Art Deco Paradise
Classic 1930’s style in 2018
The Hotel Belles Rives in Cap d’Antibes re-opened for the 2018 season yesterday. An Art Deco paradise made famous by Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920’s, the hotel was first opened it’s doors in 1929. Originally owned by Boma and Simone Estène, their grand daughter, Marianne took over the running of the Hotel in 2001 and still owns it today. Situated right at the beginning of the Cap in the bay of Juan Les Pins the hotel oozes 1930’s style wherever you look. The Piano bar Fitzgerald is decorated in true 1930’s spirit with its leapord print club chairs and original leather bar not to mention the amazing panoramic views. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the famous Gatsby cocktail made with Gin, lychee liquor, violet syrup and Perrier.
In the gourmet restaurant La Passagère the tables are set with 1930’s hand-painted Bernardaud porcelain plates which feature scenes from the hotel’s surroundings. Then you have the beautifully decorated rooms incorporating real Hermes wallpaper, there are even Hermes plaques on the walls to prove it. Basically if you love art deco then you really should pop into the Belles Rives when you next visit Cap d’Antibes, even if it’s just for a coffee.
I went along to the hotel to find out what’s new for 2018 and also to ask some of the Hotel staff what they had been up to during the annual winter break.
Some familiar faces from Team Belles Rives
Luca – Head Concierge
How long have you worked at the Belles Rives?
2018 will be my 10th season here. I came to work here in 2009.
What did you do while the hotel was closed for the winter break?
I went home, I am Italian so I went home to Italy for two months to see my family in Albenga. Whenever I have free time I go home. My home is not too far from here, it’s on the Ligurian coast. It’s my one big break as the rest of the year I need to be here in Antibes.
It’s funny, there are many Italian Concierge on the French Riviera, I don’t know why but 40-50% of the Concierge in the big hotels are Italian. Perhaps it’s because we like to talk so much.
When did you come back to work?
Actually I came back a few days ago. Before we open everybody comes to help prepare the hotel for the re-opening. You do a bit of everything, even if it’s not your role. It’s a time for “all hands on deck”. Yesterday for example I was cleaning and arranging flowers.
What’s new for 2018?
To be honest the Belles Rives is a particular place because everything changes but at the same time nothing changes. We always have something new but still in keeping with the identity of the hotel. It’s more improvements maybe rather than changes. For example this year we have 6 new rooms, with new decor but the furniture and feel is still in keeping with our style.
We are also launching beauty corner which will be ready in about 2 months, just in time for the summer season. The full details of this will be a surprise which we will announce nearer the time. It will be very special though.
Are there any new members on the Concierge team this year?
No, we have the same team we have had for many years in the Concierge and the Valet deptartments. We are lucky because the team has remained the same for quite some time, you probably recognise many of the faces. Having the same team is nice for the clients too, it makes them feel at home. We are however, currently looking for a new head barman for the Piano Bar Fitzgerald so there will be a new face there soon.
What do you love about your job here?
I love interacting with the guests and speaking and helping people. Some of them over time become more than just guests which is nice too.
For example there is a lady, who I love, who is arriving in 1 hour. She is from Paris and passionate about Fitzgeralds’ life and work so she likes to come here. I call her a true Belles Rives Lover. I find her adorable. I think I am going to be having dinner with her tonight. I hardly ever do that but there are some guests who sort of become friends. They are of course always customers first but they also become like friends. So, today, I am waiting for her.
Laeticia- Head of Housekeeping
How long have you worked at the Hotel Belles Rives?
I have been here for 10 years. I started working in the housekeeping department when I was just 18 years old. Then I left for a few years to further my studies. I went to do my ‘Formation gouvernante’ with the Groupe Sibuet in Megève. Megève is in the mountains in the South East of France. After completing my studies I returned to the Cote d’Azur and worked in several hotels in the area including the Hotel Majestic. I also worked for some time in Nice but my dream was always to come back to the hotel Belles Rives. I remember, when I left for my studies, telling Marianne (the hotel owner) that I would definately be back one day.
