Airelles Château de la Messardière, Saint-Tropez
There’s nothing quite like arriving at Château de la Messardière in a sky-blue Mini-Moke, the hotel’s beach shuttle — a front-row seat for the drama of this hilltop entrance. A member of staff – dressed in pale blue-and-white seersucker – leads us into the grand, white-on-white, Deco-inspired marble lobby. It’s undeniably cinematic, but the best comes after check-in. The rooms, pools and restaurants on the far side of the estate share the same reveal: a 12-hectare sweep of carefully tended lawns and gardens, flat-crowned umbrella pines, and beyond them the shimmering curve of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The mood is relaxed but humming – lively, yet peaceful. No throbbing bass, no DJ-led napkin-swirling revelry. Breakfast on the terrace is its own kind of theatre: the wildly generous buffet is the kind that ends up on everyone’s phone; meanwhile, guests order their third cappuccino and plan the day. Tennis and padel courts, a spa, outdoor gym, a serious Kids Kingdom and a private beach club just below make it an antidote to urban burnout – yet the village is close enough to lure you into town, a Rolls-Royce shuttle ride away.
Reimagined by French designer Christophe Tollemer, La Messardière’s 103 rooms and suites are finished in soothing ochres, greys and creams, with pale stone floors, plush sofas and plump duvets. Interiors are quietly luxurious, flooded with dazzling light. All the rooms – of different shapes, sizes and categories – have outdoor spaces. There are three restaurants are spread along La Messardière’s long panoramic terrace, so you can shift ambience (and cuisine) without ever leaving the view. Foodies will also love the cooking masterclass, where you’ll learn to make the perfect tarte tropézienne from start to finish. Lanie Goodman
Price: Rooms from around £1,900 per night.
