A vision of ivory loveliness since 1908, nothing says legendary hotel quite like a guestbook that could easily in and of itself be auctioned for millions, featuring as it does casual scribbles from Picasso, that rub shoulders with the signatures of Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill. And that's naming just a few of the many world-famous politicians, actors, artists and writers who've graced the grounds of Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat.
Now a Four Seasons hotel, this Belle Époque beauty ensconced in 17 acres of impeccably manicured pines is set on the exclusive Cap-Ferrat peninsula. It's a verdant finger also known as the 'Peninsula of Billionaires', bejewelled with some of Europe's grandest villas like Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Villa Sospir and Villa Kerylos, and where Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds glide past with such regularity they barely cast a second glance.
The Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat then, is perfectly positioned within its surrounding finery, luring guests with its illustrious past, but we can safely say the fabled hotel is far from staid. It glitters with a 21st-century brilliance thanks to its fabulously maintained spa and beach club, and Yoric Tièche, a chef with Michelin colours who helms its three restaurants and creates culinary magic.
Image credits: @fscapferrat
Upon arrival, the tone of your stay here is immediately set in typical Four Seasons fashion. You'll be greeted immediately with fizz and ushered into the Murano-chandeliered lobby while check-in is taken care of.
It's here you'll notice just how charming beyond belief the Grand-Hôtel is, with accents of perfectly curated white from floor to ceiling filling light-flooded spaces. That extends to its rooms, with one suite in particular surpasses them all: take note of 306 for its terrace that showcases the Mediterranean in all its cobalt glory.
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is set on the 'Peninsula of Billionares', where Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds glide past with such regularity they barely cast a second glance.
But the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is far more than just impressive accommodation, which you likely already have covered on a far grander floating scale. Take Club Dauphin, its iconic sea-level beach club accessible via a funicular that serenely glides past umbrella pines down the cliffside. The club's Olympic-sized infinity pool has been the star of the show since 1939, attracting many a celebrity, though that isn't to say this is a rambunctious spot. Come here to do a few laps a la Bardot or McCartney, before enjoying platters of pillow-soft sushi in one of the cabanas the rest of the sun-baked afternoon.
As the Riviera starts to twinkle, well-groomed guests start to congregate at Le Bar. Watch linen-clad bartenders whip up cocktails with aplomb. We heartily recommend the hotel's answer to the pina colada: where the humble carrot and orange blossom drops take the place of pineapple.
Cap off the night with umami thrills at Le Cap, where Cocteau-inspired frescoes dance along the walls and theatrical interpretations of Mediterranean classics are served with finesse. Head chef Yoric Tièche somewhat surprisingly pairs mint with blue lobster tail successfully, while Pâtissier Florent Margaillan's hollowed-out frozen lemon stuffed with sorbet and lime jelly is a work of art too beautiful to eat. Almost.
Polished off with a grand cru (staff here are fully fluent in the somewhat overwhelming wine list that features over 600 French wines) and an ocean view, this is a dinner to certainly commit to memory.
And the same can be said for one's overall experience at the Grand-Hôtel, an institution that excels in understated elegance and seven-star service.
To visit Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat during your next South of France yacht charter, please consult your chosen yacht charter broker.
Visited: 23/07/2021 and reviewed by Mairead Finlay
