From the wrap-around terrace of Panoramic Suite No. 1102, at the new Maybourne Riviera, the views stretch ad infinitum. To your right, far below, the high-rises of Monaco glitter at sunset. To your left, the Riviera coastline of France curves in crescent beaches and peninsulas into Italy. Three countries are visible from this vertiginous clifftop perch, but it’s the sea that takes center stage: The Mediterranean sparkles as far as the eye can see.
The Maybourne Riviera opened last autumn in one of the most prized pieces of real estate on the Côte d’Azur. Once upon a time in the 19th century, this rocky promontory above Roquebrune-Cap-Martin was home to a hikers’ hut, then in the 1950s, a hulking hotel was built here called the Vista Palace. After a closure and vacancy for many years, the property underwent a complete transformation over a four-year period to be reborn as the first French hotel for the Maybourne Hotel Group, celebrated for their London trio of Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, along with The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. Paddy McKillen, co-owner of Maybourne Hotel Group, is also the hotelier behind Château La Coste, the art-filled winery resort that’s one of the most luxurious destinations in Provence. You’ll find Château La Coste touches in the olive oil at the hotel’s restaurants and wine in your in-room bar.
To say the Maybourne Riviera has been anticipated is an understatement. On a visit last autumn, we found that it’s a glamorous, self-contained Riviera universe, from the food and art collection to the soon-to-open spa and pool where hang-gliders soar by your sun lounger—so close you could almost reach out and touch them. The wow factor starts when you walk in the lobby, a soaring space with a monumental sculpture by Louise Bourgeois suspended from the ceiling, and iconic Bibendum chairs by designer Eileen Gray on proud display. (These homages to Gray can be found throughout the hotel; her modernist seaside retreat called Villa E-1027 is situated just below the hotel on the coast, as is Le Corbusier’s Le Cabanon.)
Art is a focal point, as is the architecture itself by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, one of the leading architects working in France today. Built into the cliffside on 14 levels, the hotel is a glass-enclosed masterpiece that’s integrated into its natural setting with sprawling gardens on the terraced hillside beneath. The views are maximized from every vantage point. In the Riviera restaurant on the lobby level, the walls are made of glass which can slide open to bring the outdoors in.
The 69 rooms (including 29 suites), each equipped with a terrace, also show off these vistas. The aforementioned Panoramic Suites allow for different perspectives from the bedroom and living area, not to mention the terrace that’s more than 500 square feet. (Why not practice your yoga moves overlooking the Med with the mat provided in-room?) This suite has the feel of a connoisseur’s private residence with interesting books, art, and shelves of vases and decorative objects. What we loved: the custom cabinet that opens to reveal crystal glasses, a Nespresso machine, and bottles of wine and spirits for making your own drinks. There’s also a dining table, walk-in closet, plus a spacious marble bathroom equipped with a Toto toilet, deep soaking tub, and separate shower. Available for bookings starting in April, the Grand Riviera Suite will be the largest room category at more than 1,500 square feet. In the future, there will also be a slew of duplex suites with private plunge pools near the spa. (Designed by André Fu, the spa will open at the end of May under the management of Spa Director Alice Peyret. In the meantime, guests can book in-room massages.)
For VIP bookings, reach out to Nancy Getlan (ngetlan@maybourne.com), director of sales and marketing for the Americas. The general manager is Hamburg native Boris Messmer, who’s worked for the Maybourne Hotel Group’s properties in London for the last seven years.
The views may be the centerpiece, but the hotel’s food also aims for the stars. Jean-Georges Vongerichten has opened his first restaurant in the south of France at the pool bar, while Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco, whose nearby Michelin three-star restaurant Mirazur was named No. 1 restaurant in 2019 by World’s 50 Best, oversees the others. Lunching at Riviera? Don’t miss the seafood-studded trofie pasta and artichoke carpaccio. Dinner at Ceto, the gastronomic restaurant, is a celebration of the sea, in both the gorgeous décor and menu that champions sustainable fishing. Swipe your hand in front of a sensor to summon the elevator (a welcome hands-free tech touch in the age of COVID) and head up to the top floor. Outside the restaurant you’ll marvel at the pink maturation cellar, encased in Himalayan salt, where whole fish are aged. (Make sure to try the red tuna belly, aged for two months, with Kombu seaweed and XO sauce.) The tasting menu changes depending on the seasons, but what doesn’t change is the surprise at the end of the meal: a wooden puzzle box that opens to reveal shelves of sweet treats.
It’s understandable if you don’t want to tear yourself away from the hotel and its epic views. But if you do decide to venture farther afield, the guest relations team can arrange a number of excursions: Riviera garden and villa tours, a day at the Monte Carlo Casino, a behind-the-scenes look at the Matisse or Jean Cocteau museums, a tour of the buildings in town designed by famed architects Eileen Gray, Le Corbusier, and Thomas Egildo Rebutato. Or why not take a jaunt to neighboring Menton? Just 20 minutes away on the Italian border, you’ll find chef Colagreco’s home base. Mirazur has scored top accolades but he also has a bakery and an Italian restaurant called Pecora Negra that serves wood-fired pizzas. Reach out to Guest Relations Manager Andréa Layer (alayer@MaybourneRiviera.com) for details.
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