Best Luxury Hotels in France

Overlooking Beaune’s ramparts, this 40-bedroom hotel places an emphasis on well-being and good food. Its refined Michelin-starred restaurant, Clos du Cèdre, is housed in the adjacent 19th-century wine grower’s mansion with original decor and an outdoor terrace. There’s a lounge bar with an imposing fireplace, games, a piano and library, as well as a cigar cellar beneath ground. And there’s the Nuxe Spa, located in a stunning vaulted stone cellar with a jacuzzi, hammam and chic treatment cabins. Bedrooms are colourful yet serene, with reverse cycle air conditioning and Nuxe bath products.

More Asian fortress than French ski lodge in its aesthetic, the architecture of this hotel stands out in Courchevel 1850. Perched on the Bellecôte piste, Aman Le Melezin offers ski-in/ski-out facilities. Once inside you’ll find that familiar Alpine vibe. There are 31 bedrooms and suites, some of which have balconies, private hot tubs and fireplaces. There’s much to keep you onsite apres-ski, with a cigar bar, fine Japanese dining (think sushi, sashimi and Wagyu beef) at Aman’s Nama restaurant and a two-storey spa with a columned indoor pool made from Capri stone.

Although part of the MGallery group, Hôtel De La Cité is independently owned, housed in a building that’s more than a century old. Guests staying in one of the 59 rooms benefit from perks such as Nespresso machines, free city tours, valet parking and an airport shuttle. Many visit for a meal at La Barbacane, its Michelin-starred restaurant, where diners have the option to eat al fresco overlooking the fortified walls. The boutique hotel’s facilities also include a souvenir shop, a seasonal outdoor pool and a Cinq Mondes spa with a hammam and relaxation room.

Nestled among the vineyards of Beaujolais, Chateau De Bagnols is  half an hour outside of the centre in a pretty village. Housed in a privately owned 15th-century castle, the hotel offers 27 suites (some air conditioned), across three categories. Contemporary decor in cool tones blends with antiques, four poster beds, vaulted ceilings and beams. The formal restaurant, 1217, is Michelin-starred and features an enormous, majestic, stone carved fireplace, as well as a south-facing al fresco terrace. Or guests can take a seat in the inner courtyard’s Café du Château for lighter meals. Additional deluxe amenities found on site include an outdoor pool flanked by cherry trees, a spa and a gym.

A seaside Grande Dame, this 52 bedroom, seven-storey hotel was built in 1909 in the Belle Epoque style and lies in the city’s old quarter. Glamorous, suites with accents of colour come with blackout curtains, a stocked minibar, premium bedding and bay or town views. The Thalasso Spa opens directly onto the beachfront, with a heated saltwater pool, a mud bath, balneotherapy, a relaxation area and yoga classes among its amenities. Also looking onto the ocean is the Grand Hôtel’s restaurant. Children have their own play area, pets are welcome and there’s an outdoor pool.

This four-star hotel is across from Paul Mistral Park, in the Quartier Exposition-Bajatière, just a short stroll from the city centre. Single rooms through to king-sized suites are available to book, with soundproofing, minibars, room service on demand and balconies. Provided by Sofitel, the property accommodates 40 bedrooms, a hammam, an indoor pool, a sensory shower, a fitness suite and a guest lounge. Valet parking is provided, with complimentary seasonal shuttles to the main ski areas. Meals are served in Le Zebre, a quirky and contemporary drinking and dining venue with easy chairs and sofas — perfect for an evening’s reclining after a day’s Alpine activities.

Boasting an elegant yet simple style, Domaine de Fontenille is set in palatial grounds with several different gardens for guests to explore at their leisure. A number of walking trails wind their way through the grape vines, while the area is also set with a large swimming pool, a boules pitch and a spa that comes complete with a Turkish bath and massage room. Guests can take their pick from 18 luxurious bedrooms and suites, each of which faces the gardens and is decorated in a classic French style with plenty of decadent touches.

Stay in a restored 15th-century building, transformed from a hospice into a five-star hotel in 2003. It’s just a few minute’s stroll from a metro station and handy for city attractions. Dine on northern French cuisine at restaurant l’Hermitage, eat Flemish food at its brasserie, l’Estaminet, or order room service at any time of the day or night. 88 rooms are arranged around an inner courtyard, with original features like stone walls and period fireplaces, bathrobes, air con and minibars. Take some time out, with access to the Spa by Hermitage Gantois, with its indoor swimming pool and hammam.

Originally a seafood restaurant popular with the well-heeled, you can still enjoy the wonderful culinary fare at La Réserve de Beaulieu, but with the added benefit of a fantastic spa and hotel on site. Found between Monaco and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This has the air of an aristocratic residence, with Riviera glamour. Decorated in soft pastel tones, the hotel is furnished with delicate baroque antiques and objets d’art. Many rooms offer terraces with sea views. There are two chic beachfront restaurants to choose from, as well as a lounge-style bar.

Book one of 47 suites at this sleek former coaching inn that’s pet and family-friendly. Here you can swim in an infinity pool overlooking vineyards during the warmer summer months and a 25-metre heated indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows year-round. Treatments at the spa incorporate the region’s signature tipple, with rooms for couples’ therapies. Its restaurant, Le Royal, is renowned with bookings required far in advance. Under the leadership of chef Jean-Denis Rieubland it achieved a Michelin star and uses produce from the property’s own garden. There’s also a brasserie, Le Bellevue, and the Abysse bar for bubbles.

The Hébé Hotel is ideally located in the heart of Annecy. The hotel is comprised of six floors, filled with stunning guestrooms and suites including options for people with reduced mobility and featuring the spacious Suite Hébé and the stunning Balcony Room with a terrace overlooking the quaint street below. The hotel is home to a sheltered terrace where guests can relax all throughout the day and enjoy a continental breakfast or choose from the tempting à la carte menu. There is also the option of an in-room breakfast for days when all you want to do is relax. The bar is open all day serving hot and cold drinks to help you start the day right and offering a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks throughout the night. The hotel offers electric bike rentals to allow you to explore Annecy, the lake, the mountains, and the surrounding areas with ease.

As part of the Four Seasons group, you can expect high-end understated luxury as standard at Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. Set on a peninsula enclave, by a small fishing village, this area has long been popular for famous faces seeking an escape from the limelight, in the lap of luxury. The award-winning spa’s hydrotherapy circuit is a great way to unwind and begin your holiday, before sampling Michelin-starred cuisine at the Chef’s Table in Salon des Collections. For 360 degree views, steam bath, hot tub and a ‘Great Gatsby’ feel, book the Suite Cocteau Penthouse, one of its 74 rooms. Families can take advantage of the kids’ club and there are indoor and outdoor pools for year-round swims.