Best Luxury Hotels in France
France – sometimes dubbed ‘l’hexagone’ due to its six-sided shape – is home to what is arguably the most romantic city in the world, and the glitziest rivieras in Europe. The varying climates here will suit all types of traveller – from the cooler north to the sun-soaked south, balmy interior regions and snowy Alpine reaches. Our European neighbour is just a ferry hop, Eurostar ride, tunnel drive, or short flight away. And it provides internationally acclaimed gourmet foods, indigenous cheeses and fine wines – so much so, that French gastronomy has even been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Saint-Tropez
Althoff Villa Belrose
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.
Rhône-Alps, Annecy
Imperial Palace
The stunning Imperial Palace is ideally located in the heart of Annecy and offers guests from all over the world unbeatable views over lake Annecy. Set in a divine Edwardian building, the hotel can be found in the verdant Charles Bosson public park and is close to the idyllic Plage d’Annecy. There are 90 deluxe guestrooms and 14 spacious suites on offer at the hotel, each boasting stunning lake, mountain or park views. Multiple dining options include La Brasserie and Le Riva, overlooking Lake Annecy’s dazzling waters and guests can enjoy a cocktail and the lively atmosphere in Hip Bar. The hotel offers rejuvenating spa and wellness facilities at Cristal Spa including a range of treatments to help you unwind. The on-site Casino Imperial is equipped with traditional games and machines including roulette and table games. The hotel also makes for an exceptional wedding and events venue with the ability to accommodate up to 600 people.
Ile de France, Paris, 16th arr.
The Peninsula Paris
Located on Avenue Kleber, just a few hundred yards from the Arc de Triomphe and close to Montaigne with its chic designer boutiques, The Peninsula is central for those days out, wherever you’re headed. Traditional blends with contemporary in this opulent 200-room hotel. A-listers from stage and screen, and international sports stars are frequent visitors to enjoy the sumptuous rooms, and suites displaying expensive artworks and traditional dark woods with contemporary fittings. Bathrooms have marble floors and walls, deep luxurious bathtubs, and double sinks. Every convenience you can imagine is included in the rooms – and some. A 5-star hotel with a ‘Palace’ reputation.
Ile de France, Paris, 7th arr.
J.K. Place Paris
The J.K. Place Paris is an exquisite modern and sophisticated hotel which is just a stone’s throw away from the Place de La Concorde. The hotel’s 29 rooms and suites are playful and homely. Though the rooms are modern they have an air of stately grandeur which makes one feel absolutely at home in the heart of Paris. The rooms are equipped with Dyson hairdryers, Alma K Toiletries, custom robes, and ready-charged power banks, JK place truly has it all. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Casa Tua, serves classic French and Italian cuisine in a beautiful dining room which is lit up by wide windows and a lovely atmosphere. For guests wishing to relax after a long day of exploring Paris, the hotel has its own spa and gym.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nice
Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
This hotel is one of Nice’s best luxury vacation spots! Located in the heart of the French Riviera the hotel offers the very best that the Mediterranean has to offer. The hotel boasts amenities such as an onsite gym and business centre where guests can take care of important business while enjoying the splendid views of the Mediterranean Sea. The restaurant serves dishes that are made using local ingredients and are prepared by the very best chefs, you can expect a five-star meal every time! After a long day, you can unwind and relax in the Turkish bath and sauna centre located in the hotel. With both, an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool on offer guests can enjoy swimming with the Bay of Angels as a backdrop.
Aquitaine, Biarritz
Sofitel Biarritz Le Miramar Thalassa Sea & Spa
Swim in a saltwater pool overlooking the sea that’s heated 12 months of the year, when you stay at this Sofitel hotel. The spa has a second pool with an endless current, a solarium, sauna, jacuzzi and treatments using Organic Research and Thalassa sea and skin products. Bistronomy-style cuisine is served at Le Restaurant, including the Equilibre menu specialising in well-balanced dishes, as well as salt-free, gluten-free and children’s menus. Guests can also dine in a poolside eatery and drink in the bar. 126 bedrooms at Le Miramar have a calming ambience, decorated with botanical motifs.
