The Maybourne Riviera - the Jewel of the French Riviera
Only a handful of European luxury hotels are out of any competition: there is the Bürgenstock Resort, Aman Sveti Stefan, Splendido Portofino, Cipriani Venice and the Maybourne Riviera.
There is no doubt, that the latter one is the most fascinating resort in the South of France these days. High atop Monte-Carlo, this high-end property is the latest five-star hotel on the Cote d’Azur and was the first hotel of the Maybourne Hotel Group outside the UK (now they added a hotel in Beverly Hills). So if these superlatives aren’t enough, the design and service do the rest. This unparalleled design heaven by Jean-Michel Wilmotte does stand out from every perspective. During our stay at the Monte-Carlo Bay Resort the days before, we always got a glimpse of our next destination. Once we arrived in front of the Maybourne Riviera, we were not disappointed in any way. We did not just enter any hotel, but another world. To be honest the first impression was entering hospitality heaven.
From a perfectly designed entrée to the top service upon arrival, everything matches genuinely. Me and my colleague knew that this hotel experience would change whatever we experienced before and the Maybourne Riviera did meet our highest expectations. Upon our arrival at noon, we were well aware that the room was not yet ready so we appreciated when they accompanied us to the two best sun beds at the magnificent pool after settling the check-in process. Sparkling water arrived soon and before we could even digest the view, they brought the ordered bottle of white wine. That’s how a perfect holiday can start. Service at the pool was very attentive and always on-site when needed. To my surprise, they never asked for a room number and we did not need to sign any bill - plus at the end of the stay, all charges were correct. Even though I have seen stunning hotel pools, this was by far something truly special. Not only do you have a very welcoming breeze, but you are overlooking the world’s most expensive place on earth: Monte-Carlo. When swimming at The Maybourne Riviera, you are looking down at the Billionaires below, which adds a special touch to the entire property.
At around 3 p.m., the lady from the front desk approached us with the room keys and informed us that we could move to the room whenever we wanted. Having had the best seats at the pool, our motivation to change to the room wasn’t particularly high so we enjoyed a lunch at La Piscine by Jean-Georges. With steep prices, I can say that the burger and pizza were very tasty, the starters and calamari just average. Soon afterwards we were ready to see the room and were accompanied by another friendly lady. To my surprise, we were generously upgraded to a Corniche Duplex Pool Suite - one of the most stunning hotel suites I have ever stayed in. These split-level suites are inspired by the maritime culture of the Riviera, with the luxury of a large, furnished terrace and a private infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the lower floor. Everything is well designed by BOS Studio and matches the overall interior of the hotel pretty well. I felt that the main focus was drawn towards the stunning view. With a chic bouclé covered sofa and an armchair, the living room came with a coffee table full of welcome amenities, a sideboard with a Bang&Olufsen Bluetooth speaker and a television. In the corner was a guest bathroom with toilet, shower and vanity desk plus a dining area for four with a vast guest bar. While the soft drinks and coffee were all complimentary, the massive selection of alcoholic drinks was of course charged.
On the upper floor, there was the entree of the suite with a console and the entrance to the bedroom. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Monaco, this king-sized bedroom was truly spectacular. The wardrobes were built-in and there was even a vanity desk with a Dyson supersonic hairdryer. Moving further to the marble-covered bathroom, the main centrepiece was the freestanding bathtub which looked more than inviting. I am a huge fan of the oversized walk-in shower with my favourite Bamford toiletries, plus appreciated the separate Toto toilet. Two single vanity desks completed the perfect look of the perfectly designed bathroom at the Maybourne Riviera. Housekeeping was very attentive and did a great job twice daily plus I loved how new the towels felt. To be honest, the bed was not my cup of tea and they could have gone the extra mile with a soft topper on top of the mattress. Overall the Duplex Pool Suite was simply stunning and I could have stayed inside our suite for the entire 24 hours if there hadn’t been so many things to discover within the property. Speaking of which, it was time to shower and get dressed up as we had a reservation at the property’s Le 300 Bar.
Located on the lobby level, the bar is as spectacular as the rest of the hotel wouldn’t there be the light. The sunsets at the French Riviera are unique, but the light at this perfectly situated hotel is mind-blowing. Imagine the last stretch of the Cote d’Azur meeting Italy and everything coloured in a unique orange-red tone. While sipping the bar’s signature drinks, we observed Monte-Carlo turning into night mode. Soon after this perfect pre-dinner setting, we moved towards the other side where we were seated on the terrace of Riviera Restaurant. When staying at The Maybourne Riviera, one has the choice between the Michelin-starred Ceto Restaurant and the more laid-back Riviera Restaurant. We went for the latter one just because we preferred a casual dinner rather than a set menu. This way we could enjoy light a la carte dishes such as Gambero Rosso carpaccio with citrus vinaigrette, braised veal agnolotti and a mouth-watering beef filet with steamed trumpet zucchini and rosemary-pine nut butter. Service was very attentive and we were offered lovely glasses of wine to pair the food.
With the night still young, we headed to the top floor for drinks at Ceto Bar. I found it very interesting that even though the hotel was built at the same time, there are many different vibes and designs. Don’t get me wrong, they are all matching perfectly together but one can move between the outlets and feel like in a different property with the same esthetics. So when we arrived at Ceto, we were blown away by the open layout and the open-air vibes. Cocktails were even better than at Le 200 bar and the bar staff was truly over-the-top. I have to say it was the only right way to end such a perfect day on the French Riviera. Later that night we could still enjoy the private pool before falling into the bed just to wake up hours later to an out-of-this-world view. Light fog above Monte Carlo and bright blue sky at The Maybourne Riviera with the sun reflecting in our private pool - this is a way to be woken up. Breakfast is either served at Riviera Restaurant or on the suite’s terrace. While I should have opted for the latter one, I was too late placing the room service order on the door. Therefore I made my way to the Riviera Restaurant and was rewarded with perfection once more.
On this Monday morning, I enjoyed the best breakfast in my life with the most unique view I can remember. Everything is served a la carte, so make sure to plan enough time for breakfast. As a classic, I went for Eggs Benedict and French Toast. Needless to say, I was so full that I could not opt for another piece of the hotel’s patisserie. Everything was of the highest quality and the speed of serving the dishes was just right. Within one hour, I was back in my Duplex Pool Suite for a last swim. Soon after we had to pack and prepare the luggage by the door for pick-up. Since we didn’t have any plans for this Monday, we decided to enjoy a few more hours by the infinity pool. Concluding the review of one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at is not easy. The Maybourne Riviera is impressive, the location one-of-a-kind and the design unique. You won’t find this property anywhere else and I can highly recommend this hotel for all travel enthusiasts that can afford a stay here. Service was very consistent throughout. While very professional and efficient, they could have used our last names more than just at check-in and check-out. Apart from this, they knew our room number every time and I felt everyone was perfectly trained. For me, it is a solid 10/10 and I think that Maybourne Hotel Group made the best out of the wow location.
