What it is

An iconic Côte d'Azur grande dame since 1880, with five dazzling bars and restaurants (one Michelin starred), a glamorous spa and a heated pool perched on the Med.

What it isn't

Lacking in Provenance. The hotel has hosted everyone from Pablo Picasso to Paul Newman.

What we think

The fanciful coral and white facade tells you at a glance: this is not business-as-usual. But inside La Réserve de Beaulieu, history and style are palpable. All 39 rooms are elegant and timeless, with intricate wood paneling, plush upholstery and creamy palettes that put the focus on the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding hill views. Even the “Classic” rooms are large at 322 square feet; our favorite, though, are the Junior Suite Towers for their panoramic views over the water. Whichever room you pick, expect abundant luxury. Toiletries are Hermès and robes and slippers customized with the La Réserve logo; you can select your pillow from a pillow menu; staff are happy to unpack your luggage….the list goes on.

You're here because

The turquoise waterfront pool is legendary, with its mosaic-lined interior surface and fringe of cream-colored daybeds emblazoned with La Réserve.

The Moment

Tonight at the hotel’s Michelin-starred La Restaurant des Rois, you’re starting to understand why a food critic once deemed it the “Restaurant of Kings.” You certainly feel like royalty, from your table set under the barrel-vaulted gilt ceilings. But it’s this grilled turbot with bouchot mussels, beetroot and sage jus you’ll be dreaming about for years to come.

Restaurants & Bars

The Restaurant des Rois - A gastronomic restaurant fit for royalty

La Table de la Réserve : Riviera Bistro - Offers an unmistakable gastronomic cuisine

Location

Fronting the Golfe de Saint-Hospice in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, just up the shore from Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild—the Mediterranean villa of the famed banking family that’s now a museum.