10 family hotels in France: heritage, authenticity and timeless excellence

Christine Robalo | 5/8/25, 10:07 AM

Here, hospitality is passed down like a family secret. Ten French homes where guests are welcomed without instructions, with heart, experience and a personality forged far from the norm, generation after generation.

In the first moments of a trip, it's often the welcome that transforms a simple stopover into an unforgettable memory. Sincere smiles at reception, personalized attention and little details that tell the story of the house. From the bustling port of Marseille to the Breton moors, from the backstreets of Paris to the shores of Corsica, these establishments boast an art of hospitality, the fruit of a patiently built family tradition. At a time when the big chains are focusing on efficiency, these addresses remind us that the art of entertaining is more about spontaneous exchanges than a rigorous checklist.

New Hotel Le Quai - Vieux Port, Marseille

just a stone's throw from the Old Port, this hotel tells the story of Marseille through its walls. Founded in 1968 by Georges Antoun, it was taken over and completely reinvented in 2020 by his daughters, Caroline and Camille, who perpetuate the spirit of the family home. The 48 rooms are spread over six floors, each with its own tone: spice yellow and bronze green for a desert ambience, powder pink and pool blue for a Hispanic escape, minty green and Majorelle zelliges for a Mediterranean wink. Every detail is a tribute to the city's many influences. The result: a hotel on a human scale, where people love to stay.

Price from €173 /night (breakfast not included)
Where ? 2 Place Gabriel Peri -13001 Marseille. Tel : 04 91 99 23 23
See Gault&Millau's review of New Hotel Le Quai - Vieux Port

Hôtel La Réserve in Saint-Jean-de-Luz

As soon as you open the heavy oak doors, La Réserve unfurls its hanging garden facing the Atlantic: palm trees weathered by the sea breeze and clumps of agapanthus clinging to the cliff. Brought to life by Sylvain Floirat in 1992, this family home has retained the soul of a seaside villa while refining its style under the eye of Antoine Chevanne, the family's youngest son and current head of Floirat Signatures. Here, terraces literally fly over the waves, and suites, dressed in revisited Basque craftsmanship, exude an air of confidential refuge.

Prices from €157 /night (breakfast not included)
Where ? 1 Avenue Gaëtan de Bernoville - 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Tel : 05 59 51 32 00
See Gault&Millau's review of Hôtel La Réserve Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Les Manoirs de Tourgéville in Normandy

Since 2010, this Normandy estate has cultivated the subtle balance of retaining the soul of the place without lapsing into overly staid nostalgia. The weathered half-timbering, stone fireplaces and rounded volumes of the manor houses are reminiscent of the family homes of yesteryear, but the whole exudes a quiet modernity. Under the original beams, the spa invites you to a timeless interlude, while the "1899" restaurant and lounge bar, completely redesigned in 2024 by the owner's great-grandson, assert a more contemporary style. A relaxed version of country luxury.

Prices from €203 /night (breakfast not included)
Where? 668 Chemin de l'Orgueil, 14800 Tourgéville. Tel : 02 31 14 48 68
See Gault&Millau's review of Les Manoirs de Tourgéville

Le Colombier in Obernai

Here, family heritage flirts with unexpected architectural lines. Founded by the Baly family in 1954, then transformed in 1975 into the "Diana Hôtels Collection", Le Colombier today cultivates its style with four hands - the three Baly brothers and daughter-in-law Élodie, in charge of administration. In the spring of 2025, the 48 rooms have changed their tone: weathered wood, muted tones, hushed atmosphere. The wine spa - grape massages, sauna, silence - prolongs this gentleness, as does the "Signature Organic" breakfast, to be enjoyed before or after a trip along the Alsace wine route.

Prices from €111 /night (breakfast not included)
Where to stay? Rue Dietrich - 67210 Obernai. Tel : 03 88 47 63 33
See Gault&Millau's review of Le Colombier

Les Étangs de Corot in Ville-d'Avray

At the gateway to Paris, Les Étangs de Corot boasts a rare form of bush elegance. Once a simple inn known as "La Chaumière", the place has seen travelers and painters pass through its doors, before being reborn in 2019 under the impetus of Breton family group Beautiful Life Hotels. Between the listed paillotes, cheerful remnants of the guinguettes of yesteryear, and the 42 rooms in soft shades of lake blue, moss green or golden ochre, the hotel plays up escapism without folklore. just a stone's throw from Versailles, all you have to do is step through the door and you're away from it all.

