Elevated luxury

The Maybourne Riviera – the ‘Jewel of the French Riviera’ - is a true architectural marvel. Suspended precipitously on a rocky outcrop 333 metres above the Mediterranean, its views over the Principality of Monaco below, France to the right and Italy a few kilometres away to the left are mesmerising.

Architect Jean Michael Wilmotte and a team of leading global design creatives have melded architecture, art and the natural landscape to create this distinctive, contemporary hotel that pays homage to Le Corbusier with modernist clean lines.

Located on the panoramic Route de la Turbie at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, it was once the site of a quaint 1870s tea salon. In 1920, the original wooden building was converted into a hotel, before industrialist Max Grundig took it over in 1950 restructuring it into a contemporary design with eagle’s-nest balconies and renaming it the famed Vista Palace Hotel – a haunt of jet-set glamour in the 1960s. Joining the prestigious Maybourne Hotel Group which also owns and operates Claridge’s, The Connaught, The Emory and The Berkeley in London and the Maybourne Beverly Hills, it reopened as the Maybourne Riviera in 2021.

Wilmotte’s design draws on the drama of the landscape – the angular terraces echo the limestone cliffs, while sweeping glass facades pull the horizon indoors. The effect is almost hypnotic – every space is filled with light reflecting the soft shimmer of the Mediterranean that constantly demands your attention. Throughout the hotel, dramatic spaces are curated with wonderful art, immersive projections and murals, curved walls and sculpture.

Entrance is via the 8^th floor, where a handful of parked luxury cars set the rarefied tone outside and a grand piano decked with myriad candles and impressive floral arrangements create an ambiance of calm in the foyer.

The hotel offers 65 luxury suites and studios that appear to cling to the prominent rocky outcrop. Accommodation ranges from sleek, minimalist suites to a dramatic duplex with its own infinity pool, alongside intimate studios where warm oak takes centre stage. Everywhere, interiors dissolve effortlessly into nature, with views drifting from rolling waves to pine-fringed gardens.

The soaring Crystal wing crowns the summit, as if suspended in mid-air as it gazes out over an endless blue horizon. Below, the Azur wing is carved directly into the rock face – an extraordinary feat of engineering in itself – while the Corniche wing traces the natural curves of the landscape, its palette echoing sea, sky and stone.

The Panorama Seaview Suite on the corner of 12^th floor is vast and seems to be cantilevered over the coastline below. Including the entrance corridor, the powder room, the walk-in dressing room and bathroom, it comprises six rooms with a wide furnished L-shaped balcony that goes around the entire floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms of the suite.  It’s simply breathtakingly beautiful with a bird’s-eye view overlooking the Camelot-like principality below. Décor is in light neutrals and cool blues that seem to bring the outside in and gives you a feeling of floating in the sky.

The hotel brings together an exceptional team of international talent, including Bryan O’Sullivan Studio, André Fu and London-based Rigby & Rigby. Uniting these distinct design voices is Michelle Wu, Artistic Director for Maybourne, who orchestrates a refined harmony of materials, colours and textures, complemented by a thoughtfully curated art collection.

“What makes the Riviera unique is its spectacular setting and the views it offers,” Wu explains, citing the ever-changing Mediterranean light and sweeping vistas across the sea towards France and Italy as key inspirations.

Art is integral throughout the hotel: while a Le Corbusier work anchors the lobby, pieces by contemporary artist JR appear across the floors and evocative photographs by Edward Quinn – chronicler of Picasso and the Riviera jet set – add layers of cultural resonance.

The hotel has several dining options. Celebrated Michelin-starred New York chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings his iconic abc kitchens concept of fresh, farm-to-table philosophy from Manhattan to the Côte d’Azur in his 14^th floor restaurant.

Signature dishes include delicate crab linguine crafted with local crab and herbs, a show-stopping whole Mediterranean sea-bass grilled in its skin with lemon butter, and turbot on the bone served with subtle, citrusy nuance. The menu also features squash-blossom quesadilla and green chickpea hummus as light, elegant bites.

Vongerichten also oversees the casual poolside eatery, La Piscine, with an elegant, relaxed menu perfect for sun lounging. Pizzas might be three-cheese with spinach and herb, black truffle and fontina or a classic Margherita with light Mediterranean salads such as kale or endive and pear salads, lobster rolls, linguine with porcini and artichoke or crispy calamari.

The main all-day dining room is La Riviera Restaurant located on the main lobby floor. Guests can choose tables either inside or outside on the veranda with their own ringside coastal views – for a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner – quite something to start the day like this.

At night, overlooking the lights of Monaco, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a delicious carpaccio of prawns with green apple and citrus sauce, an elevated vitella tonnata like nothing else, followed by an excellent beef Wellington.

Adjacent is Le 300 Bar which offers an exciting cocktail list and a substantial bar menu – perhaps truffle pizza, langoustine bonbon or Wagyu beef herb focaccia.

La Môme Riviera, poised at the water’s edge of Cap Martin, channels the sun-soaked glamour of its iconic Cannes and Monte Carlo older siblings with its sun-lounges and beachside dining. This open-air beach club/restaurant offers uninterrupted views of the sparkling Mediterranean, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience under canopies and orange and white-striped beach umbrellas. The menu celebrates the region’s finest produce, with signature dishes such as miso-glazed black cod, truffle gnocchi and Mediterranean lobster linguine, each artfully crafted with a contemporary twist.

In the evening, sip on a pre-dinner Riviera Spritz, Sea Breeze Martini or a La Môme Negroni while enjoying live music, DJ sets and the chic coastal sophistication with a touch of Italian Dolce Vita.

Working on your tan?  Beside the infinity pool, relaxing on orange sun lounges with signature beach towels is the place to be. The adjacent Surrenne Spa – a smaller version of its fully-fledged sister spa at The Emory in London, offers massage treatments with vitality pool, steam room, sauna and ice bath. There is also a state-of-the-art fitness centre.

This year, Surrenne offers a series of transformational retreats – elevating wellness to an art form. These four-night retreats include full board and will be led by specialist guest practitioners with one-on-one consultations, personalised treatments and therapies, movement and breathwork to encourage guests to ‘Ground, Recharge and Regenerate’.

Guests staying in a Signature Suite are offered a personalised consultation at the Surrenne Spa followed by a 60-minute signature massage. It is just one of the exclusive privileges to such guests, that also include Meet & Greet airport services, guaranteed early check-in and late check-out plus a private sunset cruise on the Mediterranean aboard a Riva boat.

Other exclusive activities offered to guests include guided walks along the Cap-Martin coastal trails, dawn Pilates or yoga sessions, pizza or cocktail workshops, watercolour classes, a gourmet tour of Menton’s market or a visit to the nearby medieval village of Roquebrune.

Ideally located on the Côte d’Azur, the Maybourne Riviera is about four to five kilometres from the centre of Monte Carlo in the hotel’s complimentary shuttle, and a swift half-hour transfer from Nice Airport.