14 Best Hotels in The French Riviera, France

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.

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. 

Somerset Maugham holed up in one of the tiny crow's-nest rooms at the top, Jean Cocteau lived here while writing Orphée, and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton used to tie one on in the bar—and this waterfront landmark remains a formidable and flawless retreat. The best rooms are brightened with vivid colors and stenciled quotes from Cocteau, and some top-floor rooms have spectacular harbor views. All rooms have L'Occitane products. During July and August, a three-night minimum may be required, but the staff will work with you when possible.

Gourmands from around the world flock to this lovely 17th-century bastide, transformed by Alain Ducasse—who, as of 2023, has 21 Michelin stars to his name—into a luxury country retreat surrounded by olive and chestnut trees, lavender, and trellises filled with the blooms of rose bushes. Individually decorated rooms with evocative names such as Sunflower, Pumpkin, and Buttercup—some with private terrace, some that lead directly into the park—are decorated with an unpretentious mixture of antiques and country prints.

Often called the most beautiful inn in France, "the golden dove" occupies a rose-stone Renaissance mansion just outside the walls of St-Paul-de-Vence and is so perfect overall that some contend you haven't really been to the French Riviera until you've stayed or dined here. Walk into the dining room and you'll do a double take—yes, those are real Mirós, Bonnards, and Légers on the walls, given in payment in hungrier days when this inn was the cherished retreat of Picasso and Chagall, Maeterlinck and Kipling, and Yves Montand and Simone Signoret (who met and married here). Upstairs, the guest rooms are bewitching, replete with Louis XIII armoires, medieval four-posters, wood beams, Provençal borders, and murals; even rooms in the two annexes are flawless and tasteful.

With a Provençal-yellow facade, blue shutters, balustraded sea terrace, and pretty pastel guest rooms, Brise Marine embodies a picturesque Cap Ferrat hotel. Guest quarters are well maintained and feel like bedrooms in a private home—many have windows that provide views of the gorgeous peninsula, stunningly framed by statuesque palms. Spend the extra €60, and get a balcony.

All of the small, delicately contemporary rooms at this four-story charmer overlook the Citadelle's green park, some from tiny balconies. If there are more than two of you, ask for the pretty loft with an extra cot and a private spiral-stair entrance. Continental breakfast is served on the petite terrasse outside. The cozy Barock bar is open April to October.

Born in the Roaring Twenties, this independent hotel has a decor featuring both Belle Époque and Art Deco influences, with renovated rooms done in cheerful lemon-yellow hues inspired by the region’s citrus heritage. You can choose between garden or mountain views. American Francophiles Sara and Gerald Murphy may have popularized the term "sunbathing" in the 1920s, but you can embrace it today while lounging by the small, outdoor pool. Breakfast is available for €18, but the hotel doesn't offer lunch or dinner. Fortunately, numerous dining options await in town or along the beautifully refurbished port.

Set at an altitude of 3,000 feet, this four-star Châteaux & Hôtels Collection escape has breathtaking panoramas of La Palud's countryside from the breakfast table, plus plenty of activities for non-hikers. You'll also find the right amount of post-day pampering for the whole family, including a spa and heated pool. Traditional cuisine makes up the daily changing menus (with vegetarian options), and the hotel also opened a second restaurant, Le Styx, in town.

As it's set in an enclosed hilltop garden studded with tall palms, mimosas, and greenery, this is the sort of place where the buzzing of cicadas is the only thing that interrupts the silence. Many of the guest rooms—modestly decorated in Victorian florals—overlook the sizable original pool; its presence helps make up for the quarter-mile hike down to the beach, but at these low prices, can you really complain?

This ocher mansion, once the home of an industrialist who hosted the Kennedys and the Rolling Stones, is now the Relais & Chateaux domain of celebrated chef Jacques Chibois, who welcomes you with old stone walls, shaded walkways, an enormous pool, and guest rooms that glossily mix Louis XVI, Provençal, and high-tech delights. The restaurant here is excellent but expensive (mains start at €65). Lunch is a relative bargain at €76 (not available Sunday). Reserve well in advance.

This elegantly modern hotel in Garavan, east of the town center next to Italy, is hard to beat when it comes to value, given that attentive service, a fitness room overlooking a solar-heated swimming pool, and contemporary furnishings all make it feel like a luxury hotel even though it's not. Although you can have the squeeze-your-own-OJ breakfast from the buffet served in your room (€14), if you want an early start, opt for the express breakfast bar (€6).

As much a resort as a hotel, this modern waterfront complex with soundproofed rooms has deluxe comforts and amenities, including a broad beach terrace, and outdoor (unheated) pool, a casino, a restaurant, and access to the Old Course golf club next door. Guest rooms are white with splashes of color and have balconies and sea views from all sides. At the loungy yet glamorous restaurant-grill you can dine well while you gaze over the floodlit swimming pool.

What it lacks in Provençal character, this plush hotel on the green makes up for in modern comforts—each suite, decorated in soothing tones of beige and gray, is an independent apartment that has a separate living room as well as a kitchenette. Most accommodations have vast terraces overlooking the 18-hole golf course, which, with eight lakes, is quite challenging; it's also exclusive, though it's open to guests at the hotel at a preferential rate. The Cinq Mondes spa, set in a 19th-century country house, and the freshwater outdoor pool are steps from the green. The Royal Garden restaurant serves Provençal cuisine with an ethereal modern touch.