Eze Elegance at Chateau de la Chevre d'Or
The Chateau de La Chevre D'Or in Eze may just be the most magical hotel I've ever experienced. Pulling into the hotel's parking lot, we found ourselves surrounded by luxury vehicles of the sort I typically observe only in rap videos or the Instagram of an Arab oil heir I follow.
When we arrived to our room, a champagne cocktail was waiting and we took it on the balcony, which was set dramatically on a cliff overlooking the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the glamorous sprinkle of white yachts in its bay. The expansive hotel grounds feature an intriguing array of curiosities ranging from a giant chess board to a safari's worth of life-sized African animals. Every where you look, your eyes are met by sculpture, set against a backdrop of cliffs, ocean or perfectly-manicured gardens. The hotel staff are world-class, meeting your every need with a combination of propriety and affability, and ensuring you're never too long without a glass of champagne in your hand.
Eat: Start your day by ordering fruit and coffee to your terrace, and take in the stunning views of the sea and the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. For lunch, head to the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat. After lunch, walk along the water into the little seaside village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. For dinner, you must try the hotel's two-Michellin-Star restaurant, La Chevre d'Or, whose six-course meal gives Per Se a run for its money. Grabbing a glass of champagne on the moonlit terrace before dinner achieves Titanic-levels of romance, except at the end of the night you'll be sharing dessert, not a raft.
The next night, hire a taxi and drive into Monaco for dinner at Sass Cafe. The food is not spectacular, but the ambiance is. You'll be serenaded by a piano singer or two while you eat. Around midnight, they turn off the lights, switch the tables, and you find yourself in a nightclub, dancing on the table you just ate on. If you still have energy, the after party is at Jimmy'z.
Do: The hotel is so magnificent that you'll probably spend most of your time wandering the ethereal grounds and lounging by the assortment of pools and relaxation areas, each with unparalleled ocean views. However, if you're craving some beach time, have the hotel concierge book you a front-and-center beach bed at Paloma beach and enjoy crystal clear waters and a chic French vibe. There's a restaurant on the beach, but you can also order calamari and rose right to your beach bed. Spend your nights in Monte Carlo, grabbing drinks at Hotel de Paris and playing blackjack at the Casino Royale. When the fun is over, take a car home and wake up again to your breathtaking view of the sea. Just make sure to hire a car in advance, as it can be difficult to find a taxi late at night!
If you have enough time, drive to Cannes next, stopping in Antibes for lunch at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the site of some of Slim Aaron's most iconic images, and also where Nell Diamond recently tied the knot.
How to get there: We flew into Nice, rented a car, and drove to the hotel. It's probably best to rent a car because you have to drive to most places you'll want to go, and taxis are quite expensive.
