A day trip to
St. Paul de Vence is an absolute MUST when visiting the French Riviera.
Where else can you be instantly transported from the luxurious sun-soaked coastal beaches of
Cote d’Azur right into the heart of the most scenic light-filled countryside all within 30 minutes time? Perched high upon the hills of the Alps-Maritime region,
St. Paul de Vence has been a safe haven for the ultra-rich and famous who flock to the medieval destination to relax, unwind, and spend long languid afternoons under the Provençale sun. And when lunchtime rolls around, there’s no better place to see and be seen than
La Colombe D’or, a historical hotel/ restaurant that has been around since the Roaring 20’s.
La Colombe d’Or
Place du General de Gaulle | 06570 St. Paul de Vence
Can you imagine? Hobnobbing with the international elite jet-setting crowd of European artists, socialites, politicians, and entertainers back in the day? The hotel was notorious for hosting some of the hottest dance club nights on the weekends, but now it stands alone as the ONLY hotel in the area that carries an enviable art collection rivaling those at the Matisse Museum in nearby Nice.
Artist’s Enclave
Why? Because artists like Matisse and Chagall would visit
St. Paul de Vence on random weekends and exchange personal artwork for room, board, and maybe a meal or two while in town. And today, the priceless art pieces still remain proudly hung up on the hotel walls for guests to revel and enjoy.
The Vibe
Upon entering the gorgeously stone-clad walls of La Colombe d’Or, you’re instantly enveloped by an immediate air of sophistication and utmost class. Despite the sweltering summer heat, servers are fully suited with collared shirts, pressed slacks, a vest and tie to answer your every gastronomic whim. The restaurant generously seats over 200 people split between the main dining hall, private dining room, and the incredible garden terrace overlooking the entire lush topography of the region. However, snagging a coveted seat during summertime is still near impossible if you don’t plan ahead. Which we didn’t of course, since we hadn’t planned which day we were visiting St. Paul de Vence in advance. But as luck would have it, we waltzed in undeterred by the strict appointment system and were seated right at the start of their lunch service.
Aside from the amazing, expertly prepared dishes you see above,
magical would be the only word to describe our experience of
La Colombe d’Or.
You instantly feel the historical significance of such a well-preserved site, with Matisse, Miro, and Chagall having once dined right in the same spot as you’re seated.
Just amazing guys… my pictures really don’t do it justice! I’m never one to feel embarrassed by snapping away like a pushy American tourist but something about this serene setting instantly halted my need to capture every.single.detail and just relax… and enjoy.
Closing thoughts
Ahhh… I can feel myself allowing the French way to seep in already! Completely captivated by
LaColombe d’Or, its rich past, its magical present, and its promising future guys. Seriously plotting to spend our 10 year anniversary
here. Maybe even a vow renewal with all our close family and friends in tow??? Omigosh I’m getting
goosebumps just imagining the possibility!
In case you missed it:
Happy Friday my loves and as always…
Bon Appétit mes amis!
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3 Comments
Love your amazing post with such beautiful pictures, truly very interesting, thank you for sharing!!!
xxx
http://www.noragouma.com
This made me so hungry! The food looks incredibly delicious and the restaurant gives off such a magical, dreamy vibe! Love it <3
Oh everything looked so fresh and delicious! The grilled fish, the bread…I want a bite of everything!