This new 46-room hillside property, 20 minutes from Cannes in the medieval town of Mougins, where Pablo Picasso famously spent his final days, is a restful alternative to see-and-be-seen spots along the waterfront. In 2020 it was taken over by Prisca Courtin-Clarins—the millennial heir to her family’s namesake cosmetics brand—and hotelier Jean-Philippe Cartier. Now it’s an intimate temple to sunny self-care, with a style that’s equal parts California villa and Provence farmhouse.

Ten years ago the local council in Nice decided that its 17th century convent, wedged in the old city’s warren of narrow streets, should become a hotel. By dint of the site’s heritage, the finished product is far more understated than the glitz that Nice is known for. But there are thoughtful details everywhere, such as a reconstructed Roman-style thermal bath in the basement and an herbalist shop where guests can procure bespoke remedies.

Never heard of Théoule-sur-Mer? Millésime Collection wants to change that. In March 2024 the French hospitality group opened its first Riviera property in this small seaside town, just a 20-minute ferry ride from Cannes. The star features of this new Riviera destination, however, are the Plage Blanche private beach and the seaside dining at Mareluna, whose dining room extends onto a parasol-lined, sea-facing terrace.

This 22-acre cliffside retreat—whose pool features prominently in Slim Aarons’ legendary photography from the 1970s—has been given an elegant refresh to ensure its glamorous legacy lives on for another generation. Arrival here is via a showstopping 200-meter-long Grande Allée lined with palm trees, at the end of which lies a Napoleon III-style mansion facing the ocean.

The Carlton, which lords over the Bay of Cannes at the heart of the prized Croisette promenade, is the city’s grande dame, long frequented by actors and politicians on the global stage. Last spring it reopened its doors after a five-year, top-to-bottom renovation meant to preserve its 113-year-old art deco and belle epoque spirit. Recognizable even when you’re flying overhead, the property now features two new wings housing a massive fitness center complete with a full-size boxing ring.