Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Antibes and the American-French Jazz Alliance

Manipulated wedding image by Norman & Blake via Vogue.com

When Sofie Ritchie, the 24-year-old youngest daughter of R&B icon Lionel Ritchie, married music executive Elliot Grainge in the south of France in April, 2023 the Internet blazed for days. Vogue pumped out all the delicious details about the lavish wedding hosting celebrities including Paris Hilton, Cameron Diaz, and—of course—her sister Nicole Richie. The beautiful people gathered at the world-famous, celebrity-favorite destination Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. See all Vogue’s wedding photos.

Just in time for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, May 16-May 27, the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has reopened with a downsized number of 43 larger, more lavish suites. The renovation involved pre-construction details to the world’s most famous people.

In an example of seamless synergy between a brand and its clients,  director Sophie Volant explained the process:

"Before we make any changes or renovations, we always ask our loyal guests their opinion about it in advance, to receive their approval before doing anything," she said. "We showed them drawings of our plans and asked their approval. So our guests are part of the process and give us some tips on what they like or don't like, as if it was their own summer home being renovated."

Volant continued in her press comments, stressing that the suites are not overloaded with furniture because “our guests' feedback has always been that the most important focus in these rooms is the magnificent view of the sea."

As one of the world's iconic hotels, it should come as no surprise that Eden-Roc made its way into F Scott Fitzgerald's famous novel Tender Is the Night, described as a "large, proud, rose-colored hotel" situated on the coastline of the French Riviera between Marseilles and the Italian border, about five miles north of Cannes and south of Monaco. Situated on 22 acres of gardens, the venue offers prime views of the sparkling Côte d’Azur. 

In late May, 2022, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, an Oetker Collection Masterpiece Hotel, opened the summer season with the unveiling of its brand new creation, Eden-Roc Gin.

Developed in celebration of the Palace hotel’s legendary joie de vivre, this elegant gin is inspired by the magic of the location and the natural beauty of the maritime pine forest. The essences and botanicals that give this spirit its distinctive character are sourced primarily from the gardens at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and their private pine-clad peninsula jutting into the sea.

The Eden-Roc Gin label itself is priceless, and acquisition of a bottle is on my radar.

The historic reputation of hard-working, talented writers is one of having a stiff drink nearby. In some cases 24/7. Against this Eden-Rock DNA, the new gin resonates as a perfectly splendid idea. Hemingway would approve.

Swimming in memories of many days spent in the French Riveria, I remember one night when my senses came fully alive with jazz. To be continued . . . Anne