Tiara Yaktsa
Near Cannes, Cote d'Azur, France
Reviewed by
Emma Love
Blink and you could almost miss the turning for Tiara Yaktsa, which is tucked away off a winding road that climbs up and up, through the tiny town of Théoule-sur-Mer and beyond. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Cannes but it feels like a world away. And this place is all about the views: from your room, from the restaurant, from the outdoor pool. All you can see is the Riviera's blue sea shimmering in the sun, lush green hillside around a curving coast, and clusters of houses dotted in the distance.
The hotel is a real retreat; a get-away-from-it-all, zoned-out paradise. Chic Moroccan interiors blend seamlessly with the Mediterranean views, and the 22 bedrooms are gorgeous, some of the nicest we've seen. We spent peaceful, lazy mornings by the pool and snoozing on one of the double Balinese daybeds in the garden before pootling off in the car to discover nearby seaside towns and gorgeous inland villages, returning for mouth-watering food at the Michelin-starred L’Or Bleu restaurant.
The hotel is a real retreat; a get-away-from-it-all, zoned-out paradise. Chic Moroccan interiors blend seamlessly with the Mediterranean views, and the 22 bedrooms are gorgeous, some of the nicest we've seen. We spent peaceful, lazy mornings by the pool and snoozing on one of the double Balinese daybeds in the garden before pootling off in the car to discover nearby seaside towns and gorgeous inland villages, returning for mouth-watering food at the Michelin-starred L’Or Bleu restaurant.
Highs
- The peaceful position is dreamy: you’re away from bustling Cannes but you can dip in and out as you wish
- Stylish rooms with double rain showers and extra comfy beds. Book a Junior Suite Sea View or Deluxe Room Sea View for, you guessed it, stunning sea views
- All the staff are friendly and helpful, and nothing is too much trouble
- The food is truly delicious. Breakfast is a feast and we were blown away by dinner at L’Or Bleu, the hotel’s excellent restaurant
- The outdoor pool with views
Lows
- You’ll need a car to get here and get around
- Apart from L’Or Bleu and the 2 restaurants at nearby sister hotel Tiara Miramar Beach, there’s nowhere else to eat within walking distance
- Pretty expensive
- No twin rooms or kids under 16 – this hotel is aimed at couples
- The fitness centre is tiny and only has one cross-trainer machine and a bike
Best time to go
Spring, early summer and autumn are loveliest, with reliable temperatures and fewer crowds. July and August are the busiest (and hottest) on the Côte d’Azur, so the coastal roads can get clogged up with traffic and it takes longer to get around. Annual events you might want to avoid include the MIPIM conference (March) and the Cannes film festival (May). The hotel is open all year but note that in low season it can close during the week, often on Sundays and Mondays.
Our top tips
This hotel makes a heavenly stay for a romantic long weekend, but to really delve into all the nearby towns and villages and see all that the Côte d’Azur has to offer without rushing, a week’s stay is ideal.