48 Hours at the Royal-Riviera, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
The Cote d’Azur is a classic when it comes to summer vacation perfection. This dazzling coast is known by its ever-returning Jetset clientele for the super-yachts, exclusive beach clubs and legendary grand hotels. One of these palaces was also on my bucket list for years, so it is no wonder my friend and I had to stay here when touring the Cote d’Azur in September. The Royal Riviera is one of the finest places to stay between Nice and Monte-Carlo and truly represents the Golden Era of the French Riviera when it began to become so popular. If I would need to select one hotel that is fit for a Wes Anderson-themed Grand Hotel movie, the Royal Riviera would undoubtedly be THE place! I honestly have to admit that I had a little prejudice before arrival and it turned out I was very wrong with it. In the end, the hotel left an opposite feeling of what I would have expected.
When we arrived at the driveway of the Royal-Riviera I was very surprised. Surprised by how quickly we were welcomed and how friendly the bellmen were. It was not a formal friendliness. I expected that this property would not just look like a grand hotel but that the staff and their behaviour would match the interior and location. Upon entering the hotel and doing the check-in, I was sure that the staff at Royal-Riviera acted very differently from what I was thinking. Everyone was very personal and without even realizing ourselves we immediately felt as if we were guests returning every month or staying at a relative's house. Everyone was being introduced to us by first name, so we of course joined and allowed them to use our first names as well. So one could say that we felt welcome from the moment we arrived. It is great to see that even these days, when hotels enjoy nearly full occupancies at post-pandemic skyrocketing rates, hotels still pay attention to the little details and genuine hospitality.
I would say it was somewhat less than five minutes until we were accompanied to our stunning Deluxe Sea and Garden view. Even though the hotel looks like a huge building from the outside, it is still considered a boutique hotel with only 78 rooms and suites in the main building plus another 18 rooms in the Villa l’Orangerie opposite the pool. Our room was on the second floor and came with a spacious balcony from which we enjoyed a magnificent sea view. Overall the room looked stunning and the contemporary style gave the entire atmosphere a fresh and light touch. Everything inside the bedroom was of the highest standards and I truly loved the heavenly bed. Needless to say, we did not use the en-mirror TV once as we enjoyed our pre-dinner wines on our balcony enjoying the magical sunsets over Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Despite some negative reviews this summer, I can’t say anything bad about the housekeeping - the team did a great job and our room was flawless. Not even mentioning the sumptuous welcome amenities consisting of Deutz champagne and homemade macarons - my two favourite welcome amenities!
What I find interesting about the Royal-Riviera is that you can decide between three different styles of interior design: Contemporary (first and second floor), Classic (third and fourth floor) and Mediterranean (L’Orangerie). While I did not actively ask for a room on the contemporary floors, the team of the hotel allocated just the perfect room without knowing my preference. Having stayed on the second floor, our room also came with a balcony. So in case you would fancy a balcony or terrace, you should opt for a seaside-facing room on the first and second floor - or book yourself a room in L’Orangerie overlooking the main building. At least the bathrooms are pretty similar among all room categories. They didn’t join the last step of renovation and came in classic French Riviera style out of the 90s. However, I loved the brown marble with the wood panelling. Due to the fact that the toilet was in a separate room and it was perfectly maintained, I was fine with the overall look. Toiletries were supplied in small bottles by Lalique and towels were replenished twice daily, so another plus on that side.
One of the most remarkable facilities at this hotel is the sandy beach with access to the Mediterranean Sea. While not the clearest water on the Côte, service was attentive and the private area on this public beach was much appreciated. Later that day we moved up to the main pool for a bit of Riviera bliss. I couldn’t have imagined a better program than sipping rose under the Mediterranean sun in between swimming lanes in the Olympic-sized outdoor pool. It was nice to see that the majority of guests are French families that return to the Royal-Riviera for years. This was also shown again at breakfast which was also among the best we enjoyed on this trip. With the hotel being full, we expected it to be stressful. This is why we opted for in-room breakfast on the first morning but were shown the opposite on the second morning in the restaurant. We immediately found an empty table and the staff was quick in removing plates and cleaning tables for new guests. Overall the buffet had a wonderful selection of high-quality products including Alain Milliat juices and homemade bread selection. With a separate live-cooking station, guests can order any egg dish from the chef.
Special mention goes out to the Concierge team which was among the best I have met in my years of traveling and writing about hotels. Capucine’s recommendations were above par and it rarely happens that a concierge recommends a restaurant I have not on my map and is absolutely my kind of place. One of the recommendations was Olivula directly on the harbour of Villefranche and I am not exaggerating when I say this was the most wonderful dinner spot on this ten-day itinerary. She even arranged the transfer to the restaurant and gave more recommendations for our stay in Monte-Carlo which we obviously have more than enjoyed. Another lovely add-on were the daily turndown-gifts positioned on the bed. From a pillow-mist to special chocolate from a pastry shop in Lyon, these little touches were well-thought-out: whenever I use the pillow mist at home now, I remember the wonderful time made perfect by the team of the Royal Riviera. Speaking of the staff, every single team member was smiling, friendly or greeting us. Chapeau and hands down for such a perfect stay!
Disclaimer: We were guests of the hotel for editorial purposes. However the above written has not been influenced and represents the author’s own opinion.
