France

Standing proudly in the historic heart of Bordeaux, directly facing the majestic Grand Théâtre, InterContinental Bordeaux, Le Grand Hotel embodies the essence of refined French luxury. Housed in a 19th-century neoclassical masterpiece designed by architect Victor Louis, the building’s interiors were reimagined by acclaimed designer Jacques Garcia, blending the romantic grandeur of the Napoleonic era with modern comforts. The hotel features 130 elegantly appointed rooms and suites adorned with velvet, carved woodwork, and gilded accents, some offering sweeping views of the theater square and Bordeaux’s old town.

Culinary experiences abound, including the two-Michelin-starred Le Pressoir d’Argent, helmed by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, which celebrates local produce through refined French gastronomy. Guests can also enjoy all-day dining at Le Bordeaux, rooftop cocktails, and al fresco moments on the scenic terrace. The hotel’s wellness offerings include the Guerlain Spa, a tranquil oasis with an indoor pool, Turkish bath, and a range of signature treatments. Just steps from the Garonne River and the Cité du Vin, InterContinental Bordeaux serves as an opulent and culturally rich base for exploring the charm and elegance of France’s wine capital.

Tucked away in the historic heart of Cognac, France, Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa is a refined five-star retreat that masterfully transforms the legacy of the Monnet cognac house into a celebration of modern luxury and heritage. Designed by architect Didier Poignant, the property integrates former cognac cellars and stone warehouses with contemporary materials such as glass façades and wrought iron, creating an elegant dialogue between past and present. The hotel offers 104 rooms and suites, some with private balconies or garden views, featuring interiors that blend warm woods, natural textures, and subtle references to the region’s iconic spirit.

A highlight of the hotel is its exceptional dining experience. Les Foudres, the Michelin-starred signature restaurant, is located within a former barrel-aging cellar and presents refined regional cuisine. La Distillerie offers a more casual brasserie-style setting, while 1838 Rooftop Bar and Angélique Café serve artisanal pastries, cocktails, and cognac-infused creations. Guests can unwind at the full-service spa, which includes indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, steam room, and tailored wellness treatments. Cultural immersion is further enhanced through curated cognac tastings, distillery visits, and bespoke experiences. With its seamless blend of architectural sophistication and oenological heritage, Hotel Chais Monnet is the ultimate destination for discerning travelers exploring the rich terroir and traditions of Cognac.

Located in Bordeaux’s historic Chartrons district, Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes was transformed by renowned designer Philippe Starck from a 19th-century wine cellar into a boutique luxury hotel that blends contemporary art aesthetics with sustainable values. The property features 97 guestrooms and suites, all designed with natural materials, soft lighting, and mirrored accents, with some offering private balconies overlooking the city. The hotel is home to Morimoto Bordeaux, the first European restaurant by acclaimed Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto, where fine French ingredients are reinterpreted through modern Japanese cuisine, complemented by an extensive collection of wines and sake. The Morimoto Bar serves as a vibrant social hub with creative cocktails and an elegant atmosphere. 

Wellness facilities include a spa with an indoor pool, hammam, four treatment rooms, and a fitness center, offering guests a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. The hotel is also Green Key certified, underscoring its commitment to sustainable travel. Just minutes from Bordeaux’s main train station and cultural landmarks, Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes combines design, cultural ambiance, and eco-conscious hospitality, making it an exceptional retreat for discerning travelers exploring the world’s wine capital.

Twenty minutes south of Bordeaux, deep within the Grand Cru Classé vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a cluster of buildings rises among forest and vine as though it has been there for centuries. Founded in 1999 by Alice and Jérôme Tourbier, Les Sources de Caudalie was designed from scratch by architect Yves Collet in a contemporary idiom that reads, remarkably, as timeless. Sixty-two rooms and suites occupy five distinctive cottages, each decorated by Alice with antiques, collector's furniture, and fine linens, no two rooms alike, most opening to a terrace overlooking the vineyard rows or a still lake. Bordeaux's only Palace-designated hotel and a three-Michelin-Key property, it is also the first Palace to hold the EU Ecolabel. Beneath it all, a natural thermal spring rises from 540 meters underground.

La Grand'Vigne, set in an orangery modeled on an eighteenth-century glasshouse, holds two Michelin stars under Chef Nicolas Masse, whose cooking distills Aquitaine into every plate, Gironde caviar, Pyrenean lamb, vegetables from the hotel's own garden. La Table du Lavoir, rebuilt stone by stone from a nineteenth-century wash house, offers bistronomic comfort, while wine bar ROUGE keeps 15,000 bottles at the ready. The Vinothérapie Spa, conceived by Alice and her sister Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie skincare, was the world's first to harness polyphenols from grape seeds and hot spring water in its treatments. A signature barrel bath, hammam, indoor pool within an elegant glasshouse, and an outdoor pool edged by barrel-shaped saunas complete a wellness landscape woven into the gardens. Cycle through the vines, walk the Forest of the Senses, or join a Saturday cooking class with a two-star chef — this hotel never hurries you, it simply places the best of Bordeaux within reach.