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. 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 or Le Rocher for lunch on La Garoupe beach; 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; make sure you lunch on La Garoupe Beach
- This is a chic minimalist villa, 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 within walking distance; head into town for groceries
- 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.
- Beach Villa
- 4 bedrooms
- Self-catering (+ restaurants nearby)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
Rooms
The 3 rooms upstairs spiral around the staircase. It’s worth remembering that this is a family home not a hotel, and if the rooms are fairly simple, they’re also perfectly comfortable and the rest of the house is yours, so you won’t spend much time in them. For the record, you’ll find white walls, low-slung beds, air-conditioning and parquet floors.
The 2 at the front have built-in wardrobes and sliding French doors that open onto a shared balcony which overlooks the pool (you can see the sea between the tall pines). The room at the back has French windows onto a small balcony, but you’ll spurn it for other terraces. All the rooms have shutters, black-out curtains, crisp white linen and extremely good beds. They share a shower room, a separate bathroom (shower and toilet) and one separate w/c. Downstairs, there is also an outdoor shower at the back of the house, as well as a study/bedroom with a truckle bed, which can be set up as a double or twins - probably best for kids or a nanny.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- DVD player
- Radio
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
The kitchen is simple, practical and comes with everything you’ll need (this is a house designed to be lived in all year round, not just for a 2-week holiday). You’ll find a double oven, a gas hob, a fridge/freezer and all sorts of machines to whiz up delicious dinners. There’s a barbecue on the terrace, where you eat at a big dining table; in the unlikely event it gets cold, you retreat to the dining table by the kitchen.
You can head into Antibes every day for its excellent covered market (closed on Monday), which will provide everything you’ll need, but there’s a butcher up the road on the Cap, who does rather good sausages. The nearest boulangerie is at Salis beach (2km), where you can also buy English newspapers at the Tabac. Basic ingredients (bin bags, washing up liquid, cooking oil, salt and pepper etc) will be provided at the house.
If you want to eat out, try Keller Beach at La Garoupe on the Cap for lunch. It’s a real Riviera institution, no holiday would be complete without lunch here. For dinner, head west to Juan-Les-Pins and try Le J for good French food. There’s a huge choice of places to eat here, anything from pizza or omelettes to good brasseries. If you head east into Antibes, you’ll find the same wide choice (French, Italian, Moroccan). There’s a pizza restaurant at Salis Beach, or you can walk to Bacon, a Michelin-starred restaurant less than a km from the house. If you want to splash out, head up to Eden Roc at the Hotel du Cap (where Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was filmed); it’s posh and predictably expensive.
Features include:
- Barbecue
- Dishwasher
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Oven
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Head to La Garoupe Beach, first for a good lunch, then for a good walk along the Cap d'Antibes coastal path, where you can watch an armada of boats bling across the water
- Visit the lighthouse above the villa, the Cap’s famous landmark. Climb up for fabulous views over Antibes and Juan-Les-Pins
- Head to Antibes for sandy Salis beach (the best in town); the vibrant covered market open every day except Monday; the Picasso museum in the castle; and the fortified seafront, pedestrianised on summer afternoons
- Drive around the Cap, explore its tiny lanes and ogle at the magnificent houses, then spin round to Juan-Les-Pins where you can wander down boulevards packed with smart shops and laze on the long sandy beach. The jazz festival - Jazz à Juan - takes place in the last 2 weeks of July and draws big names. There’s a casino in town if you want to lose your shirt
- Take the ferry from Juan Les Pins or Cannes to the islands just offshore where there are lovely walks (no cars) and good restaurants
- Spend a day in Nice for Matisse and Chagall. Both have museums dedicated to their work. There’s also the flower market, the old town, and several excellent restaurants
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Fishing
- Golf
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
Kids
Children are very welcome and it's a nice set-up for families with older kids (5 or over), although there are no specific facilities for them, other than a ping-pong table, and the pool of course.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The ground floor room can be set up with twin beds
Kids Activities on site:
Families Should Know:
Parents should be aware that there are no banisters on the stairs, so toddlers will need to be closely watched. The pool is 1.4m deep and has no shallow end.
Distances:
- Airport: 30-40 mins (Nice)
- Hospital: 20 mins (Antibes - Juan-les-Pins)
- Beach: 3 mins' drive / 15 mins' walk (Salis or Garoupe)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
La Maison Moderne is set amongst pine trees in a quiet and peaceful 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's free parking outside the villa.
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
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