Hotel du Clos

near Antibes, Cote d'Azur, France
Book from GBP Book from £119 per night

Hotel du Clos

near Antibes, Cote d'Azur, France

A foodie hotspot, contemporary French-style rooms, and gorgeous gardens at this stylish hillside hotel near Antibes

A foodie hotspot, contemporary French-style rooms, and gorgeous gardens at this stylish hillside hotel near Antibes

Evolution is at the heart of this small retreat in the hills above Antibes. First came the restaurant, next a small hotel to accommodate those who didn’t want to leave, and finally a bistro, just to ensure you were well fed. It’s a tale of 3 locations, the restaurant sitting next to the church, the bistro in the market place and the hotel basking on the edge of the village. A 5-minute stroll connects them, and those who come find beautiful interiors, excellent service and super value for money.

The hotel itself - a renovated 17th-century farmhouse and adjacent converted bergerie - come in an elegant contemporary French style. You get olive trees scattered across sweeping lawns, a shaded terrace for breakfast and sundowners, a boules pitch tucked away in one corner, and sunloungers circling the pool. Uncluttered rooms are warmly chic. All have a sense of calm, fancy bathrooms, beautiful linen and excellent beds. Some guests linger, others head off to explore. The pretty market towns of Biot and Valbonne are on your doorstep. Nice, Antibes and Cannes are close.

Highs

  • A truly exceptional hill-top restaurant and retreat, and it shows in every detail
  • Service is a cut above, and the smiles are genuine; chatting to - and laughing with - the staff over dinner during our last visit was a real highlight
  • Bedrooms are wonderfully quaint with very good prices for the Côte d’Azur
  • A lovely leafy garden, complete with a small pool for hot afternoons
  • This is a good central base from which to explore the area

Lows

  • The owners have changed since we last visited and we've had some mixed feedback since then
  • The restaurant and bistro are closed at certain times of the week
  • Breakfast is extra, though it is exceptional
  • One or 2 of the bedrooms only have a curtain between the bed and toilet, but it is a very thick one!
  • You’re only 10km from the coast but the better (quieter and sandier) beaches are further away

Best time to go

As always in the south of France, if you want to avoid the crowds, then don’t come in July and August. The sea is warmer in October than May. February is beautiful. The rain comes in November.

Our top tips

Our advice is simply to ensure you eat at Le Clos Saint Pierre. Our visit was one of the real highlights of our trip, and a night we won’t be forgetting in a hurry: extraordinary food, a wonderful atmosphere and exceptional staff. We think staying for a night or 2 at the start or end of a trip would be ideal.

Great for...

Foodie
Romantic
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 12 rooms
  • Restaurants and bar (open daily)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car recommended
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
Room:

Rooms

Rooms are split between the main house and the bergerie (converted barn). All are beautiful, so it doesn’t really matter where you end up, though some have bathtubs, some have showers and some have both; if you have a preference, make this clear when booking. You get uncluttered French elegance, beautiful fabrics, crisp white linen and excellent beds. All rooms have garden views, air-conditioning, flatscreen TVs and fancy bathrooms.

Classic Rooms in the main house are spread over the first and second floors and some have views over the mountains. The 2 top-floor ones interconnect, though feel a little smaller due to their lower ceilings. In the bergerie, the remaining Classic Rooms are on the ground floor and open onto a lawned terrace with tables and chairs scattered about in the shade of olive trees. Inside, an easy elegance spreads itself from wall to wall: light colours, super beds dressed in white linen and padded quilts, perhaps a padded pink headboard or an apple-green bedside table.

Superior Rooms are larger and have spacious private balconies shaded by bougainvillea. We were in one of these and loved the baking theme that runs throughout, from the screen covered in puddings which separates the bed from the large tub, to the thick wooden chopping boards used as toppers for the bedside tables, and the rolling pin acting as a towel rail. The Panoramic Superior Room features a gorgeous terrace with far-reaching views and sun-loungers. We think these rooms are definitely worth the extra money.

Finally, there are 2 suites: Suite des Amoureux in the main house, and the Junior Suite in the bergerie. Both are huge rooms with spacious ensuites that have both a walk-in shower and bathtub; Suite des Amoureux has an in-room freestanding tub. If you want to splash out, this is where you do so (quite literally). There’s a grand bed and French windows. The Junior Suite opens onto an impressive balcony, while the Suite des Amoureux opens onto a private lawned terrace.

Features include:

  • Air conditioning
  • Bathrobes
  • Central heating
  • Cots Available
  • Minibar
  • Toiletries
  • TV
  • WiFi

Eating

Breakfast (extra cost) is usually served on the shaded garden terrace, but there’s a pretty breakfast room in case the weather breaks. You get strong coffee, English tea, freshly squeezed orange juice, a basket of baguettes, croissants, pains aux raisins and pains au chocolat, a slice of cake or a muffin. On top of this you get fresh yoghurt and violet syrup (what a revelation; we’re never eating yoghurt without it again!), a fruit salad and freshly made waffles. You can pay a little more and get some cheese or some eggs, but the standard breakfast is more than enough to set you up for the day.

