Tiara Yaksa

Perched on the red rocks of the Esterel bluffs not far from Cannes, the new 21-room hotel Tiara Yaksa is hidden away on a quiet tree-lined road overlooking the sea. All of the airy, luminous white rooms are decked out in a medley of Moroccan style furnishings, in handcrafted sculpted wood and colorful silks, along with the latest high-tech amenities including a special in-house compilation of classical music. For a romantic splurge, book the stunning penthouse suite, which includes two sprawling terraces with hot tubs and a sweeping vista of the coast. It's all super luxury from the 24-hour concierge and room service to the fitness room and mini-spa with a wide choice of beauty treatments using Carita and Kanebo products. If ever you tire of lazing by the heated pool or in the palm-shaded private bungalows, there are crystalline coves and fine sandy beaches just a ten-minute stroll away. The patio restaurant, L'Or Bleu, is headed by talented young chef Florent Benoît, whose reasonable €47 fixed-price 3-course menu offers such dishes as sea bass tartare with green pepper and lemongrass, delicious spicy squid ravioli, veal with wild morels, or Moroccan-style chicken tagine, and sumptuous homemade pastries for dessert.

6 blvd de l'Esquillon, Théoule sur Mer, 04.92.28.60.30, Doubles from €442. website

Originally published in the July/August 2009 issue of France Today.

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