Château Eza

There Côte d’Azur is unfamiliar to no one, and its hotels are famous the world over, especially the grand palaces of Nice and Cannes and the boutique villas in places like Saint Tropez. Quite a bit more rare, however, are château hotels — especially ones as dramatically located as the Château Eza. Here, a few minutes up the coast from Nice, stands the hilltop village of Èze; at its highest point, some 400 meters above sea level, with spectacular views up and down the coastline, is a one-of-a-kind lodging that’s been a local favorite since before the phrase “luxury boutique hotel” was coined.

With a mere 14 rooms and suites it’s just about as intimate as can be; as is typical of historical properties, they vary widely in layout and size, and also in their views. The smallest ones open onto the medieval village, while the larger ones look out to sea, and the Presidential Suite takes in a wide panorama from the hot tub on its terrace.

Absent are such extravagances as a spa or a fitness center — here the communal spaces are limited to a cozy and elegant lounge bar plus a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant with its own impressive views both from within the dining room and outside on the terrace. All the better to maintain the air of seclusion that makes it a worthy alternative to the busier spots along the coast.