A lovers’ cocoon on the Riviera
Facing the deep blue Mediterranean sea, luxury and voluptuousness are the two bywords of this intimate and green romantic enclave. In the bay of Cannes, one hour from Nice-Côte d’Azur airport, the Tiara Yaktsa Hotel appears suddenly after a winding drive along the scenic Corniche road between Théoule-sur-Mer and Miramar. It feels somewhat like partaking in Hitchcock’s landmark film To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The huge1920s villa where this enchanting cocoon hotel was set up is both timeless and a temple of contemporary comfort in a stunning and privileged universe that pays homage to Yaktsa, the Indian divinity of Nature. A total escapade.
An invitation to intimate luxury
Everything here has been thought out to host lovers in a setting that is both discreet and ultra-comfortable. Passing the threshold of the impressive entrance door in sculpted wood, one is swept away by the amazing view onto the shimmering sea and the gardens cascading down in green terraces, amidst the cypress trees, birds of paradise, blossoming mimosas. A true invitation to travel, the strongly influenced Oriental decor with handicrafts from far-flung corners of the world, thought out by interior designer Pilar de Sousa, is imaginative and refined. Moroccan doors, Portuguese furniture, Moorish objects, Venetian luminaries, huge silver necklaces in wooden frames. «Here time is set aside», explains Régis Gallenne, the hotel director. «It’s so peaceful that some of our clients spend their entire stay within the hotel premises». Indeed, everything at the Yaktsa is conceived to meet the slightest whim of the upscale visitors. Guests can either sit in the sun around the pool or then rest in an outdoor four-poster bed for two, in total privacy shaded by delicate voile curtains. The well-being space offers massages and skin treatments with products and beauticians from the famous Carita Beauty Institute. It’s the Zen attitude.
A chiseled gastronomy
With its breathtaking view on the ocean blue and the Estérel mountains, the Or Bleu restaurant takes you on a gastronomic journey with a combination of savours based on regional market produce, including the fish of the day. The menu changes on a regular basis and young chef Benoît Florent (ex Crillon, Palme d’Or at the Cannes Martinez, l’Oasis in Nice) features essentially a Mediterranean cuisine. « We convey a sunny and Provencal spirit, » he explains—furthermore the delicate gourmet temptations offer a choice of menus and desserts concocted to be tasted à deux.
Customized service and package deals for couples
With its 21 rooms and suites opening onto the sea and the red overtones of the Estérel massif, the Tiara Yaktsa is totally romantic and low-key. Each room is a luminous haven – four-poster beds, silks, linens and ultra soft cottons, state-of-the-art bathrooms with large shower cabins for two, huge plasma screens and well-stocked mini bar. Its 24/24 room service is ensured by an efficient and attentive staff, making Hotel Tiara Yaktsa an ideal place to get away and charge up those used batteries.
Mary Deschamps
Novembre 2010
