La Reserve Hotel Spa & Villas - St Tropez

This week one of our fabulous South of France consultants, Rebekah, was invited to stay at the truly incredible La Reserve Hotel Spa and Villas in Ramatuelle, St Tropez.

After a rather dreary weekend in the UK, we couldn't wait to hear more about her trip in the sunshine!

"There is no better feeling than walking through Nice airport on a sunny Friday afternoon to be greeted by your very own private chauffeur. After collecting my bags and escorting me to a luxurious Mercedes-Benz, my weekend had officially begun and off to Ramatuelle I went!"

"After what seemed like a quick 1 hour 30 minute transfer, I arrived at the La Reserve Ramatuelle. I was guided into the main reception area of the hotel with a glass of champagne, soaking in the uninterrupted views of the sea whilst my bags were taken directly to the private villa."

"Arriving at the villa via the in-resort golf buggies, I was greeted by the private butler, Anne. Anne showed me around the stunning villa and helped me to settle in.

Once ready for dinner, we headed into the charming village of Ramatuelle via the in resort chauffeur service.

La Forge - the setting for the evening! A gorgeous Italian restaurant in the heart of the old village. Our chef came to our table and personally introduced himself before explaining the delicious set menu we were soon set to experience.

"Full to the brim, we were picked up and taken back to the villa to find the turn down service you would expect to receive from any 5* hotel."

"An idyllic start to the day with a mouth watering continental breakfast served at the hotel before heading back to the villa to enjoy the sunshine and, of course, the swimming pool!"

"Lunch was served by Anne and her ultra professional team and once again, the food was immaculate."

"Our group headed into St Tropez, again by the in-resort chauffeurs. The sun was beaming and the town and port were picture-perfect. We strolled around the port, browsing the boutiques and shops until it was time for something refreshing to sip."

"Club 55 - the perfect place for a glass of Rose!"

"Time to head back to the villa for our 5pm slot in the spa. We were collected and dropped off and what followed was a heavenly 50 minute deep tissue massage - I would highly recommend to everyone! This spa was possibly the best spa inside a hotel I've ever seen."

"Afterwards dinner at the La Voile, the Michelin star restaurant in the hotel, for another divine evening of fine cuisine, wine and good company."

"The next morning arrived and poolside Pilates was on the agenda! Our wonderful instructor, Benjamin, really put us through our paces."

"A well-earned brunch was served at the villa before our weekend drew to a close and we headed back to Nice airport for our return to the UK."

"All in all, a fantastic weekend spent at La Reserve Ramatuelle where you can experience the hotel, spa and restaurant from the security of a private villa. A highly recommended choice for anyone looking for 5* service."

Contact our South of France villa & apartment specialists today for a tailor-made villa experience:

+44 (0) 1244 62 99 63 

enquiries@elegant-address.com

8 reasons you need to visit France

1. It’s the European favourite

According to official statistics, tourism from within Europe accounts for more than 80 per cent of visitors to France. German’s are the biggest visitors with over 13 million a year, followed by Belgium and Italy. The Brits love it too though with 12.5 million of us jetting over a year!

2. Easy to get to

France shares its borders with eight different nations so it’s easy to ‘country-hop’ and make the make the most of your holiday, even if you just pop over for the day! It’s quick and (fairly) simple to arrive from the UK with the Eurostar and Eurotunnel as well as a fleet of ferries and of course airlines making multiple trips daily. 

3. The Weather

One of the most famous and favourable aspects of visiting the Cote d’Azur is the incredible weather. With bright blue skies, sparkling sunshine, hot summers and even enjoying mild climates during autumn, it’s no surprise that even the head to the sunny south on holiday. “Of the 60 per cent of French people who go away on holiday, some 80 per cent stay within their own country,” points out Anthony Peregrine, author of Telegraph Travel's Le Rosbif

4. The history and heritage

The French have a fantastic reputation for looking after their heritage and proudly promoting their history. They have a talent for keeping historical sites immaculate and interesting; making them relevant and exciting in the present as they were in their heyday. With war sites, historical colourful towns, chateaux’s and castles – You will find a great piece of history everywhere visit.