Just a short stroll away (200m) is the hotel’s restaurant, Le Clos Saint Pierre, for lunch and dinner. The prices are very reasonable, the food exceptional, and the atmosphere magical. There’s a no-choice menu du marché, but if there’s something on the menu you don’t eat, an alternative is always at hand. Note that the restaurant is shut on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

We sat on the pretty terrace, coated in grape vines and an assortment of climbing plants, at a candlelit table and we were given blankets in case we got cold! We enjoyed numerous canapés before tucking into a slither of Spanish omelette topped with goat’s cheese, followed by a choice between a delicate battered sea bream fillet in a broth and duck breast with potato and asparagus (both were delicious). We obviously had a cheese course (when in France…), but our favourite dish was dessert: a simple mix of fresh cake squares, yoghurt, cherries, raspberries and ice cream, with a side of more cake and chocolate macaroons. Staff were friendly and chatty, and head chef Daniel came to say hello, which we thought was a lovely touch.

Le Bistro du Clos, a further 200m away, is the more laid-back (and cheaper) sister restaurant of Le Clos Saint Pierre, serving drinks and simple, local dishes all day. The menu changes 4 times a year to reflect the seasonal produce on offer. Expect risotto with local ham, lamb stew, and pasta in a garlic and herb sauce. The bistro is shut on Sundays and Mondays.

The local villages of Valbonne, Biot, St Paul de Vence and La Colle-sur-Loup are all very pretty and offer lots of restaurant choices. You’ll find art galleries that double as restaurants, excellent pizza, and simple bistros scattered around the village squares.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Breakfast
  • Kids' meals
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurants nearby
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • Le Camp Romain is a forest famous for its walking trails, and it rises behind the village
  • Head down to Cannes and Antibes for the best beaches (those at Nice are pebbled). La Garoupe on the Cap d’Antibes is pretty special and Salis Beach in Antibes is very nice
  • There are lots of local markets. The best are at Biot and Valbonne, 2 beautiful old villages very close by
  • Head to Grasse for the perfume factory (you can make your own scent), or to Bar-sur-Loup for the sweet factory and the waterfall
  • Go to Nice for Matisse and Chagall; both have museums dedicated to their work in this region. There’s also the flower market and the Old Town, both worth a peek
  • Head to St Paul de Vence - a nearby, picturesque hilltop village - which has a rich history in art. Matisse lived here and decorated the ceiling of the Rosary chapel, which is just out of town, but worth the detour. In town, try the famous Fondation Maeght with a large collection of works by Chagall, Braque, Giacometti and others
  • Pop into Cannes, which is excellent for shopping and generally hanging out with the beautiful people. You can take daytrips to the local islands or even nip across to St Tropez on the ferry. It only takes an hour and a half, the journey is great, and you avoid the mad traffic jams at the other end
  • Go skiing - believe it or not, you can ski in the mountains behind you in winter. A 45-minute drive (beautiful in itself) will take you up to Gréolières
  • Play golf at one of the 10 courses within 10 kilometers. Those at Opio and Valbonne are closest; Royal Mougins and Cannes Country Club are the best (and most expensive)

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Boat trips
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Museums / galleries
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Shopping / markets

Kids

Hotel du Clos welcomes children and the pool is fenced; however this is perhaps not the most child-friendly location as there aren't many suitable activities close by. Children under 12 stay for free in their parents' bed, and cots can be provided; kids aged 12+ are charged for an extra bed in their parents' room.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Most rooms can take an extra bed and a baby cot. One of the Superior Rooms has a small daybed which can sleep an extra person, and the Junior Suite (bergerie) has a sofabed in the sitting area which can sleep 2 young children or 1 teenager. The 2 Classic Rooms on the top floor in the main house can connect.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Babysitting:

Babysitting is available by arrangement.

Baby equipment:

Baby cots are available on request.

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Children's meals:

Le Bistro du Clos has a children's set menu on offer daily.

Kid Friendly:

Location

Hotel du Clos is set in the small village of Le Rouret, high in the hills above Antibes in southeast France.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Nice (24km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.

From the Airport
You can take a taxi from Nice or you could hire a car (see below).

By Train:
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, take the Eurostar from London to Paris, then change to a TGV (high-speed train) to Nice. The hotel is only 30km from there so the total journey is approx 6 hours, which makes it barely any longer than flying.

By Car:
You can pick up a hire car at the airport or TGV station; see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to France and getting around

Airports:

  • Nice 24.0 km NCE

Other:

  • Beach 17.0 km
  • Shops 10.0 km
  • Restaurant 0.1 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 4 independent reviews from i-escape guests

8/10
Room
8/10
Food
10/10
Service
8/10
Value
8/10
Overall

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Rates for Hotel du Clos

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