The Sebastian Luxe Guide to the South of France: From Riviera Glamour to Provençal Calm
By Kate Van Dell for Sebastian Luxe Travel
There are trips that reset you, and then there’s the South of France.
The light alone could make a poet out of anyone. The sea is the kind of blue that makes you question your phone’s color settings. The rosé isn’t really wine; it’s mood therapy.
And yet, the South of France isn’t one place. It’s a patchwork of coastlines and countryside, of markets and medieval streets, of high glamour and unhurried beauty. The trick is to do both: the sparkle and the stillness.
This is how to do it, the Sebastian Luxe way.
The French Riviera Coast: Luxury Hotels & Glamour Spots
Èze
If a fairytale ever decided to move to the Mediterranean, it would settle in Èze. Perched high above the sea between Nice and Monaco, the village feels like a mirage of cobblestones and cacti. Every corner smells faintly of jasmine and salt air. Climb up to the Jardin Exotique, a surreal garden of succulents that looks straight out over the Côte d’Azur. On a clear day you can see all the way to Corsica. The path is steep, but the reward is lunch at Château Eza, a terrace restaurant that seems to float between sky and sea.
Stay: La Chèvre d’Or, where rooms open onto bougainvillea-covered terraces and the infinity pool appears to merge with the Mediterranean.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Painted in shades of gelato, Villefranche-sur-Mer might be the most romantic town on the Riviera. It has everything Nice has, minus the chaos. The bay is so still it feels like a secret. Swim before breakfast, then have your coffee barefoot on the dock. In the afternoon, wander the narrow lanes that tumble toward the harbor or walk up to the Citadel for postcard views.
Eat: La Mère Germaine, a seafood institution serving oysters and chilled wine for nearly a century.
Stay: Welcome Hotel, where every room has a balcony over the harbor.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
The kind of beauty that sneaks up on you. Cap-Ferrat doesn’t perform because it doesn’t need to. It’s quiet, elegant, and palm-lined, with old-money glamour wrapped in sea air. Walk the Sentier du Littoral, a cliffside path that passes hidden coves and turquoise water. Stop at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a pink mansion filled with art, fountains, and rose gardens.
Eat: Lunch at Jasmine, the Mediterranean restaurant at the Royal Riviera, for an easy, elegant seaside meal.
Stay: Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons icon with one of the most beautiful pools in the world.
Monaco
Small, glamorous, and exactly what you want when you’re ready to lean into the Riviera fantasy.
Eat:
• Amazonico Monaco for dinner among palms and skyline views
• Cipriani for classic Italian and world-class people-watching
• Gaia for modern Greek in a candlelit setting
• Sass Café for late-night cocktails when you decide not to go home
Stay: Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo for the full experience, or Hôtel Hermitage for Belle Époque romance.
Just outside Monaco, The Maybourne Riviera sits on the cliffs above Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. A glass and stone masterpiece suspended over the sea, it feels futuristic yet timeless. Views stretch from Italy to Monte Carlo, and the design defines modern French luxury.
Eat: Jean-Georges Riviera for bright Mediterranean dishes, or Riviera Restaurant for simple elegance and horizon-wide views.
Why go: Close enough for cocktails in Monaco, far enough to hear the sea instead of the engines.
Antibes
Image courtesy of Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Antibes is the Riviera distilled: old walls, sailboats, and flower-filled markets. The town hums with life yet still feels intimate. Visit the Marché Provençal in the morning, wander the Picasso Museum housed in his former seaside château, then walk the ramparts at sunset.
Eat: Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, refined and unmistakably Provençal.
Stay: Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel for sleek minimalism, or Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc for Riviera legend status. For lunch, reserve The Grill at Eden Roc for sea views and champagne that somehow tastes colder than anywhere else on earth.
Cassis
If Saint-Tropez ever learned to relax, it would look like Cassis. A pastel harbor at the foot of Cap Canaille, it’s all fishing boats, bouillabaisse, and salty air. The main draw is the Calanques, limestone inlets where the water glows turquoise.
Do: Take a private boat through the Calanques to swim in hidden coves and sip rosé on deck.
Eat: Chez Gilbert for classic bouillabaisse, or La Villa Madie for a two-star Michelin splurge overlooking the sea.
Stay: Les Roches Blanches, clifftop elegance with Art Deco touches and the best terrace bar in Provence.
