Inside Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, the Exclusive Hotel in the South of France Known for Glam Celeb Parties
If a celebrity heads to the south of France, you can probably guess where they’ll hang their (v chic) hats: the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc. Known as one of the world’s most elegant, exclusive and expensive hotels, this 5-star resort has been where the rich and famous have stayed and played along the French Riviera for over 150 years. It’s not easy to get in—in fact, it’s notoriously difficult to get one of its 118 rooms and well-appointed suites, especially during peak season as a, ahem, normie. But if you dog get a reservation, it’s a one-way ticket to join the It Crowd.
Originally built in 1869 as a place for writers to relax and seek inspiration, the sprawling castle (not like it was built on 22 acres of coastline) opened as a hotel in 1889 and immediately catered to society’s elite~. It’s been a hot summer spot ever since for anyone with bits of change to wave, from Pablo Picasso to Beyoncé. And when I say “chunks of change,” I’m talking serious cash: The most luxurious suite, the Eden-Rocwhich has a 200-square-meter terrace overlooking the water, costs up to $12,000 a night, according to the Hollywood reporter.
BOOK THE HOTEL DU CAP EDEN ROC
If you’re scrolling through your Insta feed or flipping through your favorite magazine (ours, duh), chances are almost every famous face you see has stayed at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc at some point in their careers have – especially if they are in the entertainment industry. The seaside escape has hosted the Kardashians, the Hadids, the Kennedys, the Hiltons, the Richies (you’ve seen Sofia Richie married Elliot Grainge there last month, right?), and every model and movie star in between, whether for a luxury vacation, a great event (like the annual amfAR Gala, which raises money for HIV/AIDS research), or while out on the town is for the annual Cannes Film Festival, which is a short drive away and actually takes place rtfn. (ICYMI, the 2023 festival started on May 16th and runs through the 27th, and the red carpet lewks are unbelievable.)
Although the hotel is known for being very private – part of the reason celebs love it so much, of course – there have been plenty of photos taken of stars enjoying the property over the years, swimming in the heated rock-hewn pool , and along the now-iconic front steps, through the nine acres of lush gardens, and refuel at the three restaurants and six bars. One look and you’ll see why guests return year after year. And lucky for you, we have a peek for you to see. Scroll down and prepare to get wanderlust. BTW, you might as well play the succession theme song while you’re at it…let’s just say it’s fitting.
THE QUICK HITS: HOTEL DU CAP EDEN ROC EDITION
Location: Antibes, France • Built-in: 1869 • Cost per night: Start at $1,153 • Number of rooms: 118 • Season you’re likely to see a celeb: Spring (during the Cannes Film Festival) • Spark Plug Perks: Tennis lessons (there are five courts!), a beauty salon, 33 beach cottages (including one with a spa and one with yoga classes), water sports, yachting, private jet and limousine services • Don’t leave without ordering: The 20-euro side of fries • Swankiest Space: The new Dior themed spa (because why not relax in designer style, right?) • Most Iconic Photo Spot: *That* beautiful swimming pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
The Celebrity Guests!
What do you know, it’s Alessandra Ambrosio looking every bit the supermodel she is while visiting this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Those diving boards you see in the background? iconic.
Yes, I also want to be this version of Emily Ratajkowski on a yacht in the Med in 2018. And yes, she was also there for the Cannes Film Festival.
Sofia Richie rocks Chanel days before her wedding to Elliott Grainge, which took place on the hotel grounds. According to the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc website, you have to rent out the entire property for a wedding, so their (many! famous!) guests stayed at the hotel for the long weekend.
The dive one piece! The red lipstick! The glass of white wine! 2018 Kendall Jenner knew what she was doing.
Not everyone can say they’ve jumped off the famous rocks at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc into the cleeeeear blue waters below. But Bella Hadid can.
So many families have spent their summers at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc—from the Kennedys to the Bryants.
The rooms!
No, it’s not a royal palace. This is only one of the hotel’s rooms with a sea view. Looking at that desk setup, I can see why this place was originally designed to be a writer’s retreat….
I just know I will sleep like a baby with this chandelier above my head. And that Louis XV furniture? To die before.
Behold: the rooftop terrace attached to the iconic, celeb-adored Eden-Roc suite. As you can see, it has an outdoor lounge. Also, just outside the frame is a beautiful private hot tub.
Of course, the Eden-Roc suite is also beautiful on the inside, as you can see in this close-up photo of the ~salon~. Give me a glass of champagne and I can stay there forever.
The amenities!
Looking for a beauty treatment in a beach house? No worries, the Dior Spa can accommodate that.
Imagine: You get a lovely couple’s massage with a Dior blanket that keeps your toes nice. Happiness.
Sit on the terrace of the Eden-Roc restaurant and enjoy views for days. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch, but that’s good because you’ll want to sit here while the sun shines, ao You can do the buffet for 120 euros (!).
The Eden-Roc Grill is open for lunch and dinner and has a fish-heavy, Mediterranean-inspired menu. Depending on your mood, you can go bougie with grilled lobster or stick with a classic cheeseburger.
The Grounds!
Imagine driving up this long driveway lined with palm trees to the front door of one of the most exclusive hotels in the WORLD. Just imagine it. (Or, you know, just keep looking at this picture.)
If this pool could talk, DeuxMoi would probably be out of business.
If you forget the name of the fancy place you find yourself after downing one too many Aperol spritzes at the pool bar. Warning: An Aperol spritz will set you back 39 euros. Do with that information what you will.
Yes, you can arrive by limousine (as I mentioned, the hotel offers private limo and plane services), or you can arrive by boat, right up to the dock you see here.
voila! The hotel’s 22 hectares of coastline in all their glory. The French Riviera has never looked so refreshing.
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Hannah Chubb is the Associate Lifestyle Editor at cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends nearly every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends and travel destinations. You can usually find her on Zillow or Airbnb looking for houses she can’t afford, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over on Peloton. Follow her further instagram.
Inside Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, the Exclusive Hotel in the South of France Known for Glam Celeb Parties
