The Sexiest Hotel In The World

Legendary playground of great artists, film stars and a devoted slice of high society, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc has a burnished reputation even by the standards of the French Riviera. So what is it like to actually snag a room there? ELIZA O’HARE makes some calls.

There are very few hotels that become destinations in themselves, their reputations overshadowing the location, the beach or a Michelin-starred chef. Maybe places such as The Ritz, Raffles and The Plaza. Sometimes these hotels are so famous, guests aren’t even quite sure exactly where they are. They just know the name. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is such a hotel.

In fact, its location, Cap d’Antibes, is a pretty sexy town. It’s built around nightclubs, open-air bars, secret VIP lists, superyachts and billionaires. Saint-Tropez and Monaco are in the neighbourhood, and, hugging a cliff face between Cannes and Nice, nestled between countless other glamorous hotels and grand private residences, is the nine-hectare property that is Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. This hotel is so revered it has been designated a ‘palace’, the highest possible honour for a hotel in France — official recognition by the government that this place goes way beyond any five-star rating and is so influential it is judged to have contributed significantly to French culture. So what does this mean? Be prepared to dress for dinner.