Cap Estel

There are two ways to properly do the Riviera: either march into one of the big grand hotels in Cannes, in full view of throngs of adoring fans or paparazzi, plonk down a pile of cash, and flounce around like the celebrity you are; or else find some secluded spot and duck in, out of the view of prying eyes (this latter usually still involves plonking down a pile of cash, but that’s the Riviera for you).

Cap Estel falls squarely in the latter category. Built by a 19th-century Russian aristocrat, it’s always been intended as a posh and private hideaway — out at the end of its own five-acre peninsula, it’s nothing if not secluded. Inside it’s equal parts period piece and modern boutique, in vibrant blues and bright minimalist white, with modern beds and baths alongside antique mirrors and Louis XVI armchairs. Rooms look out over the Mediterranean from private terraces and balconies, and the suites are sprawling and decadent, some in the main building and others in an Italian-style villa closer to the sea.

Meals are served at the Pool House, by the seaside infinity pool, or in the dining room, both reserved for guests only — no chance you’ll have to have your photo taken here. In fact there’s no need to step off the grounds at all; Cap Estel comes with a fitness center with another beautifully tiled indoor pool, a sauna, and facilities for massage and spa treatments, as well as a private beach and even a billiards room, a piano bar, and a private cinema.

How to get there:
Cap Estel is approximately a 30-minute drive from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE).