Our favorite charming hotels in France

1. Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy | Anglo-Norman elegance as a legacy

There are some charming hotels that we think we know so well because they are already part of the collective imagination. Le Normandy, in Deauville, is one of them. With its green half-timbered silhouette, flower-filled dormer windows, and aristocratic cottage-like appearance overlooking the sea, this iconic Barrière group hotel has retained all the magic of its beginnings in 1912. People come here to rediscover the old-fashioned charm so dear to Normandy, immortalized by Claude Lelouch in Un Homme et une Femme, and which still lingers in the toile de Jouy-lined corridors.

The atmosphere of this charming hotel is revealed first and foremost in its details: crystal chandeliers, period stained glass windows, thick carpets that muffle footsteps, and 271 rooms and suites decorated by Nathalie Ryan. Variations of blues, greens, and reds... toile de Jouy fabric envelops the walls like narrative wallpaper, evoking a familiar, almost sentimental elegance. Some will see it as a memory, others as a timeless interlude. All agree on the warmth of this establishment, which is certainly luxurious but never intimidating.

The history of the Normandy has been written by those who have stayed there: Gainsbourg had his regular table, Jack Nicholson found refuge in the bar, and Coco Chanel opened her boutique there. Today, after a complete renovation in 2016, the hotel combines heritage with contemporary comfort. Walk through the Belle Époque glass roof of La Belle Époque restaurant to take your seat at the best table in Deauville — that of chef Christophe Bezannier—whose sunny, sea-inspired Normandy cuisine delights regulars. Further on, the Spa Diane Barrière offers treatment rooms, a sauna, and a hammam to prolong the pleasure of a day on the Planches. This is the art of Le Normandy: orchestrating a stay where memory and elegance are in constant dialogue, from the first cocktail enjoyed at the mahogany bar to the last stroll on the wide beach just opposite. A legendary address, both a refuge and a setting, which continues, more than a century later, to reinvent the very idea of Norman charm.

Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy
271 rooms including 48 suites. From €480 per night
38 Rue Jean Mermoz, 14804 Deauville
hotelsbarriere.com

2. Castel Marie-Louise | Charming hotel with timeless elegance by the sea

A Relais & Châteaux member, this 19th-century manor house, decorated by Jacques Garcia, nestles in the heart of the Bay of La Baule, between sea and pine forest. This charming Belle Époque hotel, surrounded by a vast flower-filled garden, embodies discreet refinement and the French art of living. With its 31 elegantly decorated rooms and suites - featuring dark wood panelling, silky fabrics and soothing hues - the Castel Marie-Louise transports guests into a hushed atmosphere. The rooms, some with private balconies, offer a breathtaking view of the ocean or the hundred-year-old pines, perfect for a gentle wake-up call. Room service breakfast is even more bucolic.

Chef Jérémy Coirier's restaurant makes the most of local produce, with an inventive menu where the sea meets the land. After a day's cycling along the wild coast or a round of golf on one of the prestigious courses nearby, the cosy lounge with its fireplace invites you to enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine. The impeccable service, a true Barrière signature, is distinguished by attention to the smallest detail: concierge service, bicycles at your disposal and access to a private beach just a few steps away.

Le Castel Marie-Louise
31 keys, from €290 per night
1 avenue Andrieu, 44500 La Baule-Escoublac

3. Les Petites Maisons - Le Hameau des Baux | Art in nature

It's hard to tire of the south in this charming hotel. Especially when you consider its 5-hectare olive grove, a Provençal farmhouse, and the charm of the village. All this is on offer at Le Hameau des Baux, which has been superbly restored, lovingly maintained, and divinely decorated. We owe this charming Alpilles address and the concept of Les Petites Maisons, which combines art, good food, and well-being, to Aurélie Blanquart and Guillaume Multrier, founders of the hotel operator Beyond Places. A square with plane trees, a fountain, and mazets (traditional stone houses) housing 27 rooms and suites ranging from 35 to 65 m²: whitewashed walls, wooden beams, patinated terracotta tiles, vintage furniture. It has everything. With that little extra touch: it is thanks to Constance Breton, artistic director and curator, that contemporary art has found its way into this 5-star estate.

And even when the pool falls asleep in winter, you naturally slip into the intimate and refined atmosphere of the place. You can stroll through the grounds to discover a few sculptures, linger in the gallery to admire a painting, and browse the bookshop in the lobby to find something new to read. Just before gathering, as a couple or a group, around Julie Chaix's bistronomic cuisine. Don't be fooled by her youth; she has worked with Anne-Sophie Pic and Alain Ducasse. You will only taste seasonal and local products, as the chef is uncompromising when it comes to sourcing, using only short supply chains. So, yes, the cuisine has a Mediterranean flavor, sometimes revisited, such as this bulgur wheat risotto with artichokes. A real treat!

