"Close your eyes. Tell us about arriving at the hotel.The minute I stepped out of the car, I felt like I needed to strap on a pair of handmade Spanish espadrilles and a Panama hat—there's something that feels stylish but effortless about Roches Rouges and, more broadly, St.-Raphaël, and the sensation hit me hard. Lovely. Who else was staying at the hotel?For decades, St.-Raphaël was that rare Riviera town that appealed more to families coming by car than to A-listers pulling in by boat. But since Les Roches Rouges reopened here in May 2017, you’re seeing more of the Missoni-draped vacationers you’d expect to find in nearby Cannes, than Peugeots packed with sand toys. Tell us about your room. Did it get you immediately into vacation mode?It was clean and bright—monastic, but stylish. The property hasn't exactly reinvented the wheel; the spare design is more meant to emphasize the proximity to the Mediterranean. Walls are white, as are the bed linens, and pendant lighting stands in for bedside lamps; bathroom countertops are marble, and there's abstract art hanging next to the shower. Between the garden view rooms and the sea view rooms, it's a pretty clear choice: the sea view classic rooms have an unobstructed view of the water, and 50 square feet of private balcony space where you can take your morning coffee. How were the bathrooms and products?I loved the Le Labo toiletries—they made me feel nice and fresh after a day down at the pool. But it's the HRR-branded candles I wanted to make off with: great aroma and a perfect memento. Very cool! What else does the hotel have?You'll want to dine at La Terrasse while you're there—the fresh, flavorful Provençale-inspired dishes, like lou mourre de gat (small, purple, stuffed artichokes) and ouprihoun e tóuteno (octopus, squid, seaweed) are ideal for when you're kicking around in the sun and sand all day—but it is closed for winter, and generally reopens in May. Grab an aperitif at the Terrace Bar before you head to dinner—Dean Shury's tipples aren't to be missed. Sold; would you recommend staying there, then?There's an unadulterated, though not overwrought sophistication to this hotel—it seeps out from the spare, Riviera-style design, the simple, locally sourced though elegant food, and the ability to laze around glamorously all day. IT's a 10 out of 10; would absolutely recommend." - CNT Editors
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