Hotel Les Roches Rouges: Vintage Seaside Glamour on the Côte d'Azur

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Recently, browsing summer travel destinations on Design Hotels, I discovered Hotel Les Roches Rouges, a new seaside resort in Saint Raphaël on France’s Côte d’Azur. Recently renovated by Paris-based firm Festen Architecture, the hotel strikes a balance of pared-down glamour, or what Festen calls “an era of barefoot luxury.” The exterior is grand, perched on the rocky coast above the sea, with balconies, shade sails, and a saltwater pool carved into rock that “harken back to the classic French Riviera style of the late 1950s/early 1960s.” Inside, the 49 guest rooms are stripped-down and simple, with white linens, vintage midcentury finds, ochre chaises, and ocean views. Here’s a look.

the grand \1950s era hotel is perched on the rocky coast: &#8\2\20;opposite 17 — Above: The grand 1950s-era hotel is perched on the rocky coast: “opposite the Ile d’Or, between the pine and tamarisk trees,” the architects say. (Les Roches Rouges means “the red rocks.”)

the entryway is equal parts streamlined and seaside glamour. 18 — Above: The entryway is equal parts streamlined and seaside glamour.

wide glass doors lead inside. 19 — Above: Wide glass doors lead inside.

inside, a lounge with sconces by guy bareff and midcentury finds sourced b 20 — Above: Inside, a lounge with sconces by Guy Bareff and midcentury finds sourced by antique dealers Benjamin Desprez and Hélène Breheret.

the guest rooms feature white linens, natural fiber rugs, and balconies with br 21 — Above: The guest rooms feature white linens, natural-fiber rugs, and balconies with bright canvas chairs. Shown here: a Sea View Superior Room.

the rooms are whitewashed and simple, with high paneled ceilings. the arch 22 — Above: The rooms are whitewashed and simple, with high paneled ceilings. The architects, a husband-and-wife team, widened windows and added concrete floors to create openness and a vintage feel. Much of the furniture is custom-made by local carpenters, or sourced by Paris-based antiques vendor Alexandre Guillemain.

a chaise and throw (from maison de vacances) in deeper shades of gold. througho 23 — Above: A chaise and throw (from Maison de Vacances) in deeper shades of gold. Throughout the hotel are “miscellaneous objets d’art inspired by the sea … sun hats, beach baskets, walking sticks, travel books, and maps.”

marigold hued pendant lights hang by the bedside (and above a deconstructed min 24 — Above: Marigold-hued pendant lights hang by the bedside (and above a deconstructed minibar).

in a guest bath: deep teal tiles and enamelware cups. 25 — Above: In a guest bath: deep teal tiles and enamelware cups.

jaunty red letters—the hotel&#8\2\17;s initials—mark another 26 — Above: Jaunty red letters—the hotel’s initials—mark another vanity.

the bath in a sea view junior suite has concrete floors and an exposed, no fril 27 — Above: The bath in a Sea View Junior Suite has concrete floors and an exposed, no-frills shower.

hotel les roches rouges cinema card detail 30

Above: Should you choose to venture from your balcony, the hotel offers swimming, pétanque, cooking classes, a design-worthy spa (left), and French cinema by moonlight (right).

at la terrasse, one of the hotel&#8\2\17;s two restaurants, an interior din 31 — Above: At La Terrasse, one of the hotel’s two restaurants, an interior dining room with ochre cushions opens out onto a wide outdoor terrace overlooking the sea. The restaurant serves traditional Provençal dishes.

the outdoor dining terrace, strung with globe lights. 32 — Above: The outdoor dining terrace, strung with globe lights.

woven garden chairs and canvas hammocks, for lounging. 33 — Above: Woven garden chairs and canvas hammocks, for lounging.

the dramatic setting. marseilles based landscape architect stan alaguillau 34 — Above: The dramatic setting. Marseilles-based landscape architect Stan Alaguillaume “worked with rather than against nature, planting myrtle, pomegranates, rosemary and lavender in the shade of fragrant pines, and a thicket of scented scrub that looks as though it has grown there since time immemorial.”

Packing your bags? Mr. and Mrs. Smith advises “Bensimon tennis shoes and soft raglan sweatshirts, when you’re not lounging beside the pools in your French-film-star-inspired swimwear.”

N.B. For more by Festen Architecture, see Kitchen of the Week: An All-Stainless Design in a Paris Loft.

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