened in 1912, and crowds still pack the place. A regional menu is served in La Belle Époque, the restaurant set in a grand hall which, on a bright night and after a couple of bottles of Dom Pérignon, glitters like the salons of Versailles.

On a small street, just steps from the Place des Vosges and the Musée Picasso, this hotel takes its name and stylish spirit from Joséphine Bonaparte herself. Somehow, its raucous mash-up of leopard print, toile de Jouy, and roses (Joséphine cultivated them) really works. Its lovely bar and intimate terrace are perfect for an apéro or cocktail (open until 11 pm), and its dusky atmosphere feels very Marais: that is, trendy, historic, and glamorous as all get-out.

In an 18th-century convent, this atmospheric hotel on a tranquil side street near St-Sulpice welcomes guests with a cobblestone ante-courtyard, lovely rooms, and a spacious garden terrace. Rooms have period furnishings and fabrics in stripes and floral designs. All have flat-screen TVs, and those upstairs have oak beams and sitting alcoves. Split-level suites have lovely private terraces.

Enjoying the finest location within the walls of the old city, this ivy-covered former Episcopal palace provides a high level of creature comfort, which the ascetic Cathars would most definitely have deprived themselves of. Antique-tile floors, afternoon teas, and the sumptuous La Barbacane restaurant (presided over by Michelin-starred chef Jérome Ryon) help make this the spot for visiting celebrities. Tea is served in the library bar or the rotunda lounge, amid detailed woodwork and leaded windows; formal dinners in La Barbacane, with its double-vaulted ceiling and ogival windows, are quite an event. A pool in the garden beckons on hot days.

Tucked in a picturesque corner of a chic, up-and-coming neighborhood ripe for exploration, this serenely beautiful hotel offers contemporary luxury with clean lines and uncluttered spaces designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Rooms—some with terraces overlooking the pretty church across the way—benefit from the warm earthiness of fine natural materials: organic wool carpets, snowy linens, and marble bathrooms with tubs make for a peaceful oasis unusual in an urban hotel. Casual gourmet dining is just downstairs, next to the cozy lounge and bar, along with a chic bistro, bar, and library.

Set in three 17th-century buildings and featuring a fabulous rooftop pool and terrace, this hotel is a model of contemporary refinement, with bright, spacious suites that have soaring ceilings, tasteful artwork, ample marble baths, and gorgeous color palettes that offset the building's creamy stone. Its elegant aesthetic extends to a Michelin-star restaurant and wine bar, featuring a connoisseur's selection of Provençal, French, and other choice wines. As refined as this hotel is, the owners' laid-back, welcoming vibe puts you at ease.

Set in a former, 17th-century convent, this old town sanctuary is a masterclass in sustainable luxury and loving restoration—from the elegantly simple but beautifully curated rooms to the Roman-inspired spa with thermal baths, historical character blends seamlessly with modern comforts and amenities. The property also has a charming boulangerie and herboristerie (herbalist shop) and stays true to its eco-conscious ethos by serving natural wines at its bar, terrace, and restaurants. Families are welcome, and there is a daily kids club in summer months. 

If it weren't your chic destination for the night, you could easily walk right by this boutique hotel set on a tiny street. Each of its rooms was created by a different designer, giving each a singular character (room Joseph L’Estrange has a small balcony) and different size, although all have spacious bathrooms. It's a favorite among trendsetters, so book early around fashion weeks.

Interior design superstar Laura Gonzalez has combined the neighborhood’s Japanese influences (Rue Saint-Anne) and its Belle Époque glamour (Opéra Garnier) to opulent effect in this poised hotel. Woven bamboo wall coverings, lustrous dark wood, lacquered cabinets for the minibar, and semitransparent window scrolls create a tranquil cocoon that you’ll hate to leave, except for perhaps an hour-long dip in the private pool, refreshing cocktails at the cozy bar, or dinner at Hanabi, the hotel’s chic Japanese-French restaurant. Second-floor rooms in this historic Haussmannian building sport towering ceilings and some rooms come with a balcony (or two). All the rooms feature spacious russet-tiled bathrooms (some with separate bathtub and shower), Nespresso machines, and all the 5-star touches you can imagine.

Not only is this gem of a hotel ideally situated near the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh, but it's also set in a 15th-century stone house—once home to the counts of Arlatan—on the site of a 4th-century basilica whose excavated vestiges are visible through a glass floor in the lobby. Common spaces and guest rooms feature kaleidoscopic Bauhaus-style tiles, pops of jewel-tone color, and ultramod light fixtures. A fine restaurant and bar and a lovely courtyard with a small pool provide all that's needed for a comfortable stay.

The flat, glass-and-concrete facade of this postwar structure grants all the port-facing rooms here broad views of the Vieux Port all the way to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. The modernist rooms are nicely done up in Mondrian-esque primary colors with 1950s-style artwork and handsome black bathrooms. For an extra €30 or so you can get a room with a terrace, most of which are spacious enough to accommodate a bistro table. Well-priced suites on the top floor may be worth a small splurge, as they have larger terraces and an extra room for kids. 

This stylish ensemble of buildings spanning the 14th to 16th centuries oozes history from every arcade of its Renaissance courtyard, and, even better, all guest rooms—named for different Burgundy wines—have been luxuriously modernized and decorated with individual panache; some have wood beams, others canopied or four-poster beds. Those on the top story offer views over Beaune's famed multicolor tile roofs. Breakfast (additional charge) is served in a vaulted cellar; there's no hotel restaurant as such, but the excellent Loiseau des Vignes is right next door. The sleek spa offers the latest in relaxation and well-being experiences including a dry hydro-massage bed, aquabiking, and a state-of-the-art full-body cryotherapy device; the giant barrel outside serves as a sauna.

Besides the thrill of hurtling down the world-renowned Val Thorens slopes, there's really no reason to leave this idyllic, family-friendly hotel, where everything you need or desire is at your fingertips. Spacious rooms, with ample baths, sport a sleek contemporary decor and cozy touches, like woolen throws and colorful rugs, and some come with lovely furnished terraces. The hotel is set right on the slopes so getting in and out is superconvenient. There's a cozy bar and fireplace, a full-service spa with a pool (and view) and gym, and two restaurants: the acclaimed Michelin-starred Les Explorateurs and the sophisticated Le Base Camp.

Cézanne painted Sainte-Victoire from what is now the large flower-filled terrace of this enchanting abode, and you can easily imagine former guests Princess Caroline, Iggy Pop, and Clint Eastwood swanning their way through the magnificent, pool-adorned, topiary-accented garden or relaxing in the spacious, light-filled guest rooms. For sheer Provençal luxe (think plush baby-soft rugs and handsome contemporary-classic decor), this place can't be beat. The restaurant's terrace spills out onto a sculpted green, but the inside dining salon is equally pleasant on a rainy day, as is the spa, thanks to its dazzlingly elegant chandeliers and large picture windows.

Get a sea-facing room at this Belle Époque beauty for fabulous sunset views over the bay, its rocky isles, and historic lighthouse. Built in 1907, Le Regina has been given a superb makeover by the Experimental hotel group, with the reception area giving way to a vast three-story atrium lounge bar and breakfast restaurant, with the outstanding fine dining Frenchie restaurant just off it. Guest rooms are luxurious cocoons, packed with pampering amenities like fluffy robes and mini-bars stocked with pre-mixed cocktails. Breakfasts are lavish and in the summer there's a heated outdoor pool. If it's not pool weather, head to the sybaritic spa and wellness center beneath the lounge.