A visit to St. Paul de Vence - Part 8

A visit to St. Paul de Vence - Part 8

For the final part of this series I thought I would try to cover the hotels and restaurants and other places you can eat or drink.

As I mentioned earlier in this series nothing in this town is low cost and you are paying for the location as much as the food or drink. Having been here a number of times I do have my own favourites. In fact there are two one at both ends of the market.

At the more affordable end of the market my favourite is the ‘Café de Place’ which is located just outside the main entrance. It does not have the spectacular valley views but the food is excellent and you can sit on a shaded part of the terrace and watch the locals playing boules. There are also some nice places on Place des Tilleuls by the walls which face west and are above the main entrance to the village. These do have views so charge a little more but also have the tables closer together to accommodate more people. The one you choose really comes down to your own personal preference.

At the expensive end of the market there is really only one choice as far as I am concerned and that is the La Colombe d’Or which is both hotel and restaurant.

This restaurant is most famous not for cuisine but for its art collection. You can dine amid Mirós, Picassos and Utrillos to name but a few. In good weather everyone tries to get a seat on the terrace under the vines. You can eat here without breaking the bank by opting for the house specials, a soup made with fresh seasonal vegetables and a simple roast chicken. Both of which are excellent and if you want to splash a little then a Bellini Champagne cocktail will fit the bill.

The hotel section consists of 13 doubles and 12 suites all containing French antiques and Provençal accessories. They’re in the original 16th-century stone house and in two wings added in the 1950s, one of which stretches into the garden next to the pool.

Hôtel Le St-Paul was converted from a 16th-century residence and retains many original features. This luxurious hotel is in the heart of the village. The guest rooms are decorated in Provençal style with many having a view of the valley. The Michelin-starred restaurant has a sheltered terrace by the ramparts and vaulted ceilings.

There are other places as well but I will leave you to explore those.