5. Incredible food

French food…..Enough said! It’s not all ‘escargot’, endless smelly cheese and baguettes (although we will never turn down a warm baguette fresh from the boulangerie) there are plenty of incredible foods to indulge in and dishes to try. Whether you prefer a family ran restaurant tucked away down a side street in a busy town or a Michelin star soiree with finest food imaginable, you will never go hungry – France is famous for its incredible culinary delights!

6. Fine wine 

Ever heard of a wonderful little thing called champagne? How about Claret or burgundy wine? These are all regions and marvelous types of wine that originate from France. There are 27,000 wineries in France and around 110,000 wine growers so there are plenty of famous wines and local ‘bring your own bottle to fill’ vineyards to try. Want to know the best wine bars on the French Riviera? Here is a local’s guide to their favourite wine bars in the region.

7. Perfect pit stop on a European road trip

If you are not one of the millions of people flying over to France then join the other many millions of visitors who pass through the country for a mini holiday on their way to another destination. It is well worth extending your holiday to spend a few nights on the fabulous Cote d’Azur, Paris or wine regions before heading to one of the country’s neighbours such as Spain or Italy. 

8. The mountains are calling

With its varied and incredible mountain ranges, France is one of the World’s biggest destinations for skiing. We love French skiing so much we set up a company that specialises in luxury chalets in the Alps! Whether you are looking for incredible Winter skiing or fantastic summer hiking and activities; there are plenty of stunning, popular resorts to explore and enjoy!

Top 5 French Riviera Dishes

There are so many delightful dishes to try on the Cote d’Azur with each town having its own twist and specialities on French classics. Seaside cities such as Cannes, St Tropez and Cap Ferrat have a seafront influence, with some of the best restaurants by their harbours with a fabulous selection of fresh fish on their menus.

We have created a list of our favourite dishes to try on your visit to the French Riviera and that you can attempt to make at home. Bon Apetit!

Salad Nicoise

An all time favourite and french crowd pleaser; a trip to the Cote d’Azur would not be complete without a salad Nicoise. This delicious, filling salad includes mixed salad leaves, tomatoes, red onion, olives, tuna, green beans, hard boiled eggs as well as occasionally new potatoes and anchovies. Best served with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Salad Nicoise Recipe

Ratatouille

Did you know ratatoille originated from Nice? Created in the Old Town of Nice, the ingredients can vary depending on tastes but essentially it is a mix of fresh herbs such as thyme and garlic with vegetables incudling onion, carrot, aubergine, courgette and tomatoes. This dish is often served as a side to either chicken or veal in France.

Classic Ratatouille Recipe

Soupe Au pistou

A delicious, indulgent soup made from a blend of fresh garlic, basil, olive oil and beans. This is a popular Provencal dish that can be enjoyed as a starter or a light lunch on the go.

Soupe Au Pistou Recipe

Moules et Frites

What better place to enjoy fresh mussels than sat in the French Riviera sunshine, looking out to the beautiful meditteranean sea? Hot crispy fries, a bucket of intensely fresh mussels marinated in garlic and white wine, served with a piece of crusty french baguette to mop up all of the flavour!

Classic French Mussels Recipe

Pissaladière

This is a gorgeous savoury tart made in the style of a pizza. This dish also originated from Nice, with traditional toppings inclusing caramelised onies, olives, garlic and anchovies. It’s a great choice for a starter or a lunch and you can grab it from most boulangeries for just a few euros.  

Delicious Pissaladiere Recipe

What are your favourite French dishes? Have you experienced a local delicacy whilst in the South of France? Let us know in the comments below! 

Top 5 Cote d’Azur Markets

An integral part of French lifestyle, and one of France's most famous attributes are the traditional weekly and daily markets. With a great variety of goods on offer and beautiful surrounding towns, immersing yourself in the local culture and going to a nearby market really is a 'must-do' for any trip to the South of France.

Here are our Top 5 markets to visit on the French Riviera:

Biot – Provencal market

Every Tuesday morning the Biot market takes place in the town’s historical center. From the rue Saint Sebastian to the Place Arcades, traditional products and fresh produce including vegetables and fruits are on display alongside delicious local Provencal and French products. Here you can also pick up some fashionable French clothing, jewelry and handmade dishes of Provence.

