A few stars in Provence and other nice things
May 30, 2017, 2:44 pm
The Cathedral is not the most spectacular:
Main attraction are 3 early paintings by Rubens:
May 30, 2017, 3:00 pm
The cafe is furnished in light colours
During our visit a Russian TV-team did a documentation, so it seems to be quite famous. Our selection was quite nice.
The prices are high, even by Riviera-standards. While the sweets were good, it wasn´t over the top. I wouldn´t too a too far detour again.
May 31, 2017, 7:04 am
GRAND HOTEL DU CAP FERRAT
71 Bd du General de Gaulle SAINT-JEAN CAP FERRAT FR 0623 St Jean Cap Ferrat, FR 06230
Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat (54 Photos)
GRAND HOTEL DU CAP FERRAT
Since I was a child I wanted to stay at Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat. Why? When we
stayed in a LHW I always read the directory and saw the famous facade of the
hotel. It fascinated me and it´s indeed impressive:
.JPG)
.JPG)
When I did my research for my Provence-trip prices for end of April were quite
reasonable. While 750,00 € per night for a double room at low-season are far
from cheap, it got more bearable with a 2 for 3 rate. I thought long about
booking the Deluxe Room at 433,00 € per night or the Pinewood Suite at 1.100,00
€ While the Deluxe-Room ranges around 42 sqm, the Pinewood Suite is between 45
and 75 sqm. So if you get a small one it´s not really worth the surcharge. Also
I read, that they normally do very good upgrades for FSPP-bookings, so I decided
to "take the risk" and go for the Deluxe Room.
Check In
We arrived relative late and stoped in front of the hotel. They took care of our lagguage and car, parking is with 49,00 € per night exorbitant. Opposite the entrance
is a nice fountain.
.JPG)
We were asked to sit down in the lobby and were offered drinks. We were told we
were upgraded to room 1, which should be a nice one.
Lobby
The lobby is absolutely beautiful with many lowers and white furniture (my
company was in heaven). In the evenings candles were lighted. You enjoy a great
view over the ocean.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
Room
Our room number one was located in the basement of the mainbuilding and a
Suite. So a very good 2 category upgrade. We liked the suite from the
first moment as it was one of the more spacious one. With excemption of a
guest-toilet it had everything you wish for, the furniture was agin for at least
one of us a dream
Floorplan and price-list (no joke in this case)
Entrance
Welcome treats
Living room:
Closet:
Bathroom:
While the bathroom was nice it lacked some light and a good shaving mirror, It
was hard to do make up (not my problem) or to put in your lenses.
Bedroom:
The room had even more to offer, a very nice terrace with a gate to the park:
Only problem was, that it was raining most time so we couldn´t really use the
terrace.
Breakfast
Breakfast was offered as an a la carte or buffet. It was included for us but I
believe they charge 49,00 € for the buffet per person. The buffet is nicely
presented, but in the end mediocre. The choices are limited and you miss
something outstanding. No crabs, special salads or something like that. At this
price point and hotel-category I expect more.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
I Ordered waffles (they didn´t bill a surcharge), When I asked which items to
order were included the waiter wasn´t able to answer and promised to send the manager. Even after I asked a second time no one came.
.JPG)
Another issue I had on the last morning. As it was not raining, they served
breakfast outside. As it was quite cold I was a little bit irritated and told
the manager, it would be could. He asked me, if I don´t have a jacket. Yes, I
have one, but what a question!
So breakfast was the weakest part of our stay.
Dining
One evening we ordered a vegetarian club-sandwich via room-service. While it was
good, it was with 38,00 € overpriced.
.JPG)
The hotel has also over the day restaurant Club Dauphine and restaurant La Veranda. Both more expensive than many Michelin starred restaurants, we didn´t try. They also have a 1 star restaurant Le Cap which was closed during our stay. Prices are higher than at 3 star restaurant Alain Ducasse or the 2 star restaurants at the region, so you pay a big Cap Ferrat surcharge.
SPA
The SPA with indoor pool and whirlpool is nice.
On the way you find pictures and signatures of famous guests:
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Entrance:
.JPG)
Pools:
.JPG)
.JPG)
Garden
The hotel has a nice garden which is diverted by a small road and leads to the
ocean and Club Dauphine. There is a cableway for the last metres.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Club Dauphine
Club Dauphine is a restaurant and a heated saltwater pool. While it was cold outside the pool was relative warm and I could take a short dip. The setting is beautiful, a spectacular pool!
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Beach
Through a gate you can reach the beach with a ladder in the ocean. Nice place, but no chance to swim at this time of the year.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Overall
Surely a very nice hotel, even if nearly everything is totally overpriced. Service was with excemption of breakfast very good. I would return anytime, but not during season. While you may enjoy all facilities during this time, I wouldn´t be ready to pay the prices they claim. It´s simply too much.
Jun 1, 2017, 3:20 pm
When entering the hotel drive we saw some girls in glamorous evening grows who posed in front of luxury cars. The question of my company if they are rich girls or even celebrities is easy to answer. Would they pose in front of cars they are used to in this case?
