The Maybourne Riviera

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France

The owner of London’s beloved Claridge’s and Connaught hotels, among others, has brought its inimitable brand of oh-so-British personalised luxurious hospitality (not to mention one of its top managers, Boris Messmer) to the limestone cliffs of the Côte d’Azur.

An international coterie of aesthetic arbiters came together to design the 69 rooms and suites (from US$1,030), light and bright and each with a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean; that superstar team included Hong Kong’s André Fu, Irishman Bryan O’Sullivan and Paris-based Pierre Yovanovitch.

Indeed, this property is a refreshingly contemporary retreat on a quiet stretch of coast not far from Italy and Monaco, known for its heritage hotels. The town, once frequented by Coco Chanel and Eileen Gray, is still as fashionable as ever, so pack for a day at the private waterfront club, which is just a short ride down the cliffs in a bespoke beach buggy.