Prices from €179 /night (breakfast not included)
Where ? 55, rue de Versailles -92410 Ville-d'Avray. Tel : 01 41 15 37 00
See Gault&Millau's review of Les Étangs de Corot

Le Coucou in Méribel

in Méribel, Le Coucou bears the mark of an unusual family saga: that of Patrick Pariente, the founder of Naf Naf, and his two daughters, Leslie and Kimberley, who have transposed their vision of ready-to-wear to the hotel business. Inaugurated in December 2023, this 5-canvas chalet designed by architect Pierre Yovanovitch features 55 suites where the purity of blond wood meets the robustness of Savoyard lauze. Here, a chic sauna, translucent pool and slope bar - orchestrated by a top-notch team - bear witness to a refined service designed to surprise without ostentation.

Prices from €888 /night (breakfast included)
Where? 464 Route du Belvédère - 73550 Les Allues. Tel : 04 57 58 37 37
See Gault&Millau's review of Le Coucou

A Pignata in Levie

This confidential address is first and foremost a sibling story: that of the Rocca Serra brothers, passionate custodians of this place perched at 850 meters, close to the Col de Bavella. Here, Corsica expresses itself without detour, with a sincerity that is felt as much in the rough stones of the rooms as in the naturally warm welcome. The rustic charm of the setting is combined with home cooking straight from the farm. After a day on the steep trails of the Alta Rocca, there's nothing better than a refreshing dip in the indoor pool or a moment of relaxation in the hammam. As an added bonus, tree houses and free-roaming animals will delight even the youngest visitors.

Prices from €220 /night (breakfast not included)
Where to stay? Route du Pianu - 20170 Levie. Tel : 04 95 78 41 90
See Gault&Millau's review of A Pignata

Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux

In the 90s, former ski champions Florence and Daniel Cathiard bought Château Smith Haut Lafitte, near Bordeaux. A few years later, in 1999, their daughter Alice and her husband Jérôme imagined the nearby Les Sources de Caudalie, a warmly elegant hotel inspired by the regional architecture of tobacco drying sheds. Its 61 rooms feature noble materials, aged wood and soft textiles, in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. The pioneering vinotherapy spa offers treatments developed with the Caudalie cosmetics brand, created by Alice's sister Mathilde. A family venue with a country house feel... ultra chic.

Prices from €306 /night (breakfast not included)
Where to stay? Chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte - 33650 Bordeaux-Martillac. Tel : 05 57 83 83 83
See Gault&Millau's review of Sources de Caudalie

Domaine de Locguénolé in Brittany

Extensively renovated and reopened in 2023, this 19thᵉ century château on the banks of the Blavet has regained momentum without losing its soul. Under the impetus of Gérard Jicquel and his daughter Aurélie Durand, in charge of the atmosphere, the address now blends mottled furnishings, selected materials and nods to Brittany. She also redesigned the spa, wellness areas and bistro menu. The 47 rooms exude a hushed elegance, a blend of nature and local memory. Gainsbourg used to stay here. Today, the estate boasts two restaurants, a spa, two swimming pools and a tennis court.

Prices from €223 /night (breakfast not included)
Where to stay? Route de Port Louis, Le Hingair- 56700 Kervignac. Tel : 02 97 76 76 76
See Gault&Millau's review of Le Domaine de Locguénolé

Hôtel Raphaël in Paris

Since 1925, this immovable vessel in the XVIᵉ arrondissement has belonged to the Baverez family, a line of hoteliers established there for over 125 years. Françoise Baverez took the helm for over fifty years, before handing over to her daughter, Véronique Beauvais-Crefcœur, who perpetuates a certain idea of Parisian hospitality: discreet, faithful, almost sentimental. With its varnished wood panelling, portraits from another era and views of the Eiffel Tower, the place had the charm of the houses of yesteryear, the ones that Walt Disney and Steve McQueen frequented quietly. But now it's time for the big shake-up: the Raphaël will close its doors for a complete makeover, from the parquet floor to the ceiling. Reopening is scheduled for 2026, with a promise to stay true to ourselves, while changing our skin.