Valet parking was quick and doormen very friendly. Metropole is old fashioned but opulent. We found fast the way to the restaurant which was nearly full. The furniture is like the hotel not the newest fashion but nevertheless elegant.
We were showed our table and placed our order. As we decided before we opted for the vegetarian menu which is priced reasonable with 99,00 €. I like at the Joel Robouchon restaurants, that they mostly offer a good vegetarian option.
The menu:
We got 2 non-alcoholic cocktails:
Definitively above average!
Amuse Bouche:
The whole evening was “big cinema”. While the restaurants in Provence focused mainly on food the restaurants in Monaco offered also a show. One of the elements were the bread-wagon.
The selection was indeed formidable. They came every few minutes and offered replenishments.
What we got were in fact outstanding bread:
The first course, which I liked. The dish was well balanced and had some nice flavors.
Second course was very fresh and tasted great:
The asparagus! Also a very good dish:
Now the main course! It was a huge serving but I found it too spicy and the rice too hard. Not a positive memorable dish.
The desert was small, but I liked it.
They had (open the curtain) a desert wagon. It wasn´t part of our menu so we only ate with our eyes:
Part of the menu was coffee or tea. Like the bread tea was celebrated. They have a tea wagon with several plants to do fresh tea:
The tea was good and in general a good idea.
Petit fours:
The kitchen wasn´t perfect during our visit but with exemption of the main course on a very high level. Service was attentive and without failure. I can recommend Joel Robouchon Monte Carlo and would visit again. Value was very good in my eyes.
P.S. At the end "madame" got a present. It was this cake:
Jun 1, 2017, 4:56 pm
Jun 3, 2017, 2:11 pm
. When I left Metropole my range notification was quite low. The navigation-system showed a gas-station near by. As I thought no station were there and my navigation system is wrong I saw a guy who stood beside his Vespa. After another round I saw a pump in the house wall.Next problem was, that my credit card wasn´t working at the first attempt, but after a while I got my fuel.....
A funny experience. When I drove back to Cap Ferrat I saw by the way 2 open propper gas stations. But wouldn´t have been as much fun
Jun 3, 2017, 3:16 pm
Jun 5, 2017, 1:37 pm
Jun 5, 2017, 2:18 pm
Same from inside:
Side-chapel:
It´s equipped with some old art:
Main attractions are the gravesites of the Grimaldi-family:
Jun 6, 2017, 2:09 pm
From the seaside:
The entrance fee was included in our French Riviera Pass so we went straight to the entrance. I have to commit my respect at this point as it seems they really found the most unfriendly and unwelcoming guy to great guests. We learned we had to line up for tickets, 5 minutes later we were in.
Mainly the museum is an aquarium with some nice tanks, but not too special in my eyes.
In the basement they did some promotion for a dinosaur exhibition
Conference room
Staircase with mosaic:
Wall with historic artefacts:
Not state of the art
Art with a message
Whale:
We went to the roof and found more art:
View from the roof:
Playground:
Turtles:
Nice museum, but not as great as some people told me in advance......
Jun 7, 2017, 2:38 pm
As mentioned before Mirazur is actual number 4 at San Pellegrino list and best restaurant in France. Michelin is not that enthusiastic and “only” gives it 2 stars. Gault Millau is even more restrained, they give it 17,5 points.
The restaurant is located in Menton only a few metres from the Italian border. In fact we parked in Italy. From outside it´s rather spectacular, in fact you wouldn´t expect that in this building is a good restaurant.
From inside it´s a round room, some tables share a sea view (ours did not)
The menu offered 4 options, we opted for the lunch-menu.
They started with some nibbles
Creative and good.
We also got a whole bread with a bread-poem and home-flavoured olive oil.....
Now the first course: Crumbled crab and gamberoni from San Remo, Hibiscus-Turnip
Guess who ate 2...... It tasted well, but wasn´t an explosion. Would call it solid.
Next came “Green” – Peas from our garden, kiwi and fennel
A fresh dish which was very good.
The main: Saint Pierre from Mediterranean – green curry and celery from our garden
Without question faultless cooked and a good dish, but not a wow-one
As I had the mood for it today I ordered the cheese trolley.
I asked for a selection thru the trolley and got this:
Good cheese without many garnishes – puristic I would say, but not really in a negative way.
Time for desert: Naranjo en Flor – Sospel´s St Joseph saffron, almond foam and orange sorbet
Tasted good, but it will not make the way to my hall of fame of deserts.
Petit fours:
Good ones!
OK, now the verdict! Number 4 in the world and best in France?n Surely not! I can name many restaurants which are better. It again shows the value of Pellegrino list. Is 17,5 point fair? Perhaps, but I´m sceptical with Gault Millau. I think 2 stars at Guide Michelin are fair. It´s without doubt a really good restaurant, but not totally great. Considering the price tag it was a good experince and I would recommend it. But it´s not like I must return at all costs. Perhaps San Pellegrino can be a curse in some cases....