"Imagine a hotel that blends a pastel-hued Provencal fishing village with an ancient Lebanese port, replete with ancient Greek references and Roger Capron ceramics. Gay-Para, the Lebanese billionaire who created it, did exactly that, but he also imagined it would win over Saint Tropez queen Brigitte Bardot, for whom he had an unwavering obsession. It didn’t, although she politely attended the opening party. But it did win the hearts of the glitterati, shortly followed by the deep wallets of Europe’s fortunate few. This is a fabulous, unapologetic vestige of the Riviera’s golden era, where heavy silver trays of seafood sit on balconies and Chanel heels strut to poolside dinners for live jazz and lobster. Mick and Bianca married here and the legendary nightclub, Les Caves Du Roy, continues to lure in the celebrities and high rollers, all drunk on the iconic party snaps of Grace Jones (and Veuve Clicquot)." - Rosalyn Wikeley
