La Ciotat, FranceLumiere
HÔTEL PLAGE LE ROSE THÉ
Retro seaside hotel
Retro seaside hotel
The 1930s address trades grand-hotel formality for relaxed beachfront living, with rounded modernist curves and a lively terrace on the promenade.
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Le Rose Thé has stood across from the beach at La Ciotat since the 1930s, long enough for its curvaceous forms to pass from state-of-the-art to delightfully retro.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Grande Plage stretches out directly across the boulevard, and the town's old port is a short ride down the coast.
The rooms
Graphic murals and soft tea-rose tones brighten the bedrooms. Three seafront rooms have private terraces with hot tubs.
Restaurant Le Rose Thé
Vines hang across the glass veranda, and the beachfront terrace serves seasonal Mediterranean cooking beneath fringed umbrellas.
At the table
Green fish-scale tiles wrap the curved bar, which serves aperitifs and cocktails beside an open piano.
How it began
The 1930s property was revived in 2022 by Malika Mokadem, the hotelier behind Marseille's seaside outpost Tuba Club.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.