The World's Most Romantic Hotels: France
Honeymoons, anniversaries, engagements, make-ups — there are plenty of reasons to be amorous. Find love in all the right places with this list of romantic destinations in France.
Jump to: Paris | Côte d'Azur | Provence | Champagne-Ardenne | Poitou-Charentes | Haute-Savoie | Corsica | Courchevel
CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE
Les Crayères
Reims
What's to Love: A sumptuous 20-room chateâu in the heart of Champagne. Feels like a mini-Versailles with romantic four-poster beds, vintage wallpaper patterns, oil paintings, and enormous marble bathrooms. Surrounded by seventeen acres of private park, so you might not want to leave the property.
Good to Know: The Michelin-starred restaurant Le Parc serves more than 400 Champagnes, many of which can only be found locally. After dinner, tuck into the cozy La Rotonde Bar for a nightcap.
Royal Champagne
Épernay
What's to Love: Opulent hotel overlooking the Marne Valley with an outstanding restaurant. Ideally situated for tours and tastings in twin Champagne meccas Epernay and Reims. Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, and Dom Pérignon: oh yes.
Good to Know: Accessible from Paris by train, but you'll want to have a car to explore the local vineyards and sights.
CORSICA
Domaine de Murtoli
Where: Sartène
What's to Love: A stay in your own painstakingly renovated 17th-century farmhouse surrounded by 5,000 acres of natural farmland and miles of private beach is the best expression of rustic luxury I have ever experienced. You can order meals to your cottage for complete privacy, dine under an arched rock roof in a cave for a touch of society, or dig your toes into the sand at a beach restaurant made entirely of driftwood for an unforgettable moonlight dinner.
CÔTE D'AZUR
Château Eza
Èze
What's to Love: Perched (literally) atop a well-preserved medieval town that is itself perched on a Tolkein-esque mountain outcropping above the French Riviera. Ridiculously romantic tiny hotel with shockingly good views that extend all the way to St. Tropez and Corsica.
Good to Know: Confirm that your room has a balcony. And unless you have a fear of heights, insist on the balcony table in the Michelin-starred restaurant.
COURCHEVEL
Hotel Les Airelles
Where: Courchevel
What's to Love: You will aways greeted very warmly and wonderfully. The furniture and decoration in a home-y local style suit the hotel's secluded atmosphere.
HAUTE-SAVOIE
L'Abbaye de Talloires
Talloires
What’s to Love: Seventeenth-century abbey surrounded by grape arbors on extremely romantic Lake Annency in the French Alps. Not far from Geneva, but less obvious and more secluded. Resist the temptation to dine at the precious and stuffy Auberge du Pere Bise and hit the charming Café de la Place in the center of the village.
Good to Know: Get a room in the front of the hotel facing the lake. The rooms on the side are small and monk-like.
PARIS
Auberge du Jeu de Paume
Chantilly, France
What’s to Love: The chateau, originally a medieval fortress inhabited by many French families, is in the heart of horse country just outside Paris. The hotel complex includes the Condé Museum, home to the second largest collection of Master paintings after the Louvre. Rooms are decorated like a French mansion fantasy and overlook the Grand Stables, an 18th-century racecourse that still sees plenty of horsey action today. Ride on.
Haven
Paris
What's to Love: Feel like a local in your own Parisian pied-à-terre. Cute, well-decorated apartment rentals in prime locations throughout the city. It's nice to have the option of going to the market and preparing your own meals.
Good to Know: Apartments come with a computer and wifi. Use the Haven staff to help plan your visit; they make good suggestions.
Hôtel Bourg Tibourg
Paris
What's to Love: Sumptuous décor by Jacques Garcia that makes you feel like you're living in a jewel box. The small spaces are endearing and cozy; every detail is a delight.
Good to Know: Request a room with a balcony and start the day with your flaky croissant and espresso outside in the morning. Have a drink in the the lounge and browse their extensive library of French authors.
Hôtel Costes
Paris
What's to Love: If you have money to live like a rock star or supermodel, this is the place to do it. From hidden corners in the lobby to the bordello-inspired guest rooms, each space is suffused with a warm glow perfect for a rendezvous. Wear your sunglasses to breakfast in the courtyard, and people will wonder who you are.
Good to Know: Call ahead and have your room filled with flowers from the on-site florist.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Paris
What's to Love: Night views of the twinkling Eiffel Tower: It never gets old. Al fresco dining in the garden courtyard is one of the many brilliant touches.
Good to Know: Bring your chic. The Avenue Montaigne location means you're surrounded by beautiful shops, beautiful people, and beautiful food.
Read More on Fathom: Love Letter to the Plaza
Hotel Sezz
Paris
What's to Love: Tucked away on a quiet residential street in the tony 16th arrondissement far from the tourist throngs, you can live your Parisian fantasies in total privacy. Sleek rooms are made for amour, with centerpiece beds, glass-walled bathrooms, and deep tubs.