Cannes – Marche Forville

Get a taste of local life in Cannes at the Marche Forville, or Forville Market. The outdoor market is full of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, breads, cheeses and more. The perfect place to find all the ingredients you need to create your own Mediterranean dinner! You can find the farmers market Rue du Marché Forville just a few minutes’ walk from Le Vieux Port. Forville Market is open seven days a week and closes about 2pm, apart from Monday’s when it is turned into an antiques market. 

St Tropez – Places Des Lices

In the heart of St Tropez’s famous Place des Lices this is a fantastic open air market sells a huge range of foods including breads, pastries, cheeses, sausages, flowers, olives, spices, herbs, fruit and vegetables as well as clothes, beautiful antique mirrors and collectables. Locals head to the market early to secure the freshest produce and to secure the best bargains, so worth setting your alarm a little earlier for this one!

Antibes – Marche Provencal

An authentic Provençal covered market in the heart of Antibes. Situated in Cours Massena in the Old Town with over 30 producers and vendors ranging from butchers, florists, cheese experts and market gardeners to tiny stalls selling spices, olives, homemade jams and fragrant soaps. A beautiful market to walk through with a true vintage French feel. In 2014, the market was awarded a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ by TripAdvisor. Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers every morning, apart from Mondays in winter and arts and crafts every day from 3pm.

Nice - Flower market

In the shade of pretty striped awnings, hundreds of flowers make eyes at you. It will be hard to resist the multi-coloured geraniums, intense mauve fuchsias, dahlias with their anemone-shaped flowers, and the vivid impatiens being sold by the nursery vendors. Anyone strolling by these harmonious floral displays will be able to breathe in the fragrances and enjoy the colourful bouquets, plants and exotic flowers that await them. 

Our South of France consultants are dedicated experts in the regions we work in. Get in touch today to receive unrivaled knowledge when booking your perfect villa for your trip to the Cote d'Azur. 

Call +44 (0)1244 629963

or

 enquiries@elegant-address.com

Antibes and Nice: A Snapshot of The French Riviera

The French Riviera offers a landscape of contrasts – stunning natural coastline dotted with busy marinas and picturesque resorts, fabulous towns lush with gardens of citrus trees and olive groves, postcard-perfect villages that feature in the paintings of the greats such as Matisse and Chagall and dramatic alpine hinterland blessed with rare wildlife and magnificent scenery.

We can capture the je ne sais quoi of this region by offering the best luxury villa rentals, apartments and hotels complete with exclusive VIP access and concierge services and you’ll soon be enjoying your own luxury holiday rental experience in the footsteps of Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Renoir.

ANTIBES

Elegant Address has a vast portfolio of luxury rental properties on the Cap d’Antibes, and if you stay in this area you must visit the nearby town of Antibes. Antibes has a defined mark on the history of the French Riviera being a major Greek trading post in the 5th century BC, and was fought over or ruled by Barbarians, Counts and Grimaldis through the millennia.

Today, holidaymakers swarm Vieille Ville (Old Town) for artisan olive oil, Herbs de Provence or bespoke artworks and Port Vauban - fortified by and hence named after King Louis XIV’s military engineer – is the region’s largest marina with the most luxurious charter yachts berthed there year round and events such as Les Voiles d’Antibes and Antibes Celebrates Yachting ensuring a visible yachting presence in the town.

Our suggestions for Antibes highlights:

Musée Picasso

Picasso occupied a studio here in 1946 and his collection of ceramics, prints and paintings during that time now occupies part of this museum alongside abstract paintings from Nicolas de Staël, Fernand Léger, Joan Mirò and bronze figurine sculptures on the sun-drenched terrace by Germaine Richier.

Musée Peynet

This small, quirky museum located at Place Nationale is one of four museums in the world devoted to the works of Raymond Peynet (There are two in France and two in Japan). It includes over 300 works of his time as an artist through lithographs, ink, watercolours and etchings. Porcelaines, poupées et autres produits dérivés sont également présentés.Displays of porcelains, dolls and humorous caricatures are also presented including works by other cartoonists.

A reproduction of a famous one of Antibes called Les Amoureux aux Remparts is found on a plaque at Pointe de L’Ilette near Plage de Salis, and if you are fortunate to be married in Antibes, the Town Hall issues all couples a marriage certificate with the image of Peynet’s Lovers printed on it as a testament to love.

