Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
La Colombe d'Or Hotel and Restaurant
Storied artist inn
Storied artist inn
The hotel runs as an unpretentious village auberge, where twentieth-century masterworks hang above dinner tables serving traditional country cooking.
“At heart, it’s a rustic space suffused with bonhomie and an organic sense of self.”
What it’s good at
Exceptional
Twentieth-century masters including Picasso and Matisse traded original canvases for board.
Remarkable
Continuously run by the Roux family, still accepting reservations by phone or mail.
Notable
Reclaimed castle stonework from Aix-en-Provence frames vintage Provençal rooms with four-poster beds.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, The 50 Discovery and AFAR.
The simple stone façade, built of blocks extracted from a castle in Aix-en-Provence, is covered in Spanish tiles that occasionally burst into random riffs of red and blue.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Pétanque games run on Place du Général de Gaulle just outside, and the village's medieval ramparts rise steps away.
The rooms
Wooden four-poster beds stand beneath patterned canopies, dressed with white lace duvets and worn oriental rugs.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The pool
An Alexander Calder mobile stands beside the heated green-tiled pool, set against ivy-clad stone walls.
Restaurant
La Colombe d'Or
Terrace tables sit beneath plane trees beside a Fernand Léger ceramic mural, serving classic Provençal hors d'oeuvres and stuffed vegetables.
Today, pieces by Fernand Léger, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró adorn the cozy dining room where guests savor regional specialties.
How it began
Paul Roux opened the property in 1920 as Chez Robinson, an open-air café where locals gathered for weekend dancing.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
More like this
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Toile Blanche
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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.