Salty air, a beach just minutes away, and an ultra-chic seaside escape culture… The French coast is brimming with upscale hotels where you can soak in all the benefits of the sea. Here is our selection of seaside hotels for a weekend by the ocean—five exquisite havens where you can slow down and recharge for a few days.
Les Hortensias du Lac
Integrated into the prestigious Les Domaines de Fontenille collection, this four‑star hotel is well known among surfers.
Located between Hossegor Lake and the South Atlantic coast, Les Hortensias du Lac presents itself as the first luxury property dedicated to surfing. Water-sports enthusiasts can take lessons and personalize their board, but they can also try paddleboarding or enjoy a sailing excursion.
Back at the hotel, head to the Beach House du Lac for a light, summery bite at noon. In the evening, savor the Hortensias restaurant’s menu focused on seafood and grilled specialties. Throughout the stay, guests breathe in the sea air, with rooms that mostly open onto the lake. The Landes-style beachy décor echoes the vibe of the Hamptons in the United States. The experience continues in the pool and in the spa, which blends blond stones, light woods, and sand-colored ceramics and offers a range of sea-therapy treatments.
Lily of the Valley
In La Croix-Valmer, facing the pristine Gigaro Beach and framed by the Cap Lardier hills, Lily of The Valley is a hotel jewel designed by Philippe Starck.
A member of Leading Hotels of the World, this five‑star property overlooks the Mediterranean, offering spectacular views from its 53 rooms and highly private villas with private pools.
The beating heart of the place? The Shape Club, a 2,000-square-meter wellness hub dedicated to fitness, detox, and longevity, where you’ll find a pool, Biologique Recherche skincare, a fitness area, and nutritional guidance from Dr. Jacques Fricker. The sea is everywhere: from the Beach Club Pépé with feet on the sand to watersports just steps away, every moment is lived between sky and waves. On the culinary side, chef Vincent Maillard elevates local ingredients into a healthy, delicious cuisine, at Vista and Brigantine. A perfect hotel for a wellness weekend.
Hôtel La Ponche
In the heart of Saint-Tropez village, La Ponche began as a modest fishermen’s bar in the middle of the last century. Over time, celebrities began to drop anchor in this intimate hotel tucked away in a cliff-side cove. Countless guests have been drawn to this calm setting, gently cradled by the sound of the waves.
To preserve the place, only 21 rooms are available, renovated by Fabrizio Casiraghi. Four one-to-three-bedroom suites revive the seductive Riviera vibe of yesteryear. The sea is nothing but a natural painting to admire from windows or balconies. The same tone carries to the restaurant terrace, offering, of course, Mediterranean cuisine. At night, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés–style piano bar La Ponche enchants with signature cocktails named after iconic films: Les choses de la vie by Romy Schneider, Le Gendarme de Michel Galabru, and Tu veux ou tu veux pas by Brigitte Bardot. Glamorous, elegant downtime continues in the wellness space with yoga classes overlooking the sea, a facial using La Mer products, and a massage that blends the renewing properties of algae, minerals, and seawater. On both sides, the riches of the French Riviera are at their peak.
Villa Miraé
This five-star jewel from the Inwood Hotels collection sits in Cap d’Antibes. The grand southern-style home with salmon-pink façades houses 35 rooms imagined by architect Oscar Lucien Ono.
Inspired by the sea, sun, and gardens, in sandy tones with a special emphasis on premium materials, the 35 rooms open to the outdoors with a private terrace.
This Relais & Châteaux member features a very elegant pool, a beachfront solarium, and a sauna, while offering treatments and sessions of yoga, meditation, or even osteopathy in this verdant setting. The renowned three-Michelin-star chef Mauro Colagreco oversees the two restaurant concepts: Amarines, a gastronomic venue perfect for dinner, and Miraé, where Mediterranean flavors are savored on the hotel terrace not far from the fountain.
Grand Hôtel de Cala Rossa
Off to Cala Rossa, a true gem in Porto Vecchio’s bay. Here, southern Corsica comes alive in a luxurious, intimate family-house ambiance.
This boutique hotel, housing around forty rooms, including a stunning treehouse, enjoys an idyllic location.
The maxim “feet in the water” proves itself on the terraces of La Pinède and U Sognu restaurants. A simple wooden barrier keeps gourmets separate from the shimmering water under the Corsican sun. I Piattini is located in the gardens and centers its concept on shareable tapas dishes. Tables draw from the estate’s vast kitchen garden, which guests are invited to explore. Once again, the spirit of conviviality shines through. Seven treatment cabins line the walkways along tree-lined courtyards, and the Nucca Spa—with a pool, a sauna, and a hammam—completes the experience.