Good to Know: The Veuve Clicquot Champagne bar doubles as a breakfast room; every guest is assigned a personal assistant for the duration of their stay.
Photo courtesy of La Reserve.
La Reserve
Where: Paris
What's to Love: Absolutely everything. This brand new, ultra-luxurious boutique bolthole has light-filled suites, surrounding gardens, and a relaxing spa with pool (a rarity in the City of Lights).
Good to Know: The restaurant is an intimate Belle Epoque experience with exquisitely prepared fish, decadent, artisanal cheeses and a killer chocolate souffle. The challenge here will be leaving the property to explore the neighboring Grand Palais and the culture at your doorstep.
Le Bristol
Paris
What's to Love: Everything. Period, full stop. Start with the low-key yet incredibly efficient stable of concierges that recommend interesting restaurants and score hard to come by reservations (at Yam'tcha and Spring, to name but two). Next up, the peaceful, traditionally appointed rooms which make you want to stay inside and revel in the luxuriousness of it all. Mind-numbingly expensive but so worth it.
Good to know: Ask for a corner room on a higher floor which affords beautiful light as well as substantial sitting and bath rooms. The latter are outfitted with Hermes toiletries, enormous bathtubs, and steam showers the size of an average NYC apartment. Added bonus: The hotel's chef, Eric Frechon, is a three Michelin-starred chef. A meal here is a must.
L'Hotel
Paris
What's to Love: Cozy, historic hotel in the middle of St. Germain.
Good to Know: Use the concierge to secure restaurant reservations in advance of your trip and don't forget to check out the hotel's Michelin starred dining, L'Restaurant.
Read More on Fathom: L'Ultimate Hotel
Le Pavillon de la Reine
Where: Le Marais
What's to Love: Low-key hotel with an amazing location on Place des Vosges. Beautiful and picturesque courtyard and vine-covered facade. The staff is fantastic.
Good to Know: Request one of the newly renovated rooms.
Radisson Blu Le Dokhan's Hotel
Paris
What's to Love: The Champagne bar, the extremely knowledgeable staff, and the ridiculousness of having a Louis Vuitton leather-lined elevator. Lovely rooms — they're small, but what room in Paris isn't?
Good to Know: Request a room with views of the Eiffel Tower. Visit the market down the street to stock up on water, wine, and other drinks.
Read More on Fathom: My Parisian Fantasy
POITOU-CHARENTES
La Baronnie Domaine du Bien-Etre
St Martin de Ré, Il de Ré
What's to Love: Hidden hotel with a walled garden run by an ex-model and her osteopath husband. Very charming and quite chilled out at the same time.
Good to Know: There are few cars and you can bike the whole island in an afternoon.
Le Senechal
Ars en Ré
What's to Love: Sun-bleached pastels of an old fishing town given a relaxed contemporary finish.
Good to Know: Down the road you can hire bikes to use on the myriad of cycle-only paths around the island. Ile de Ré is where most of France's fleur de sel is produced.
PROVENCE
Baumanière
Lex Baux de Provence, France
What's to Love: A boutique hotel in the heart of picturesque Provence with luxurious surroundings — gardens, pools, and five distinct buildings with chic simple rooms — and one of the most wonderful restaurants anywhere. Sit outside in summer and savor fresh vegetables from their garden or sip Petrus in the 50,000-bottle wine cellar. Whatever the case, you need never leave this picturesque property. A weekend here feels completely restorative.
Hotel des deux Rocs
Seillans
What's to Love: The authentic French feel that's very grandmère meets contemporary. Wonderful on-site restaurant with traditional Provençal cuisine.
Good to Know: Don't build a to-do list — live without it. This is an authentic small town experience; those looking for amenities like wifi and bellhops will be disappointed.
La Bastide de Marie
Ménerbes
What's to Love: Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, this place exudes authentic Provençal charm without being twee. Spend your afternoon watching the chef harvest lunch and dinner from the potager.
Good to Know: The manager has a pug named Sushi.
Baumanière
Where: Les Baux
What's to Love: A magical retreat that's all about sumptuous finishes, lounging by the pool, and eating and drinking. For a couple, there is really no reason to leave — except to possibly do some antiquing in nearby St. Remy.
Good to Know: People pilgrimage here for the haute cuisine and meals can take hours. Prepare to sip Chateau d'Yquem and stare lovingly into your partner's eyes as you lull through your food coma.
Photo courtesy of L'Oustau de Baumaniere.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
The World's Most Romantic Hotels
Contributors: Ingrid Bernstein, Rory Brownlee, Becca Bull, Anna Watson Carl, Caryl Chinn, Mark Colodny, Sonya de Castelbajac, Nicole Dunn, Christina Ohly Evans, Steven Learner, Kamal Mouzawak.