Ile de France, Paris, 8th arr.
Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris
Le Royal Monceau is an exceedingly fashionable hotel situated in the centre of Paris. Its interior is bathed in natural light and adorned with modern art pieces which give it a chic flair. The hotel’s rooms and suites are warm and homely, they are all unique and try to tell a different story about the history of Paris, this makes the rooms feel quintessentially Parisian. The hotel is home to a 1500 sq. m Spa and fitness centre which has a 23m pool, fitness coaches, saunas and a hammam. The Royal Monceau also offers guests many experiences such as cooking classes, cinema viewings in its onsite cinema and yoga classes just to name a few. The Royal Monceau boasts various dining options like the exquisite Matushi Japanese restaurant and the Michelin-starred Il Carpaccio Italian restaurant. There are also two bars: Le Bar Long, an exceptional Parisian-style bar and the tranquil Vinales Lounge.
Ile de France, Paris, 1st arr.
Mandarin Oriental, Paris
The Mandarin Oriental is located in Paris’s iconic haute couture neighbourhood in the centre of the city. The Mandarin seamlessly fuses Parisian designs with the Asiatic and luxurious flair for which the Mandarin Oriental brand is known. Rooms and suites are romantic and cosy, many of them also boast exquisite views of Paris’s beautiful streets. The Mandarin boasts an award-winning Spa which has its own steam showers, virtual reality pools and lap pool. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Camelia, uses the freshest and most sustainable ingredients available to create divine Parisian dishes which will excite the taste buds of even the toughest food critics. The Mandarin is also home to the intimate Bar 8 cocktail bar as well as its own cake and pastry shop.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu
Set in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, this 18th century hospital has been extensively renovated to create a luxurious five star hotel. The onsite bar and brasserie is one of the best in the whole of Marseille and is a popular haunt among local people who have a taste for the finer things in life. While the suites that boast Old Port views are impressive, those who want to splurge should select one of the 33 rooms that come complete with a private loggia gallery overlooking the Notre Dame de la Garde.
Aquitaine, Bordeaux, Bordeaux City-Centre
Hotel Le Palais Gallien
Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa is a luxurious, five-star getaway in the heart of Bordeaux’s historic centre. Housed in a beautiful historic building, the hotel is comprised of 28 guestrooms and suites with private terraces fitted with Jacuzzis and features the lavish Montesquieu Suite with its private elevator, starry-sky cinema room and Hammam. Guests are invited to dine in the 30’s private club inspired Le Cercle de Montaigne restaurant serving innovative gourmet cuisine. The on-site Spa Nuxe offers total relaxation and a treat for all the senses thanks to its treatments and wellness facilities. The Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa boasts a tranquil garden with a poolside lounging area.
Rhône-Alps, Courchevel
Hotel Barrière Les Neiges
Taking its name from the surrounding snows, this mountain chalet gives direct access to the slopes. This Hotel Barrière has 20 guest rooms, 22 suites and a penthouse, all draped in sumptuous cream and silky white fabrics with strewn faux furs, offsetting the natural wood structure. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Les Neiges has two restaurants, a bar, a cigar lounge and a pretty terrace for exterior dining accompanied by the DJ’s beats. And in the Diane Barrière Spa, guests will find six treatment booths, a hammam, sauna, cold bath, swimming pool and aquatic course, all spread across 1,000 m2 of pampering space.
Rhône-Alps, Megève
Les Fermes de Marie
Guests here are housed in one of 70 bedrooms, some in chalets and ‘mazots’ (a kind of Savoyard mountain hut). Les Fermes de Marie came into being in the 1980s but now has a classic chalet feel (think Game of Thrones-style; wood panelling, fur throws, sheepskin cushions and rustic four-poster beds). Its new-look Pure Altitude Spa was launched in 2019, with 17 treatment cabins, hot and cold ceder ofuro soaking tubs, a child-friendly indoor-outdoor swimming pool and an adults-only indoor pool. There’s also a hot tub on the terrace, the Traditionnel restaurant and two further eateries that open during high season.