Best Boutique Hotels in France

Lying between the Seine and the Café de Flore, the Pavilion Faubourg offers guests a chance to experience traditional Parisian luxury with a contemporary flair. The hotel’s 47 rooms and suites are filled with soft colours which render the rooms exceedingly inviting and charming. The rooms are bathed in natural light and no expense has been spared to make them as comfortable as possible from luxurious beds to floor-to-ceiling windows which gaze out over Paris. The hotel’s Spa des Pres by Codage is home to a Hamman, fitness room, deep pool with water jets and massage cabins. The Faubourg’s restaurant, Les Parisiens brings guests and locals alike together to try exceptional food, wine and service all in a setting which pays homage to James Joyce’s iconic book the “Dubliners”. Similarly, the hotel’s bar, the James Joyce also pays homage to the eternal author as it serves exquisite cocktails in a bar which feels just like a classic English club.

Althoff Villa Belrose is a 5-star hotel that sits amongst manicured gardens and pine trees and is just 5 minutes away from the charismatic town of St Tropez. The luxurious retreat boasts 40 rooms and suites that are both elegant and comfortable, are adorned with carefully selected antiques and open onto terraces with sweeping views of the sea, rooms are complemented by expansive marble bathrooms. The Villa Belrose is home to the sophisticated indoor-outdoor Le Méditerranée Restaurant where guests can enjoy aperitifs by the pool and The Club L’Indochine by The Duc NGO, adds to the hotel’s culinary allure. With a vast outdoor swimming pool, a spa utilising premium Swiss Niance products, and trails offering breathtaking vistas, it’s an idyllic sanctuary for those passionate about wellness. Elevated above the vibrant energy of St. Tropez, yet conveniently close to both lush vineyards and picturesque hilltop towns, this is a refined retreat on the Cote d’Azur.

This boutique hotel and restaurant has been enchanting guests for decades with its unique character and views of the Med. Step into a world of timeless beauty as you enter the historic building, where each room exudes a sense of understated luxury. Situated just steps away from the vibrant Old Port and cobbled streets, the setting invites guests to bask in the sunshine on nearby sandy beaches, explore the markets, or simply relax. For those seeking a little tranquil among St Tropez’s high-octane glamour, the hotel has a serene courtyard where you can unwind amidst greenery and the soothing sound of a trickling fountain. Indulge in a pampering massage, tuck into Provencal cuisine, or take a leisurely dip in the secluded pool to complete your relaxation.

When you pay four figures a night for your accommodation, you expect nothing less than the very best of five-star everything. At La Reserve Paris Hotel and Spa, you get just that. Situated on the fashionable Avenue Gabriel, the hotel verges on the ambience of a private gentleman’s club. Built during the 1800s, and providing stunning views across the Paris skyline, the interior was completely redesigned by hotel designer Jacques Garcia. With its modern feel, yet traditional look, the décor and furnishings allude to the personal service which is so much a feature of the hotel.

A 17th-century stately mansion home will be your base, should you choose to stay at La Maison des Têtes (so named, because 106 small stone heads adorn its frontage). The building, a listed historic monument evocative of the German Renaissance, became a Relais and Chateaux hotel in 2015. Its rooms, with wood panelling and beamed ceilings, are in keeping with Alsatian tradition, yet carry a contemporary elegance too. Its Restaurant Girardin received a Michelin Star in 2022, thanks to Eric Girardin’s creative cooking and there’s a brasserie with a cast iron wood stove, as well as original stained-glass windows.

This hotel was actually constructed on the city’s fortified walls in the pretty Little Venice district. Rooms have a grand or cosy style, featuring brocades, wooden beams, classic four-poster beds with drapes and gilt-covered antique furnishings, all very conducive to a flamboyantly romantic getaway. Some bedrooms are more modern in design, with a simpler aesthetic catering to those less keen on the more fussy traditional look — so be sure to request a category that suits your personal fancy. Guests can book a table at the theatrical A l’Echevin restaurant, for gourmet meals. And in summer, there’s a sheltered riverside terrace for alfresco dining.

Indulge in a opulent break at this hilltop boutique hotel set in a village among the vineyards of Champagne, a 20-minute drive from Reims. Each of its 12 individually designed rooms are named after iconic historical figures and take on a Napoleonic style with antiques and chandeliers. Outside, you can take in the views as you dine on the terrace, soak in Norwegian hot tubs, or work up a sweat in the sauna. Inside the glamorous chateau, is the Les Vignes bar and restaurant, with cheese, charcuterie and lighter bites delivered to rooms on request.

Nestled on a wooded hillside, this 18th-century Norman manor house overlooks the Seine estuary. Lush lawns with loungers and a pool lead down to the beach road. Drinks can be taken here, out on the terrace with water views, or inside by a roaring fire. Dinner is taken in a beamed, Michelin-recommended restaurant. There’s a spa, and 12 bedrooms have rustic-chic decor with panelled walls or patterned wallpaper depicting French country scenes, Persian-style rugs, elegant antique furnishings and sleek stone bathrooms. The manor was named after the impressionists who had a penchant for painting on this hill.

Now a five-star ultra-boutique hotel, this was once the home of painter Henri de Saint-Delis, and dates back to the 17th century. It houses just nine very special rooms, which, despite the building’s heritage, boast a sleek contemporary style. Each comes with a steam shower, some have balneotherapy bathtubs. Gourmet breakfasts can be taken in your room, on the patio, with meals served in the dining room and picnics available on request – the culinary emphasis is on homemade and organic dishes at Hôtel Saint-Delis. The attentive staff will be happy to arrange treatments from a French massage champion, horse and carriage rides, kite-surfing and painting lessons.

Saint Tropez is arguably the most famous spot on the French Riviera. Tourists flock here to catch a glimpse of its superyachts and wealthy sun-worshippers. But you can escape the throng in style, at this bohemian hotel. In places, it’s evocative of 1950s Hollywood but also graced with upscale rustic room decor in peaceful tones. Found among the pine littered, picture-perfect hillsides of Ramatuelle, Villa Marie is ideal for couples. There are four-poster beds, open-plan bathrooms, a heated pool on the terrace, a heavenly Pure Altitude Spa, and Dolce Vita, the villa’s veranda restaurant, with cuisine by Chef Cédric Luisin.

This elegant villa is sure to satisfy the wildest dreams of those who love to surround themselves with luxury. Every inch of this establishment has been created with luxury and style firmly in mind and there are plenty of places to unwind in style here. Taking a stroll through the perfectly manicured gardens while taking in the distant ocean views is the perfect way to unwind in style. Guests will also find a large swimming pool set in a beautiful courtyard and a dining experience that will delight even the most demanding gourmet.

Delivering sensational panoramic sea views, the light and breezy Les Bords de Mer is perched directly on the coast and provides guests with plenty of pampering. Guests are treated to private beach access as well as an excellent restaurant where freshly caught seafood is highlighted to mouth-watering effect. This impressive establishment features just 19 rooms and each faces the ocean. Guests will either be provided with their own terrace or balcony to unwind on and this is the perfect place to linger over morning coffee and perhaps a few treats provided by room service before getting ready to explore this stunning seaside paradise.