Welcome to Vogue’s first-ever spa guide—a compendium of the 100 best spas worldwide, pulling from the expertise of our global editors. There is a lot out there in the world of wellness, and we are here to sort the cryo from the cold plunge, the infrared light treatment from the IV infusion. Or if your path is a more holistic one—there’s something for you here as well.
Why go here?
There are myriad reasons to stay at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France—if you can manage a reservation at the 118-room riviera grande dame that has hosted F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Pablo Picasso, and 150 years of international glitterati, that is. There are the ancient pines and manicured roses, the free-flowing Champagne, and of course, the cliffside pool where 21st-century titans of film and fashion escape the flashbulbs of La Croisette during the Cannes Film Festival. But luxury is equally balanced with relaxation: Every thought or request is accommodated.
What’s The vibe?
There’s quiet luxury, and then there’s the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The spa itself is on the periphery of the hotel, located just beyond a century-old rose garden and an array of stately pine trees. Decorated in shades that evoke the rocky coastline, it’s an oasis of pale, sandy shades, punctuated with white furniture. The treatment rooms have been outfitted in Dior’s signature textiles, with splashes of blue offering a visual echo to the sparkling sea. (Super fans of the brand will love the Cabine Dior, where every detail is outfitted in the brand’s iconic animal toile.) There, guests can experience four Dioriginel rituals that borrow from the surrounding elements, taking inspiration (and ingredients) from the adjacent garden’s flowers. In further tribute to the flora that enraptured Christian Dior, whose beloved Château de La Colle Noire is just a 45-minute drive up a windy mountain road, there are also six holistic wellness “bouquets”—treatments involving a suite of individualized protocols.
What’s the history?
Since 1870, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has reigned as one of the most iconic luxury hotels in the world. Imagined in the 19th century as a writer’s retreat, it came into its own in the first decades of the 20th century, when a now iconic cliffside pool was carved out of the surrounding rock. In 1934, it was immortalized as the setting for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night. In the years since, it has played host to famous love affairs (Marlene Dietrich and novelist Erich Maria Remarque) and famous artists (Picasso was invited to redesign the menu when he was a regular in the 1950s). The hotel and spa underwent a series of changes in the second half of the 20th century, and in 2023—the same year that the hotel celebrated its 150th birthday—Dior took over the spa.
What should you try?
When Dior renovated the treatment menu, there was an effort to lean into touch as well as technology. An exfoliating Hydrafacial machine, for instance, is loaded with Dior’s proprietary Floral Peeling Lotion, and three different full-body lymphatic drainage systems—featuring electrostimulation, microvibration, and infrared light—depuff after a long-haul flight or before a cold plunge into the Mediterranean. Each of the treatment cabins opens onto a view of the sea; keep the doors open so you can hear the birds singing. If a pink onyx hammam all to yourself sounds like heaven on the côte, book the Roc Affusion treatment. During the 30-minute or hour-long treatment, the body is scrubbed, massaged, and hydrated. All facials incorporate Dior’s skin-care lines, as well as manual techniques (like the Japanese facial massage style Kobi in the Kobi-Dior facial and the Dior Cryo Regard for depuffing).
What else do you need to know?
Sprawling across three buildings, the landmark boasts everything you need: bars, revered restaurants, the spa, an outdoor pool, five tennis courts, and more. Its majestic presence lines the Côte d’Azur, so sit atop the terrace and gaze out at the sparkling water below. It’s a magical experience unlike any other.
Who can go here?
You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to access the spa, but other facilities on-site (like the famed pool) are for hotel guests only.
Booking details for Dior Spa at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc
Address: 167-165 Bd J. F. Kennedy, 06160 Antibes, France
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
