RESTAURANTS - CHEFS - HOTELS - REVIEWS & STORIES

Cap d'Antibes Beach Hotel *****,
Antibes, Cote d'Azur, Provence, France.

Set right on the sands of its own private beach, this new, ultra modern hotel is perfect for a family holiday or a quick getaway. The sounds of the lapping wavelets, the bird song in the garden and the water fall from the pool, all sooth away worries and stress. The beach bistro "Le Cap" and "Le Patio Bar" with its deck "board walk" dining means you never have to leave the sun, sea and sand. Located in a protected cove on the edge of the peninsula with the marina behind but within walking distance of Juan les Pins village, paradise is upon you. Did we mention their Michelin Starred new chef Nicolas Navarro who trained with the chef Alain Ducasse? He also has the "Nacional Steakhouse Restaurant" (click here) in historical Antibes?

Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2012-2015
See our Videos >> restaurant >>

Located half way between Nice and Cannes, sticking out into the sea but protected by a break water and marina, this has got to be one of the most beautiful and unique holiday settings in the south of France. This new hotel built on the foundations of a historic setting (more below), on just about two acres of beach front, manages to squeeze in the private beach, the spacious sun deck with infinity pool, a charming tree filled garden dotted with secret places, 22 rooms and 5 suites (all equipped with your own Nespresso machine) all with sea views and either a private balcony or your own patio that opens onto the garden not to mention their two restaurants and their flag ship restaurant “Restaurant Les Pêcheurs” .

There is a secure locked garage, sea access, "Wellness Center" with 2 treatment booths for massage and beauty spa treatments plus a solarium, sensory pool and outdoor fitness area. Eat outside on the sail covered terrace in good weather or inside when the fates are less gracious. This applies to both the more formal dining as well as the beach-side bistro and bar.

From the moment of our warm welcome, this hotel is a new favorite place of ours. The graciousness of the staff is part of it but the location and the food, the rooms with a maritime motif, the fresh sea air and sounds all contribute. The contemporary architecture takes advantage of the light at every angle and time of day. Arriving at noon, we literally had our delicious lunch just inches from the sand and water. As we relaxed with a cold drink for our orders to arrive, we were entertained with the antics of the small children discovering waves, water and sand, armed with their pint sized buckets and spades. Parents could soak up the sun on the chaise longs just a few feet away while keeping an eye on the kids.

There is also the pleasant infinity swimming pool just a few steps from the beach with its sun deck and cabanas that house the relaxing massage and facial spa treatment booths.

Our room and balcony looked over the lush garden with an unending vista of the sea filled with yachts and smaller pleasure boats on one horizon and the village of Juan les Pins on the other. We woke to the soft and gentle birdsong from the garden below.

“Restaurant Les Pêcheurs”:

We enjoyed a marvelous meal here under the former chef Jago and enjoyed a very pleasant one from his replacement's Michelin starred menu at “Restaurant Les Pêcheurs”. It is very different under chef Nicolas Navarro with some outstanding dishes, mainly red meat and shell fish. His fish dishes are not quite up to the same grade, based on our experience. See the video of our dinner >>

"Nacional Steakhouse Restaurant":

This is the other restaurant of Michelin starred Executive chef Nicolas Navarro (see the video) that is located in historic old town Antibes and has less lofty ambitions than Restaurant Les Pêcheurs. Instead it set out to be a very good red meat, steak, lamb restaurant and offers fish and sea food as well all served in a modern and interesting environment. The restaurant dining area (there is a long bar that serves as the entrance from the street) the former courtyard has been turned into a lovely interior courtyard enclosed on all side with exposed stone walls and roofed by a glass roof that shields the dinners from inclement weather but in pleasant weather, the roof panels slide back letting in the light as well as fresh air. A traditional Provencal fountain holds sway in the center adorned with modern glass art from which the water splashes onto a pool of rocks below.

The food is well prepared in the modern fashion and presentation and the ambience is suitably noisy as is also the modern fashion. This is a great place for the young and young at heart who are not hard of hearing. As always, it is best to consult with the wine waiter to find a wine you like. Something we always do since generally they are an encylopedia of local wines and can steer you well. The service was acceptable for a more modest eatery although the smiles seemed a bit forced. But with just 2 waitresses serving the whole dining room, they are run off their feet. It is also, to the best of our determination, open all year.