Parties

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F. Scott Fitzgerald may have written Tender is the Night here, but it’s Burberry blue check du jour at Hôtel Belles Rives in the French Riviera.

The former home of The Great Gatsby author and storied Art Deco hotel has sat overlooking the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean sea since the 1920s, bearing witness as, through the years, the likes of Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and the Kennedy family summered in Antibes. On any sun-soaked, wind-whipping day across the famed resort town, you’ll see waterskiers skipping across the cresting waves (Juan-Les-Pins is considered the sport’s birthplace), chic old ladies toting shopping bags and teacup-sized dogs through the bustling town, and ice-cream scoops of all colors.

But from today and throughout the summer to September, Hôtel Belles Rives is welcoming in the British spirit, as Burberry and creative director Daniel Lee bring the heritage house codes to the beach club and terrace. After checking in, I rode the historic original lift (swathed in Burberry check) to my opulently outfitted room, and after I donned a Hunza G x Burberry crinkle bikini (and matching scrunchie), I set off to the sun-drenched terrace and the long wooden pier. Here, sun loungers and parasols are cast in the navy print, and the ‘Burberry Cap d’Antibes’ logo frames the jetty. (Charming details already united the property and the British label through history: it’s where Fitzgerald began writing his final novel Tender is the Night, in which his protagonist wears a Burberry coat.)

A fine afternoon was spent taking in the panoramic views, eating tuna Niçoise and then Burberry ice lollies to cool off. Friends of the brand and guests luxuriated, too, wearing bikinis and buckled tank tops from the high summer 2026 collection, chatting and reading with checked woven raffia bags at their feet. Later this summer, Burberry is hosting a suite of experiences here—waterskiing included. But, for the first few days at least, it was all about basking.

Anna Cafolla is American Vogue’s news editor, working across fashion, beauty, culture and living from London. Previously, she has worked at Dazed, Cosmopolitan, and ELLE, and has written for The Guardian, The Face, AnOther, and Conde Nast Traveller. She will hold you hostage until you agree to her restaurant recommendations. ... Read More