Ramatuelle and Saint-Tropez
High above Pampelonne Beach, Ramatuelle feels like the village Saint-Tropez wishes it could still be. Small, vine-covered, and timeless. Spend your days bouncing between beach clubs and quiet dinners in town.
Eat:
• GiGi Ramatuelle for long lunches that slide into sunset
• Nikki Beach for champagne nostalgia
• Loulou Ramatuelle for the perfect rosé afternoon
• Kinugawa Ramatuelle for sushi and sunset perfection
Stay: La Réserve Ramatuelle, where everything smells like cedar and the view never ends.
The Provence Countryside: Charming Villages & Luxury Villas
Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Vence
If you’ve ever dreamed of painting all day in Provence, this is the place. Cobbled lanes, stone arches, and art at every turn. Visit Fondation Maeght for modern works in the pines, then have lunch at La Colombe d’Or, where Picassos hang casually on the walls.
Eat: Le Saint-Martin for panoramic dining, or L’Oliveraie under the olive trees.
Stay: Château Saint-Martin & Spa, a former Knights Templar castle surrounded by lavender and olive groves, or Le Saint-Paul inside the village walls.
Gordes
A storybook village between two limestone cliffs, with waterfalls running through the streets and the turquoise Verdon Gorge below. Rent kayaks, paddleboards, or just float.
Stay: La Bastide de Moustiers, Alain Ducasse’s inn with gardens and a menu worth the detour.
Aix-en-Provence and Villa La Coste
Aix is what happens when Paris goes on holiday. Elegant, sunny, and full of fountains. Stroll the Cours Mirabeau, sip espresso at Les Deux Garçons, and follow Cézanne’s path to Mont Sainte-Victoire. Nearby, Château La Coste blends world-class art, architecture, and wine.
Stay: Villa Saint-Ange for city style, or Villa La Coste for Tadao Ando architecture, private pools, and vineyard views.
Cotignac and Villa Life
One of Provence’s best-kept secrets. The cliffs behind the village hide ancient caves, and the square hums with fountains, olive trees, and laughter.
Stay: Hostellerie de Cotignac, or rent a private villa through Le Collectionist or Haven In. Most have pools, shaded terraces, and kitchens made for long lunches. From here, day-trip to Aix, Saint-Tropez, or the Verdon Gorge.
Provence with Kids
Provence is one of the few places where a family trip doesn’t mean compromise. Kids can swim, run, and eat crêpes while parents sit under olive trees with rosé and call it supervision.
Things to Do:
• Kayak or paddle in the Verdon Gorge
• Walk the Ochre Trail in Roussillon
• Watch the Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux
• Visit goat farms or olive mills for tastings
• Spend a day at Aqualand Sainte-Maxime, the best local waterpark
• Bike or picnic on Porquerolles, a car-free island
• Stop at the Haribo Museum near Uzès
Best Michelin-Starred & Luxury Restaurants in the South of France
Some meals are simply worth the detour. These are the restaurants worth planning your itinerary around.
Mirazur, Menton – three Michelin stars and views that make you quiet
Oustau de Baumanière, Les Baux – Provençal perfection in an olive grove
Louison, Villa La Coste – where art, architecture, and food meet
La Colombe d’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence – lunch among Picassos
Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, Antibes – refined and romantic
Jasmine, Royal Riviera, Cap-Ferrat – long seaside lunches
GiGi and Kinugawa, Ramatuelle – sushi, glamour, and laughter under the pines
Nikki Beach and Loulou, Ramatuelle – lunch that becomes a memory
Chez Gilbert, Cassis – bouillabaisse and sea spray
When to Go
May and June bring flowers, perfect weather, and smaller crowds.
July and August are lively, with lavender and festivals in full swing.
September offers warm seas, quiet roads, and golden light.
Why You’ll Fall in Love
The coast dazzles; Provence seduces. Together they remind you to slow down, linger, taste, and breathe beauty back into everyday life.
Because the South of France doesn’t ask for much. It simply invites you to notice how good it feels to be here.
Don’t miss my South of France Honeymoon Itinerary on Fora. It’s a step-by-step guide to balancing Riviera sparkle with Provençal calm.
If you’d like to book a trip with me, please fill out my Travel Inquiry Form.
To book one of these hotels with Sebastian Luxe Travel perks through Virtuoso, including daily breakfast, upgrades upon availability, resort credits, and VIP treatment, use this Virtuoso booking link.