Then, many years later I called her to see if there was a position for me at the hotel. ‘ Laetitia’, she said ‘You must come back right now’!. So that’s what I did and I have been here ever since. From the moment I first began working here I fell in love with the history of the hotel, the story of it’s owners and everything about the hotel. It’s where I always knew I wanted to be.
What did you do during the winter break?
I was here, spending time with my family and children. It’s actually only a short break for me. Although the Hotel closes for clients at the beginning of January I stay on until mid to late February to organise everything which needs to be done for the upcoming season. In reality I have only around 6 weeks of holiday.
Because I have children they obviously have school while the hotel is closed so we don’t go away. During the season I work 6 days a week but I am very lucky as I have a super husband who looks after our children and does the school runs etc so that I can work full time here. Obviously when my children are on holiday the hotel is at it’s busiest so it really helps to have an understanding and supportive husband.
Frederic -Manager of the Beach Bar
How long have you worked at the Hotel?
I have been here for four years but I have always worked in the hotel industry. At the Belles Rives I manage the beach bar downstairs during the summer season. In the winter I come up here to manage the Piano Bar Fitzgerald. I really love the atmosphere in this bar, it’s completely different from the beach bar. They are both very different with a different feel and style but I don’t have a favourite, I love them both equally.
What did you do while the hotel was closed?
I have just come back from Asia. I spent a month between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, travelling with my girlfriend. It was terrific! Every year when the hotel closes I go somewhere. I travel a lot. I have to because I work for 10-11 months of the year, 6 days a week for sometimes 12 hours a day without any breaks so, in the winter, I need to travel. My favourite places I have visited over the years are the Seychelles and the Philippines. However that was a long time ago, maybe 20 years ago. They have probably changed beyond recognition since then. Next year I am planning to go to Japan.
Christophe- Valet
How long have you worked at the hotel?
I have been here for about 8 years.
What do you love about being a Valet?
I love to drive the cars. We have many different cars and of course many extremely beautiful cars, which gives me a lot of pleasure. I also love the daily contact with the people. I enjoy speaking with the clients and helping them with what they need. It’s nice to be one of the first faces they see when they arrive at the Hotel.
What do you do while the Hotel is closed?
Usually I stay here and spend time with my friends and family. I was born and raised in Cannes and I still live there. During the break I usually go to the Gym quite a bit. This year I spent some time in Barcelona and in Paris but the rest of the time I was here just relaxing.
Aurélien Véquaud – Head Chef La Passagère.
How long have you worked as a chef?
I started at chef school when I was just 16 years old. From the age of 18 I began working in kitchens working my way up to head chef. In 2011 I was the head chef in a Michelin starred restaurant in Corsica, The Arena d’Oro restaurant at the Palm Beach of Ajaccio.
How long have you worked at the Belles Rives?
I started here in May 2017. This year will be my first full season at the Hotel. Before coming here I was at La Réserve de Beaulieu in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
Did you change the menu here as soon as you arrived?
When I arrived here I continued for 1 week with the old menu before introducing my dishes.
You can’t change everything instantly when you arrive in a new kitchen. It takes a while to re-organise and to install the new team. When a Head chef leaves a kitchen they take their team with them. It’s not just the Chef alone who changes. We come with a trusted team.
Everything in the kitchen is re-organised when a new head chef arrives. Maybe most people don’t realise this is the case. Therefore it takes time to establish ourselves in a new environment. The 2018 season will be our first full season with the new menu and the new team so we are looking forward to that.
La SOLE : Haliotis broth flavoured with bergamot, razor clam salad and wild garlic.
What did you do while the Hotel Belles Rives was closed for the break?
I travelled a little with my family and basically relaxed. Running a restaurant is extremely intense and you need to be fully concentrated at all times. Your mind is 100% in the kitchen for 10 or 11 months of the year so during the break I relax mentally too. That’s very important.
I have been on the cote d’Azur for 15 years now and I love it here very much. I love the products of the region and the seafood which is my passion and of course the scenery isn’t bad either.
You can read an interview with Marco Grilli, owner of the famous Belles Rives Water ski school here
For further information on the hotel Belles Rives visit their website here
Open daily from midday on the 9th March 2018.
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