Les Roches Blanches

Though the great majority of the most luxurious hotels in the south of France lie further east, the town of Cassis, just outside Marseille, is home to some hidden gems — none more luxurious than Les Roches Blanches, a late-19th-century mansion that became a hotel in the 1920s and has recently been renovated in a (successful) bid to recapture the glamour of that early golden age. Its location, on the picturesque white limestone cliffs from which it takes its name, could hardly be improved; it’s tucked in between Cassis’s marina and town center to the east and the stunning Calanques National Park to the west, both within walking distance. But Les Roches Blanches feels like a world apart, thanks to its wraparound sea views, its verdant, enveloping grounds, and the tranquil, elegant atmosphere inside. The rooms are stylish and elegant, while the suites verge on extravagance; the views are increasingly impressive as you move up the scale, which has at its peak a pair of signature suites named for famous guests from a century ago. And if the Winston Churchill or Edith Piaf suites aren’t quite adequate to your needs, there’s always the four-bedroom Villa Cala Bianca. At all levels, however, guests partake in the same extraordinary service and tasteful luxury. There’s a Sisley spa and a pair of heated pools, as well as access to the waters of the Mediterranean itself. Three restaurants complete the package: one signature gastronomic restaurant, one more casual Mediterranean eatery, and Le Loup Bar, a Japanese seafood option.