From France, With Love

Crillon Le Brave Views
Discover the charm and luxury of Maisons Pariente, a family-owned collection of hideaways designed to feel like home. During my recent stay at three of their stunning properties, I was captivated by the personal touch and attention to detail that founders Patrick Pariente and his daughters, Leslie Kouhana and Kimberley Cohen, have infused into each location. These aren't just hotels—they're intimate, luxurious retreats that perfectly complement their breathtaking settings. Stay tuned as I take you inside these unique escapes.

LOU PINET

The Maisons Pariente FAM began on the beautiful Cote de Azur, at the bohemian, Tropezian boutique, Lou Pinet. This discreet, luxurious refuge set just apart from the hustle and bustle of St Tropez, allows visitors to explore the glitz and glam of the region at their own pace, and return to a peaceful oasis of understated elegance at the end of each day. This is laid back luxury at its finest.

Highlights of my stay included:

  • An incredible steak dinner at BeefBar, where the plates, an exclusive Beef Bar x Bernardaud collaboration, feature playful emojis to add an extra touch of fun to the dining experience. Don’t miss the Iconic Pizza, the mashed potatoes, or the T bone steak with the signature BeefBar sauce. For dessert, the Mantecato, a signature ice cream with a selection of toppings, was the ultimate end to a decadent meal.
  • Custom caffeine, thanks to General Manager Luca, who arranged personalized images printed onto our morning cappuccinos – my fur baby Fletcher makes for a very handsome cappuccino topper.
  • A morning walk along the Sentier du Littoral, a 6+mile coastal path with spectacular views of the harbor and ocean. It starts at Plage de la Garoupe and continues on to the Villa Eilenroc.
  • A laid-back lunch under the pines at Gigi, one of the many beach clubs that line Ramatuelle. We could easily have spent an entire day here enjoying all of the amenities, which include: an outdoor wellness area, a Bellini Bar, swimming pool, several lounge areas complete with hammocks, table tennis and pétanque courts, a private path leading directly to the beach, an Italian restaurant and the kid-focused Gigi Circus!
  • Rose all day, with a tasting at Domaine Bertaud Belieu, an estate covering 65 hectares in the heart of the peninsula of Saint Tropez. 80% of the vineyards’ production is rose wine, but their red and white wines were also delicious.  Fun fact, The Domain Bertaud Belieu hosted Leondardo DiCaprio’s Charity Foundation gala event!
  • A stroll through La Ponche, the historic center of the old fishing village that is St Tropez, now lined with luxury mega yachts and iconic high end designer shops.
  • Dinner overlooking Place de Lices, at Le Café, a brasserie with the most incredible atmosphere. Order the Raspberry Pavlova, you won’t be disappointed. I also appreciate that their dessert menu was listed on the first page of the menu, they clearly knew their audience! The Place de Lices square also hosts an incredible market every Saturday and Tuesday, featuring food, clothes, bags and more.

It was with heavy hearts that we left this Pearl of the Mediterranean to explore the heart of Provence!

CRILLON LE BRAVE

One night will never be enough at this timeless Provençal hideaway, tucked away in the heart of Vaucluse, below the majestic Mount Ventoux. Comprised of nine, 17th and 18th century buildings, Crillon Le Brave is a gorgeous labyrinth with secret passageways, cobblestone streets, and panoramic views over the surrounding vineyards, villages and of course, the Ventoux.

Each room or suite, is uniquely furnished and decorated with local and vintage antiques, complementing the red terracotta floors and wooden beams – an homage to both the history of Provence and the French art of living. They all remain in the original layout according to the architecture of the house.

But best of all, you can let Louis-Philippe, a Les Clefs d’Or Concierge, help curate your stay with exceptional local recommendations, from the exceptional wineries of Ventoux, Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pap, to nature walks in the heart of the Luberon, a visit to a local beekeeper, a stroll through the lavender fields, or a picnic in the garrigue.

Highlights of a short but oh-so-sweet stay include:

  • Walking food tours through Aix en Provence and Avignon, where I discovered the best locales for madeleines, cheese, macarons, calissons (traditional French candied fruit treat), chocolate, Sacristain (a treat made from leftover puff pastry), baguettes, coffee and more! I enjoyed many of these discoveries at a wine cave picnic in the heart of Aix, accompanied by a wine tasting of course!
  • Dinner at La Table du Ventoux, the gorgeous on property restaurant at Crillon Le Brave with panoramic views from both the terrace and interior seating – here, the chef has created a menu that offers a tasty exploration of some of the South of France’s best produce.
  • A morning stroll through the village that Crillon Le Brave calls home.
  • Lunch in l’Isle-sur-la-sorgue, a small market town, divided by the Sorgue river, famous for its antique stores and canal waterwheels.
  • But best of all, I had a little time to sit and enjoy those enchanting Ventoux views!

A quick 40 min drive back to Avignon to hop on the TGV, and Paris in 2 hours!

LE GRAND MAZARIN

The last stop on the tour de Maisons Pariente was the one and only Le Grand Mazarin, a whimsical design masterpiece by Martin Brudnizki. It’s an intimate, bohemian space in Le Marais, a central Parisian neighborhood known for its Jewish history, picturesque cobblestone streets, endless cafes, vintage boutiques and high end designer retail. It’s the perfect mix of Paris, conveniently at your doorstep.

I spent two glorious nights at Le Grand Mazarin, soaking in each and every detail. The property is full of design elements highlighting French heritage artisans – from the hand painted fresco arching over the subterranean pool, courtesy of French artist Jacques Merle, and Sophie Pega’s celestial windows that delight in the winter garden, to the custom lamps crafted by Maison Lucien Gau and the intricate canopies that float over the beds, designed by Art de Lys. The craftsmanship is impeccable and as no corner has been left untouched, the results are simply breathtaking.

Highlights of my stay in Paris:

  • Dinner at Boubalé, the hotel’s restaurant, which puts a French twist on dishes from Israel, Morocco, Syria and Iraq. I can’t even identify a favorite menu item, because we ate family style and everything was superb.
  • Drinks at Le Bar de Boubalé, one of the most inspired cocktail menus I have ever seen, in which the mixologists have repurposed surplus ingredients from the kitchen into their creations, like the Meshiggene Cocktail which combines tequila vecindad, bell pepper, harissa and ayran.
  • A sweet and savory food tour of Le Marais (notice there’s a theme to my tours!) that found me trying some of the best bites in Paris (ask me about the crepes at Breizh Cafe!)
  • Dinner at Grand Coeur, which is tucked away in a hidden courtyard below a dance academy.
  • Late night revelry at Muse, an exclusive nightspot in the hotels underground lounge bar, that opened the week prior to my arrival!

The Maisons Pariente collection is truly special and authentically French, and offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in a diverse array of destinations, from the heart of Paris and the hills of Provence, to the slopes of Meribel and the sea of Sant Tropez, the Pariente family have created a series of French escapes that will leave you asking for more!  

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