Review: Les Roches Rouges, Saint Raphel
From the minute you drive up to this piece of paradise you instantly fall in love with the white 50’s-style building and signage. The branding is chic, classic and simple and is draws you in immediately. The reception’s design is amazing with individual hand picked pieces from hanging plants to intriguing arty coffee table books to a tan leather chaise long that runs the length of the room. I was in interior heaven! There is a reason why this hotel has been the talk of the town on Instagram because it really is something out of a Silm Aarons book where every angle is photogenic.
My sister stayed for a night and I went to have a peek. The rooms are bright and simple with a beautiful marble sink in the bathroom. The balconies all look out on to this breath-taking view of the sea as it perfectly hugs the rocky coastline. There was not a cloud in the sky and all you could see was the distant outline of a boat or two. The balconies overlook Les Roches Rouges’ large pastel pink terrace flooded with brilliant white parasols and two swimming pools; one fresh water and one salt water.
I could talk forever about swimming in the pools and the magical diving just in front of the hotel but I shall let the photos do the talking. I am here to talk about the cuisine! Interestingly the food is all organic (bio) and this is something that you can taste straight away from their Salade Nicoise. Even though this may have been just a salad the leaves were delicate and delicious and there was no need for any fancy dressings to enhance it except a splash of olive oil and balsamic. I was also given a pink grapefruit cocktail with tequila which sort of changed my life and if it hadn't been for the drive home I would have got stuck into a cheeky few. For mains we had the sword fish which was locally caught, mixed vegetables stew with cod and aioli and one of their signature dishes, Ratatouille! Everything had this wonderful lightness as well as staying true to its Provencal surroundings. I particularly fell for the Ratatouille which felt like it had been revamped a little with a touch of sweet and sour flavouring. The setting for the restaurant is of course stunning and while you eat you can gaze out into the blue abbess. I spied a cute bar by the pool which I can imagine hots up during the evening and would provide a great pre or post dinner apéritif.
Les Roches Rouges is an epic escape just minutes from Saint Raphael and it completely transports you back in time to a 50’s French Riviera resort. They have paid special attention to the fare and you can tell that they care about what they are serving and want to take the best from the nearby land. It is roughly 1.2 hours from St Tropez and maybe under an hour to Nice. If you were to come and visit this tranquil corner of the Cote d’Azur then come with the mind to totally switch off, brush up on your paddle boarding, enjoy some delicious healthy dishes and do as the locals do and join in on their petanque sessions.
90 Boulevard de la 36ème division du Texas, 83530 Saint-Raphaël, France
http://www.hotellesrochesrouges.com/en