The Cap may be tiny, but here is proof that small is beautiful. The dreamy pine-clad peninsular separates Antibes from Juan-Les-Pins and ticks to a slower beat than the rest of the Côte d’Azur. It was developed by European nobility in the 19th century, painted by Monet and Picasso, then colonised by film stars, who made it their summer playground. It retains a feel for its own past and occasionally you get the impression you’re walking through a Jean-Luc Goddard movie. Those looking for a taste of the old Riviera will love it.
This simple 1960's modernist villa makes a great base. Set in a quiet leafy residential area, you can walk down to the boulangerie or up to the butcher; laze by the pool and top up your tan; potter off to Keller Beach Club or Le Rocher for lunch and a swim; or climb up the hill to the Cap’s totemic lighthouse for fine views east and west. Contemporary simplicity is the virtue within. Stylish rooms come in white, there are terraces galore, a decked pool shaded by palm trees and a practical kitchen with all the kit. Brilliant.
Highs
- The Cap itself, one of the loveliest spots on the Riviera with sandy beaches and Antibes' charming old town, just a 25-minute walk from the villa
- This is a chic minimalist villa with a homely arty vibe, ideal for a week in the sun with lovely sea views
- The beautiful, airy sitting room that opens onto a dining terrace
- The decked pool, which shimmers at the foot of palm trees
- The Mediterranean gardens, planted with olive trees, yuccas, lavender and grasses
Lows
- Bedrooms don’t have the wow factor of a fancy hotel
- Real estate on the Cap is vastly expensive so the garden is compact
- Few shops on your doorstep; head into town for the market and groceries
- Not ideal for the less mobile or small children (no handrail on the staircase, several steps down to the pool and no shallow end)
- You’ll need a car to get here, but you won’t use it much; people on the Cap tend not to stray far
Best time to go
You really want to come when it’s nice and hot, so you can use the pool and eat on the terrace. May to mid-October is best, avoiding the crowds and prices of midsummer (July-August) if you can.
Our top tips
The villages up in the hills are extremely beautiful and there’s a different market every day. Best of the lot are Valbonne and Biot.
Location
La Maison Moderne is situated in a quiet residential area of the idyllic Cap d’Antibes, in southern France.
By Air:
Nice Airport (20km) is close. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.
By Car:
You'll probably want to hire a car to get here. Please see our car rental recommendations. There is plenty of free parking on the road in front of the house or on the drive.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to France and getting around
Airports:
- Nice 20.0 km NCE
Other:
- Beach 1.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
We stayed for one week with our teenage son and loved the house and area! Really appreciated the timely communication and tips beforehand from Nicola. It was very hot so we spent a lot of time in and by the lovely pool and on the terrace. We shopped locally and barbequed most nights. The house felt very homely and comfortable & we loved the arty vibe. Would most definitely like to go back!
An attractive house, set in small but well-kept gardens, with a nice swimming pool, in a lovely residential area about 20 minutes walk from the centre of Antibes. The house is comfortable and well furnished, it feels homely with a vast array of books and CDs and lots of artwork and sculptures to admire. We took advantage of the warm evenings to dine outside – but note that the mosquitoes like to “dine” at this time also! Not quite as good value for money as other properties we have rented through i-escape, and there were a few small niggles during our stay - for example a welcome pack would have been nice, and a mid-stay clean (we stayed for 2 weeks), and a few small maintenance issues to be fixed.
Antibes is a beautiful place to holiday - there is plenty to see and do, though a car is a necessity really if you want to explore more widely (and parking can be challenging in peak season!). We visited Cannes and Monaco during our stay and also the beautiful village of Biot in the hills behind the Cap itself. The old town of Antibes itself is wonderful, with pretty streets and squares, a lovely market, plentiful shops and restaurants and the Picasso Museum. Wander down to the marina to admire the fantastic super-yachts and the deep blue waters of the Côte d’Azur. Overall we had a very pleasant holiday.
We stayed at La Maison Moderne in August 2020, during the narrow window when France was OK to visit and before the quarantine was imposed. It is an absolutely wonderful house, spacious and elegant, with a sparse but luxurious aesthetic. The main room downstairs, huge sitting area, dining area and kitchen, is big enough for a party of six to find space for everyone. But let's hope we don't have to be stuck indoors - outside is the point! The balcony has room for a large table, where we ate our evening meals, looking out over the lush garden, beautiful pool and spectacular sunsets. Everyone enjoyed the pool, which although unheated, was a perfect temperature because of the time of year. It was so relaxing just to lie on a sunbed, reading, listening to cicadas and to have a quick dip every now and again to cool down.
The villa is not right in the heart of Antibes, which is mainly very good, as it's peaceful - apart from the cicadas - but you will need to walk a little way to eat out or do your shopping. There is an interesting walk into the town, through a small nature reserve, actually. We didn't hire a car, so we would walk into the centre and, if we had shopping to carry, we'd just get an Uber back. My husband went swimming in the sea every day, and said it was a short walk to the nearest beach. I was completely happy with the pool! Antibes is a decent sized town, with lots of shops and an amazing Provencal market. I can't comment on nightlife, as that was not relevant to us, but maybe a villa in suburban Antibes is not first pick if that matters to you. Probably not best with very tiny children, as stone steps, open stairs in the house and a pool might be somewhat stressful, but once they can swim, or at least be reasoned with, I think it would be great with kids. Overall, as you can see from my rating, a fantastic house and a lovely holiday!
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape