La Reserve de Beaulieu, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France
La Reserve de Beaulieu 4 Stars
"Top notch, elegant and expensive, cantilevered above the Med between Nice and Villefranche"
Hotel Overview
Review of La Reserve de Beaulieu, by Jamie Dunford Wood
On a coast bristling with upmarket luxury hotels, La Reserve de Beaulieu is one of the most elegant of them all. Though not in the stand-alone class, say, of the stately Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, it is nevertheless an almost flawless example of a refined, small and exclusive luxury hotel in a prime position.
The facilities
La Reserve de Beaulieu has a double Michelin-starred restaurant with peerless views of the Mediterranean; a fine swathe of garden and a large seaside pool, where you get the benefit of warm, unruffled swimming while gazing out to sea. Underneath is a new wood panelled fitness complex, with Turkish bath, jacuzzi and massage facilities. In the grounds of the luxury hotel is a lovely double-bedroomed villa with a private terrace for dinner.
The rooms
There are just 39 rooms - it's an early 90s conversion of a much larger hotel, so the rooms are spacious. Like its sister hotel in St Tropez, the Residence de la Pinede, the keys at this luxury hotel are service and comfort. Service is provided by a well trained staff with a very generous ratio; comfort by a predictable but reassuring use of fine fabrics, soft furnishings, thick carpets, good repro antiques and deep sofas.
Colours are sunny and uplifting but still elegant - cream, pale yellows and pinks. The only element missing from the luxury hotel is state of the art bathrooms. Some could be considered merely functional and only a few have separate showers.
Facilities
Awards
"Gold List", Conde Nast Traveler 07; The restaurant holds two Michelin starsWho stays here?
The elegance and beauty of this hotel make it perfect for a romantic getaway or the enjoyment of older travellers.Come for...
- Alluring heated saltwater pool
- The luxurious spa
- Peace and quiet
Not Suitable for...
- Anyone on a budget
Children
The hotel welcomes children, and provides extra beds and cots on request. A babysitting service can be arranged with the concierge.Eating in
The Michelin-starred restaurant has peerless views of the Mediterranean, and serves elegant, regional cuisine complemented by an extensive wine list.The Press Say
"The quality of the soft furnishings, the grandeur of the oak-panelled bar, the turquoise of the pool - even the peaches-and-cream-cushioned sunloungers - are all just right." The Telegraph 05Reviews
Review of La Reserve de Beaulieu, by Gemma Pitcher
Perched above the Mediterranean, La Reserve nestles in gardens above the village of Beaulieu-sur-mer, one of the Riviera's quaintest villages. A mecca for stylish (and rich) Americans, La Reserve glories in a rarified, old-money atmosphere - inside the pink villa, exquisite furnishings complement tastefully pastel walls and the stunning views of sea, sky and mountainside that gleam in through the glass walls of the lounge.
There's a stepped horizon swimming pool, a brick terrace, private gardens and an elaborate spa complete with heated seawater pool. Naturally, the hotel also has its own private marina. Golf and tennis can both be arranged, while the village provides a casino, a chapel and a traditional Provencal market. The rooms offer variously sea views, balconies, antique furnishings and parquet floors, and all have the full complement of luxury televisions, towels and toiletries. The restaurant works continually to better its long-held reputation as a centre of fine dining, and attracts local gastronomes as well as hotel guests.