The recently refurbished, Hôtel du Cap Eden-Roc situated on the Cap d’Antibes retains its place as one of the most sumptuous establishments on the Côte d’Azur.  Indeed, some might say – The Globe.

Few realise that Eden-Roc, as it is affectionately known, started its life in 1870 when Auguste de Villemessant, the founder of Le Figaro newspapers, seduced by the tranquillity and beauty of the location, generously built a magnificent refuge for writers, named the Villa Soleil.

Over the years, the refuge lost its lustre and fell into disrepair.  It took the arrival of a young hotelier, Antoine Sella, to appreciate its potential and realised his vision of creating a luxury palace hotel.  The journey of Eden-Roc had commenced.

Since then, the hotel has seen a number of reincarnations – always luxury and always playing host to many Royals, Statesmen and Women, Stars of stage, film and the sports as well as players in high society.

But celebrities aside, what I love about Hôtel du Cap Eden-Roc is that everyone can enjoy the hotel whether you are staying there or not.

What hits you is the tranquillity of the location - the magnificent gardens and beautiful vistas over the water – you simply revel in the whole sumptuousness of the place.

If you are staying overnight or for a séjour, you can choose between a room or suite the main building – the previous Villa Soleil – or if you prefer, stay in one of the stunning villas.

There are two restaurants to choose from – both highly rated in the region.  There is the formal Restaurant Eden-Roc or the, as elegant but more casual, Grill & Bar Eden-Roc.

Not forgetting the bars – enjoy an ice cream at the Juice and Ice-Cream Bar, Champagne at the newly opened Eden-Roc Champagne Lounge (A MUST) or an early evening aperitif at the Bellini Bar or the Bar de la Rotonde.

So, no matter what your budget – room or villa, restaurant or grill, ice-cream or champagne – there is something for everyone to enjoy.

There is a new hotel in town, the Hotel Montana, marvellously located next to Café de Flore and facing a Louis Vuitton boutique.  With its black facade and red neon light, this newly renovated boutique - full suite - hotel, certainly stands out in this chic and quiet street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Hotel Montano houses six suites only, each covering an entire floor.  The architecture was entrusted to Elizabeth Bona-Lemercier and the interiors to Vincent Darré who explains “I didn’t want it to look like a hotel, but rather as if you had been given the keys of an apartment that belongs to Pablo Picasso or Serge Gainsbourg.”

If you want to hang out with the fashion and film crowd as well as the intelligencia, be sure to reserve a table at the hotel's restaurant 'La Gauche Caviar' found on the first floor or just hang out at the ground floor bar from 6pm.
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Le Montana
28 rue Saint-Benoît
+33 1 53 63 79 20 28
Hotel-lemontana.com