Imagine waking up to the sound of the Mediterranean Sea gently lapping at the dock below. You open your shutters and step out onto your balcony, where you are met with vast shades of cerulean sparkling under the morning sun. You’re on the French Riviera in a hotel that is steeped in a history so rich that it spans almost 100 years. Some of the greatest writers, artists, and thinkers have also walked these Art Deco halls, as compelled by the sweeping views of the Côte d’Azur coastline as you are.
Location
Perched majestically in Juan-les-Pins on the prestigious Cap d’Antibes, the iconic Hôtel Belles Rives overlooks the glittering Mediterranean. You’re just steps from the charming Port Gallice, and a quick walk into the centre of town, famous for its lively nightlife, especially in summer.
No matter where you wander, you’ll stumble across something quite out of the ordinary. Vendors selling huge towers of balloons, colourful dancers performing for crowds of captivated onlookers, and, of course, a variety of beachside restaurants humming with excited patrons.
Design
Hôtel Belles Rives was designed with the type of prowess that makes you feel like you, too, are an artist of a bygone era, come to experience the magic that only this special place can bestow. The type of magic that had attracted F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda to rent Villa Saint-Louis, as it was then known, and later served as inspiration for The Great Gatsby. Where Cole Porter was a regular fixture on the piano and Picasso and Hemingway fluttered in and out like the esteemed guests that they were.
Everything is classically Art Deco, from the ornate elevator to the mosaic floors, keeping the elegance of the 1920s very much alive. If you close your eyes, you can almost hear the raucous chatter of a party in full swing, with laughter and the clinking of glasses filling the air. Is that the lingering scent of a cigar or the tip-tapping of a typewriter? Although time has passed, the memories of this bygone era and the characters who graced these grand spaces still remain.
Rooms
My room was nothing short of poetic. Bathed in sunlight, it was spacious, with two balconies that I could stand wistfully on and gaze out to sea. The bed was comfortable, with cloud-like pillows, and at night I’d lie and stare out at the twinkling lights of Golfe-Juan.
A little pack of roasted nuts was left on my pillow each evening, which I ate swathed in my robe and slippers while contemplating life. This whole area has a presence, a je ne sais quoi, if you will. It’s the type of room that you enter transfixed and leave convinced that you, too, can be extraordinary.
Food & Drink
Breakfast was served seaside, where I sipped coffee and ate pastries to the soundtrack of lapping waves. For lunch, I descended the staircase to La Plage, where I enjoyed a Mediterranean-style platter of fresh, local produce before taking a dip at the private beach, a mere metre away. Dinner saw a change of scenery, and I left the soft embrace of Hôtel Belles Rives and wandered on down to their sister property, Hôtel Juana.
Paseo is a feast for the senses, eclectically decorated in that way that makes you audibly gasp in delight.
Contrasting patterns in soothing tones of pinks and burnt oranges, along with velvet upholstery, ornate rugs, and an abundance of plant life, sparked my giddy reflection. While the menu didn’t naturally have many vegan options, they were happy to tailor some dishes, which I excitedly ate in the garden bar to the sounds of a local DJ spinning some tunes.
Amenities
The star of the show is without a doubt the private beach and pontoon, where guests can hire a sunbed and lounge all day while sipping refreshing beverages, rent a paddleboard, or even give water skiing a try. There’s also the Valmont Beauty Corner, where you can enjoy a luxurious treatment or massage if that’s more your speed. You can often hear the soft call of the piano from Bar Fitzgerald, which is the perfect spot to people watch, and guests can also use the pool and facilities at Hôtel Juana, which is just a short walk away.
Service
I saw the staff greeting guests as if they were old friends. Genuine smiles and welcomes were exchanged, leading to inside jokes and life updates. Having come to Hôtel Belles Rives for decades, these weren’t just guests – they were treated as family. It’s less of a holiday destination and more akin to a second home where guests can bring their loved ones year after year and bask in the paradise that surrounds them. Perhaps this is a testament to the original villa that captured so many hearts before it was transformed into the hotel it is today.
Value
Can you put a value on an icon? A pinpoint in history where so many greats have gathered? Probably not, so the value will depend solely on your perception. You may wish to gather with family over long lunches or enjoy a blissful sunset on your honeymoon. Maybe you’re craving a luxurious getaway where the beach is but a step away.
Or perhaps you, too, can feel the energy that hums throughout Hôtel Belles Rives, a quiet invitation to create, to dream, to make art. Whether you answer that call is completely up to you, but one thing is certain – a stay here will linger with you long after you leave.
Hôtel Belles Rives
Contact: +33 4 93 61 02 79
Address: 33 Bd Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Antibes, France
www.bellesrives.com
The author stayed for two nights as a guest of Hôtel Belles Rives. All photos courtesy of Hôtel Belles Rives, except for food photos which were supplied by the author.
