Bright and Airy: The Maybourne Riviera

Because of its euro-luxe design and jaw-dropping views, my stay at the Maybourne Riviera in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France was one of my favorite stays of all time. The hotel is conveniently located atop a cliff above Monaco and within a fifteen-minute drive to Eze, Villefranche and Mention. The intricacy, service, and aura of the hotel all come together to create this masterpiece. Their rooms are inspired by “the movement of the sea, the verdant landscape, and the spectacular views beyond“. Think neutral curved leather furniture with pops of color from the blue-striped chairs in the rooms or orange bottles and cups by the pool.

We had the pleasure of staying in the Grand Sea View Studio. The room reveals the instant wow factor as soon as you walk in with a view of the shimmering Mediterranean Sea and the dreamy and luxurious city of Monaco, meters and meters below. Behold, your bed and balcony straight ahead and the bathroom and closet on the left. Included with your room rate, you get a Dyson supersonic hairdryer, a Bang & Olufsen portable speaker and a Nespresso coffee machine. The room is equipped Super King bed, which can also be separated into two smaller beds upon request. The linens are crisp and have a gigantic thread count. The rain shower and bathtub are in the same room, making it hard to decide where you will enjoy the same gorgeous view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. As you prance past your wood-paneled open closet, you notice two full vanities with the best lighting for getting ready. Then, you can sit on your auto-open, heated, drying and bideting smart toilet. Now, for the star of the room: the balcony and the view. Situated between France and Monaco and hovering at 1,148 meters above sea level, the hotel is on Mont Agel, which proudly signifies the highest point of Monaco. Whether it’s for sunbathing on the padded lounge chairs or eating breakfast (served on a formal dining table with all the bells and whistles), this balcony is pure perfection.

All staff at the front desk, pool, valet and concierge were all pleasant and hard-working. They could always manage to get you into that super-booked restaurant or beach club, which was very helpful for us because we booked the trip just two weeks in advance. I got to know the two of them especially well. First was the kick-ass concierge lady who booked an impeccable and personalized experience and helped us plan our days perfectly. The other was a valet who would also drive us in a pastel Moke to nearby dinners and beach clubs. I sat shotgun and we talked about parties and social scenes. He was so real and close to my age, so we connected on a lot.

This hotel is all around a superior stay. Don't get me wrong. But, we often did have to wait upwards of 30 minutes for staff to deliver new pillows, in-room breakfast menus or towels. They did apologize for the wait, but it was still frustrating. Another inconvenience is their room sizing, or rather the pricing of their larger rooms. There is already a massive splurge with room rates for a room for two starting at $2,100/night in the summer, but the only rooms for four are their lavish suites, which start around $9,000/night. This makes it nearly impossible for a family of four (like my own) to visit without dropping six figures, including taxes and fees.

Overall, I would highly recommend this hotel and the experience it provides. While they have their fault points in room service and pricing, they more than make up for it with the atmosphere, views and luxury. They make it super hard to say goodbye.

I recommend the Maybourne Riviera if you are ever going to the French Riviera. Stunning views, great location and attentive staff. Best suited for couples or small families who love architectural masterpieces

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to French Riviera, France. In need of further inspiration? Check out Melissa Elliott’s guide, Frolicking on the French Riviera.