Le Figuier Saint-Esprit, 14 rue Saint-Esprit

In an idyllic setting not far from Port Vauban, one Michelin star restaurant Le Figuier Saint Esprit is a favourite of the superyacht crowd and French Riviera jet set who come here to dine on culinary creations such as squid and clams cannelloni with cuttlefish ink juice and basil leaves, and tempting desserts such as lavender crème brulée.

Chef Christian Morisset has worked at some of the incredible eateries across the region including La Chèvre d'Or in Eze, La Terrasse of the Hotel Juana in Juan Les Pins and Le Moulin de Mougins and he makes divine dishes filled with the best Provençal flavours that can be enjoyed in a gorgeous restaurant with a sprawling fig tree as its centrepiece.

Our insider tips are to make a reservation via the Michelin website where you can access special offers including an excellent value lunch menu for €39, and to take advantage of the formule vin Le Figuier whereby Sommelier Romain Esnault expertly matches your dishes with the perfect accompanying wines.

La Taille de Guêpe, 24 rue de Fersen

Located in a side street of Vieille Ville (Old Town), this intimate restaurant is well-known by locals and ideal for a couple’s dinner with fairy lights creating a romantic ambience. 

The most unique thing about La Taiile de Guêpe is the floral theme that is reflected both in the décor and the cuisine. Seasonal menus offer light, healthy food with edible flowers giving dishes creativity and an unexpected taste. Expect to see mains and desserts garnished in petals – all edible – and explained to curious diners.

Menus are big on flavour, but light on calories and your wallet – we highly recommend reservations.

NICE

Nice, is one of the most desirable destinations on the French Riviera with a splendid blend of traditional charm and modern cosmopolitan living. 

From the shopping areas fanning out from avenue Jean Médecin and rue Massena, to gleaming superyachts and fish restaurants at Nice Port and the sights and sounds of vibrant Vieux Nice (Old Town), it’s a city ripe for exploring.

We have luxury rentals in nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, Eze sur Mer and Saint Jean Cap Ferrat which are all within easy distance of a day’s sightseeing in Nice.

Our suggestions for Nice highlights:

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Claiming the title of the second city after Paris for its number of museums and galleries, one of the finest in Nice is the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Set in a Genoese-inspired mansion, make the time to visit to marvel at the collections of 15th to early 20th century art including works by Degas, Bonnard, Dufy Monet, Signac and Niçois artist Jules Chéret. Our insider tip is to buy a French Riviera Pass from the Office du Tourisme that gives holders free access to Nice’s fourteen municipal museums and galleries.

Musée Matisse

Situated in a spectacular building with trompe l’oeil façade, the Musée Matisse set next to the olive trees at Cimiez is a must-visit for enthusiasts of Matisse’s work. 

Permanent collections show the techniques he used to produce his art, his work as a founder of Fauvism, his personal objects, sculptures, photographs, the paper 'cut-outs' which he made in later life after he became bedridden, and sketches for the murals he completed at Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence. Unknown to many visitors to Nice, the cemetery across the park from the museum holds the graves for Matisse and another prominent painter, Raoul Dufy.

Flaveur, 25 Rue Gubernatis

Awarded a Michelin star, Flaveur is on our culinary itinerary for their contemporary take on French classics. Mickaël and Gaël Tourteaux, chefs, founders and brothers go foraging in the hills twice weekly to source wild herbs and flowers to use in their dishes. Their food often includes exotic spices and sauces inspired by flavours from their childhood in Guadeloupe and world travels. 

Reservations are recommended as this cosy restaurant has 30 covers only – we suggest trying the petits farcis, island salmon or roast duck with an Asian twist.

Voyageur Nissart, 17 rue Alsace Lorraine 

Located a short stroll from the Nice Ville train station, family-run Voyageur Nissart is off the tourist track and therefore a bistro that locals want to keep secret.

Without an ounce of pretentiousness, the menu includes Niçois and Ligurian staples such as osso bucco, gnocchis gorgonzola and tarte au citron made with lemons from Menton.

If you’re looking for a traditional establishment offering a warm welcome and serving well-priced bistro food made with seasonal produce, this is our pick. 

Article written by Bespoke Yacht Charter – The specialists in luxury yacht charters and boat rentals on the French Riviera and beyond. Visit www.bespokeyachtcharter.com