Les Petites Maisons - Le Hameau des Baux
27 keys from €250 per night
285 Chemin de Bourgeac, 13520 Paradou

4. Le Chambard | Double starred , in all simplicity

Kayserberg is a small, typically Alsatian village, one of the most beautiful in France and a must-see on the Alsace wine route. Cobbled streets and, among the venerable half-timbered houses, the blushing façade of a beautiful 18th-century residence: this is where Olivier Nasti, his brother Emmanuel and his wife Patricia have established, over the years, one of the region's most prestigious addresses. Bourgeois yet unpretentious, this five-star hotel-restaurant is a family-run establishment with a particularly friendly spirit. In terms of accommodation, 33 rooms feature contemporary design, light parquet flooring and soft tones; luxurious and spacious as befits this Relais & Châteaux member. Enjoy the indoor pool, sauna, hammam and jacuzzi, or the benefits of a massage at this charming hotel in Alsace.

A century-old beam, custom-made furniture crafted by local artisans, wood is omnipresent at La Table d'Olivier Nasti. Because, of course, if you're staying here, it's first and foremost to savour the formidable cuisine of this chef with two Michelin macaroons. He's also a MOF. As a hunter and fisherman, he's one of the few chefs to sublimate game. His dishes? An invitation to savor the best of his terroir, transcended by impeccable cooking and lifted by sauces as tasty as they are balanced. The ballet in the kitchen can be admired through the large bay windows. The chef also designs the menu for his Winstub. Le Chambard is also home to this traditional Alsatian inn, where you'll feel warmed up as soon as you get home, and you'll appreciate the quality of the buffet right through to breakfast: cold meats, kouglof, cheeses and jams: everything is Alsatian.

Le Chambard
33 keys from €315 per night
9-13 rue du Général de Gaulle, 68240 Kaysersberg

5. Le Donjon - Domaine Saint Clair | A charming perched hotel

From the top of its hill, this Anglo-Norman-style residence is sure to impress. Erected in 1862 on Roman remains, Le Donjon - Domaine Saint Clair seems to watch over the famous cliffs of Étretat, but also over this beautifully wooded park. Vast though it may seem, this 4-star Normandy hotel houses just 25 rooms and suites, spread between the Villa, the Donjon and the Cottage. As cozy as they are cozy, each of these rooms has its own dreamlike, colorful or eccentric decor, and each borrows from the celebrity whose name it bears, from Gustave Flaubert to Claude Monet to Pierre Loti, promising a view of the valley, the sea or the garden. A few steps separate you from the Donjon, the gourmet restaurant. A large-scale fresco by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, windows opening generously onto the cliffs.

In the Cottage, the Restaurant Racines welcomes Senda David Waguena. Here again, surprising and surprising flavors await you. This new chef, originally from Togo, grew up in his family's kitchen, spent some time in Italy, and developed his curiosity for Japanese flavors to sharpen his creativity. Take the time for a Thémaé treatment at the spa, or detox in the sauna and canopy of the rooftop. If you're looking for a romantic getaway, you can even take it private.

Le Donjon - Domaine Saint Clair
25 keys from €90 per night
Chemin de Saint Clair, 76790 Étretat

6. Mondrian Bordeaux | Starck's poetry

Bordeaux stone for a 19th-century façade, a wrought-iron gate, columns and this glass marquee. The door? Glass and steel. And these Japanese lanterns slipped into august wrought-iron lamps. It took all the ingenuity of Philippe Starck to transcend these former wine cellars in the heart of the Chartrons district. If you hear raw concrete, you'll say, where's the charm! And yet... It's the restaurant that reveals itself first, with its bricks, concrete and furniture designed by the famous architect. From this robata, too, you can contemplate the kitchens run by renowned Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto. A backlit wall, all alcoves, outlines a bar with signature sake-based cocktails, in keeping with the Franco-Japanese fusion of decor and stoves.

The Bordeaux spa hotel also boasts a swimming pool, Codage treatments for adults and Nougatine Paris for children, and 97 rooms and suites on three floors. More concrete, poured from the ground up, and yet such a warm, intimate atmosphere. Parquet flooring, thick carpeting, sophisticated lighting, mirrors and noble materials, from leather to wood to brass. Authentic colors, delicate clean lines. There's an undeniable poetic quality here.

Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes
97 keys, from €288 per night
81 cours du Médoc, 33300 Bordeaux