Where the Fitzgeralds summered: an Art Deco hotel on the water, in one family since 1929
The villa between Juan-les-Pins and the Cap d'Antibes was called Villa Saint-Louis when F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald rented it in the mid-1920s. In 1929 Boma Estène and his wife Simone took it over, turned it into a hotel on the water and rebuilt it in the Art Deco style of the time. The family still owns and runs the house, now led by Marianne Estène-Chauvin, granddaughter of the founders, with her son Antoine at the helm. The Bar Fitzgerald, where a pianist plays jazz standards, keeps the name alive.
The hotel stands directly on the sea. Below it lies a private beach with sand, a terrace and a pontoon, open from April to October, and the Water Ski Club on the pontoon teaches all levels and holds the Marc Grilli Challenge every August. The 43 rooms and suites are spread over three floors. The sea-view categories have balconies, the Superior rooms look onto the holm oaks and gardens of the Cap, and the Sea View Suites measure 60 square metres; the Zelda Suite on the first floor is the newest.
La Passagère holds a Michelin star under Aurélien Véquaud, whose cooking pairs Mediterranean produce with the flavours of his native Vendée, and its terrace looks across the sea to the Estérel. La Plage Belles Rives is the beach restaurant. Small dogs up to 5 kg are welcome for a fee, on a lead and never in La Passagère. The hotel closes over the winter months.
Small dogs up to 5 kg are welcome for a fee, on a lead in the hotel and with their own menu, but not in La Passagère.
A private beach with sand, a terrace and a pontoon lies at the foot of the hotel, open from April to October.
The Villa Saint-Louis, rented by the Fitzgeralds in the mid-1920s, has been in the Estène family since 1929.
La Passagère holds a Michelin star under Aurélien Véquaud, who pairs Mediterranean produce with his native Vendée.
The terraces look across the bay to the Lérins Islands and the red hills of the Estérel.
Superior rooms look onto the holm oaks and gardens of the Cap. For the bay, book a Deluxe Sea View room with a private balcony, or the Zelda Suite on the first floor.
The hotel closes over the winter and the beach runs from April to October. June and September give long days on the pontoon without the peak of July and August; check the dates first.
The Water Ski Club works from the hotel's own pontoon and teaches every level. In August it hosts the Marc Grilli Challenge, so book lessons early that month.
Nice Côte d'Azur airport is 22 kilometres away, about 30 minutes by car along the coast; the concierge can arrange a car, and a boat from Nice takes around 30 minutes.
Travellers who want the Riviera of the 1920s with their feet in the water, a starred dinner and a small dog in the room.
Advantages verified on 2026-09-26 against the hotel’s own information. Policies change; confirm before you book. hotelris earns nothing from bookings. Links lead straight to the hotel.
9.4
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