The Most Beautiful Hotels in Southwest France

© Karine Faby - La Guitoune - Mr Tripper

From Cognac to the Basque Coast, passing through the Bassin d’Arcachon and the Bordeaux vineyards, let’s explore some of the most beautiful hotels in Southwest France.

© Celine Hamelin

A legendary Hossegor address since the 1950s, this Southwest France hotel has undergone a complete makeover. Member of the Domaines de Fontenille collection, this 4-star hotel opened in June 2019 with 19 rooms and 6 suites, some with terrace or balcony. We love the choice of bright white highlighting the architecture of this stunning Art Deco villa, typical of the Basque coast, with its vaulted ceilings, rounded windows and bay doors framed in dark green wood. We also love the nods to the U.S. East Coast seen everywhere: Adirondack chairs and neatly lined-up surfboards. Room decor features natural materials: paneled white walls, light wooden floors, sisal rugs… all with a 1950s vibe, a tribute to the hotel’s origins.A new glass-and-wood building overlooking the lake and extended with a terrace houses the restaurant, where chef Philippe Moreno offers a seafood-focused menu with products straight from the Capbreton fish market. At lunch, you can sit by the postcard-worthy pool with its vibrant emerald-green mosaic, enjoying tapas, charcuterie, and cheese boards. The spa carries the colors of the L:A Bruket brand, with 450 m² featuring blonde stone, light wood, and sand-colored ceramics.

Highlight : the beach hut Les Estagnots in Seignosse with a restaurant and terrace, less than 2 km from Les Hortensias.

Les Hortensias du Lac, 1578 Avenue du Tour du Lac, 40150 Hossegor

©Lenaka

Five stars for La Nauve in Cognac. This Relais & Châteaux member is set in an elegant 19th-century mansion with a former wine cellar and distillery, in the heart of extraordinary gardens. Architect Éric Daigre worked with the finest local artisans for the renovation. The hotel offers 8 rooms and suites in the main building and 4 in the cellar, along with 2 restaurants (including a gourmet one) and a pool. The gem of the estate: gardens stretching over 4 hectares, filled with flowerbeds, fruit and ornamental trees, aromatic plants, a citrus greenhouse, and a vegetable garden of forgotten produce. Part of the Almae collection (which also includes L’Armancette at Mont Blanc and Palazzo Garzoni in Venice), the hotel displays subtle nods to its sister properties throughout. For instance, the oak beam structure, assembled like an inverted floor, echoes L’Armancette, while the Murano glass chandelier crowning the bar recalls Palazzo Garzoni.

In the 12 rooms (25 to 35 m²), woodwork shines: headboards, doors, and wardrobes are genuine works of art. The parquet is inlaid with fine brass strips for an ultra-refined look. Bathrooms are equally meticulous: Murano lighting, Vietnamese marble…

At gourmet restaurant Notes, chef Anthony Carballo (ex-Shangri-La, Meurice, Four Seasons Megève) focuses on products from the orchard and vegetable garden. No fixed menu, but tastings based on his inspirations. Different vibes at brasserie Les Flâneurs, housed in the former distillery, with al fresco dining in warm weather. Don’t miss the bar, offering 75 cognacs and a cellar with more than 900 references.

Highlight: Canoeing through the estate’s waterways or taking an electric boat ride to Cognac in just 20 minutes via the Charente.

La Nauve Hôtel et Jardin, 2 rue de la Nauve, 16100 Cognac

© Karine Faby

Following the success of his two previous hotels, Villa Lalique and Château Hochberg in Alsace, the birthplace of Maison Lalique, president Silvio Denz opened Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in June 2018 in Sauternes. Set within a 35-hectare vineyard classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé, this property has evolved over centuries and is now one of the most beautiful hotels in Gironde. A Relais & Châteaux member, this 5-star hotel offers 10 rooms, 3 suites (all unique), and a remarkable restaurant. The warm décor in deep red and leafy green pays tribute to the world of wine. The Lalique identity shines everywhere: crystal cabochon armrests on salon chairs, the Champs-Élysées chandelier… In rooms, crystal details adorn mirrors, bedside tables, and drawer handles. Bathrooms feature marble with crystal faucets engraved with grape clusters.

Swiss architect Mario Botta brought a contemporary touch with a glass passageway on the first floor and a glasshouse overlooking the vineyards, housing the restaurant. Inside, Lalique craftsmanship takes center stage: 100-point glasses, engraved bottles, and a chandelier illuminating the room with 120 Champs-Élysées leaves. Alsatian chef Jérôme Schilling (MOF, two Michelin stars in 2022) created a menu where local products reign supreme.

Highlight: The kindness and humility of the chef, who remains approachable despite his many accolades.

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Peyraguey, 1707 Gourgues 33210 Bommes

© Mr Tripper

Set in a magical location amidst pine and cork oak forests, overlooking the 70-hectare Seignosse golf course (hence the name!) with the ocean as backdrop, this 4-star Domaines de Fontenille hotel has it all. Opened in June 2021 after over a year of renovations, it displays Basque-inspired architecture with green-stained wood façades and white trim. The ground floor features vast graphic-style spaces in shades of green, housing the restaurant and two lounges with wide terraces surrounding a heated pool overlooking the golf course. In the library lounge, the hotel’s sporty spirit is highlighted with vintage rackets, golf clubs, and even a foosball table!

The 32 rooms (16 of which are suites) all feature large bay windows. Green dominates—from linden to fir—accented with touches of sky blue or pink on headboards, wardrobes, coffee tables, and Eames chairs.

At restaurant SEI, Japanese cuisine gets a local twist: crab baos with satay cream, Landes chicken with Bulldog sauce… Every Thursday, an Izakaya night is hosted: lemongrass tuna, yakitori… Plus, the must-try Sunday brunch.

Highlight: The three hotels of the group—Les Hortensias du Lac, Cabane des Estagnots, and 70 hectares & l’Océan—are connected by a shuttle service running several times a day.

70 hectares & l'Océan, 901 Avenue du Belvédère, 40510 Seignosse

An emblematic Pyla hotel, located steps from the beach, La Guitoune lived its glory days between the 1930s and 1970s before undergoing a major renovation a few years ago. Behind its saffron-colored Basque-style façade, designer Bambi Sloan unleashed her playful creativity. Mermaids, starfish, and seahorses swim across the bar’s mosaic, while goldfish and lobsters decorate hallway lamps and stair carpets. In the red-walled lounge with vintage James Bond furniture, Sean Connery still plays the star—a wink to the 70s. The main lounge mixes styles with abandon: Formica tables, leopard carpet, tufted leather armchairs. Hallways are animated with vintage movie posters ranging from cult classics (Les Bronzés font du Ski, À nous les Petites Anglaises) to kitsch favorites (L’Amour en Vacances, Les Croulants se portent bien).

The 24 rooms and 5 cabins—modeled after oyster-farming villages—feature vibrant 60s-inspired décor: acid colors, leopard rugs, vintage furniture and telephones, yellow-and-black mosaic bathrooms. Thanks to Sloan’s imagination, La Guitoune is once again a lively hub where all generations meet to enjoy seasonal cuisine with Italian inspiration, or a drink on the terrace with tapas.

Highlight: The famous Sunday brunch, with not only scrambled eggs and pastries but also vitello tonnato, mozzarella mille-feuille with speck and pesto, and lobster risotto.

95 boulevard de l’Océan, 33115 Pyla Sur Mer

Also Discover The Most Beautiful Hotels on the Côte de Granit Rose in Brittany and A Dream Hotel with a Michelin-Starred Restaurant Just 2 Hours from Paris