Sophie Volant

General Manager, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

How long have you worked at the hotel?

15 years. Which is not much compared to most of our hoteliers who have been at Hotel du Cap for 30 years, 40 years, some even for 48 or 49 years!

How did you get started down this path?

At age 19, I knew I wanted to be a hotelier. I wanted to travel the world. So I did. Once I completed my hotel management school, I worked in Asia, in America, in London, and in France.

What is the best part of your job? (And if you can admit it, the worst?)

The best part is having access to the extra-ordinary. The extra-ordinary setting we work in, the extra-ordinary guests we welcome, the extra-ordinary craftsmen and women we work with, and of course the extra-ordinary events we organize. But extra-ordinary does not mean ostentatious. It can lay in the most simple things as long as they are done with passion and authenticity.

What’s the coolest thing people don’t know about the hotel? 

A lot of people who have never been to Hotel du Cap may think it is stuffy and strict.  It is the opposite. The beauty of the grounds and facilities remains very simple and natural. The way our loyal hoteliers interact with our guests is very authentic, we don’t teach staff to talk with procedures, we just ask our hoteliers to be themselves, their elegant and natural selves. They form a rare combination of natural elegance and family spirit with our clients; it is quite humbling and beautiful.

What are your favorite restaurants in your area?

Chez Cesar  at Plage Keller, a beautiful setting on a nearby beach with stunning views over the bay of Antibes and its old town. I also love  Le Bistrot du Port, a hidden gem that offers the most creative seafood menu I have ever tasted. Chef Mathieu is simply an artist, I am in awe of what he creates.

What do you like to do on a day off? Night off?

The best local hike is the trail around the Cap d’Antibes, you can walk for 20 minutes or 2 hours, right from the hotel.

A great thing to do in Antibes is to visit the old medieval town and its Provencal market, very colorful and lively. Walk around it, order a tray of oysters and sit at a café eating them with a glass of white wine, watching life pass by. Just like the French do!

In your region: underrated location, overrated location, personal favorite, new discovery?

My special place in the South of France is the island of Porquerolles, an hour and a half drive from Antibes. It is part of a nature reserve, with beautiful flora. You can only access the island by boat and cars are not allowed. You can only visit it on foot or bicycle. The island has amazing vineyards. Don’t tell anybody—we need to keep it secret…

Underrated: one should always go visit the Gorges du Verdon, the largest European gorges!

Overrated: Saint-Tropez in the middle of the summer, way too busy for me!

Favorite hotel(s) in the world (that are not yours)?

Les Prés d’Eugénie  in Southwest France, run by Michel Guérard, the three-Michelin-star chef. He, along with his wife, have created a dream, a fantasy, a bucolic and poetic estate. I dream of going back one day.

What is the one thing you wish guests could be better at?

Respecting an elegant dress code at all times 😊