Best Luxury Hotels in Rhône-Alps

Housed in a sophisticated listed heritage building from 1820, Le Pélican is situated in the heart of Annecy. Between the entrance to the old town and the spectacular Lake Annecy, you’ll find this luxurious retreat that has transformed a historic hospital into a combination of new and old, especially with the recent addition of a new structure. There are 100 lavish guestrooms and suites to choose from featuring the exceptional Pélican Lake Suite which boasts a 650sqft terrace fitted with a Nordic bath. There is a gourmet bistro restaurant with a glass ceiling and an expansive terrace overlooking the natural wonders of the mountains and the lake. In the lobby you’ll find Bakery Ô Bon Pain serving French delicacies. The hotel offers guests a relaxing heated outdoor pool with a pool bar. There are also weekly live music performances at Le Pélican depending on the time of year. This hotel is pet friendly.

Les Clos des Sens is an intimate and luxurious escape in the stunning surroundings of Annecy. Located close to the Lake of Annecy, this tranquil retreat boasts 10 beautifully appointed rooms offering spectacular lake and city views. The hotel displays simplistic and contemporary décor in every corner with an elegant and sophisticated ambience amidst the stunning landscapes of the area. Guests are invited to indulge in the gourmet dining from the on-site three-Michelin-starred kitchen which allows you to savour the gastronomic delights on offer in the cosy dining room or garden. The hotel offers a heated, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, lined with loungers, inviting you to soak up the summer sun in peace and in style. The hotel’s idyllic location provides easy access to the lake and the surrounding mountains, allowing you to make the most of your stay and see all that there is to see without having to go far.

Overlooking Lake Annecy, nestled in the verdant mountains, the Palace de Menthon offers unique and sophisticated 5-star accommodation in a scenic setting. This one-of-a-kind hotel boasts 66 well-appointed rooms and spacious suites as well as a private waterfront villa. There is an on-site restaurant serving gourmet cuisine in a stunning Art Deco style setting with panoramic lake views from the bay window. The restaurant offers an exceptional wine selection to enhance your luxurious experience while you can opt to reserve this location for an unforgettable private dining experience. There is a cocktail bar for guests to enjoy and the seasonal La Plage area for alfresco enjoyment. The relaxing spa and wellness facilities feature a Hammam, swimming pool and waterfront solarium while there is also a fitness centre. There is a host of sophisticated event spaces on offer to host any type of gathering, be it for a professional seminar or an extravagant wedding celebration.

The delightful L’Auberge du Père Bise – Jean Sulpice sits along the scenic shores of Lake Annecy and invites guests from across the globe to soak in the surrounding landscapes while indulging in the culinary offerings of the chef after whom the hotel is named. The hotel, situated in the bay of Talloires, offers luxurious accommodation in the form of lavish and modern guestrooms and suites featuring the spacious Master Suite and its private outdoor terrace and Jacuzzi. There are two exceptional on-site dining options including the gourmet, 2-Michelin-starred Jean Sulpice Restaurant and Restaurant The 1903, preparing unique flavours and an intimate gastronomic experience that you won’t find elsewhere. The hotel offers guests access to the spa with exquisite wellness facilities including a Hammam, sauna and indoor swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows which allow you to take in the views and let your stress melt away all year round.

Les Trésoms offers luxurious accommodation in the stunning setting of Annecy. The hotel has been decorated with a unique combination of contemporary style and 1930’s Savoyard elegance. There are 52 guestrooms and suites including Attic Rooms with views over the Lake Annecy as well as lavish villas nestled between the lake and the Alps. The hotel offers two room types – lake side offering spectacular views of the lake and forest side rooms with chic Art Nouveau portraits on display. Guests can opt to indulge in the Michelin-starred La Rotonde des Trésoms Restaurant where gourmet dining is taken seriously. There is also the on-site L’Atelier Restaurant and a relaxing atmosphere at The Bar des Trésoms. On-site spa facilities include a Balneotherapy pool and Hammam in addition to an array of blissful treatments. There is also an outdoor pool and relaxation area.

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.

Guests are greeted at this homely venue, nestled in Méribel village, by a large green topiary bear. Inside, is cosy and bright, with plenty of contemporary Alpine style touches. Guests can sip on drinks and listen to music by the fireside in the bar, or retreat to the calmer library (also with a roaring fire). 37 rooms come with iPads and south-facing views, while the dining room provides gourmet cuisine (including a weekly Savoyarde night), under the direction of Michelin star chef Stéphane Froidevaux. Spa Temea offers therapies calling on homoeopathic, ayurvedic and shiatsu traditions, as well as beauty treatments.

Get a taste of Italy, right in the heart of France. This villa’s building design echoes the Renaissance style found peppered through the Old Town. Inside there’s a mix of modern and period furnishings with 18th-century frescoes, large french windows, and 32 rooms. Outside, there’s a sleek pool and large jacuzzi with loungers (from here you can take in the surrounding panorama, from the hillside vantage point). Part of the Relais and Chateaux portfolio, the residence is refined and elegant, committed to fine food that’s crafted using the freshest produce. Les Terrasses de Lyon has a Michelin star, along with some of the best views in town.

Featuring one of the best restaurants, not only in the region but the world, Flocons de Sel has been awarded a rare three Michelin stars for its cuisine. Chef Emmanuel Renaut – himself indigenous to the Haute-Savoie area – is at the helm and invites guests to join him on nearby forest walks, to experience foraging for mushrooms and medicinal plants, while learning more about sustainability. Initially designed to be a family home, this 5-star Relais & Châteaux property is set high up overlooking the village. The hotel incorporates a spa and three restaurants. Bedrooms and suites are spacious, all with either terraces or balconies, some with open fires or wood-burning stoves.

If you’re travelling with a larger group, take a look at Alpaga. Its three-storey chalets can sleep up to 20, with apartments catering for 6, as well as rooms for singles, couples and families. The restaurant, La Table de l’Alpaga, has been recognised with two Michelin stars and specialises in fine plant-based cuisine and there’s a bistro, L’Onyx, as well as lighter food served in the lobby-side bar. Spa de l’Alpaga offers a little hydro adventure, with an in-pool bubble couch and massage jets, all moodily lit and clad in dark grey stone for atmosphere. Alpaga may be a high-end hotel, but it suits those who prefer a relaxed approach to finery.