The manager of one of the French Riviera's most storied hotels has had enough of dinner reservations that turn into three-hour photo sessions. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the five-star landmark near Antibes, has introduced a formal set of house rules after its long-standing guests complained that social media shooters were disrupting the vibe.
Manager Sophie Volant told Travel Weekly the problem came from non-residents: people who booked lunch or dinner purely as a ticket onto the property, then never actually sat down to eat. Some turned up with suitcases of outfit and jewellery changes despite having no room on site, roaming the grounds for the best backdrop for hours at a time. Regulars, who Volant says treat the hotel as their summer home rather than a hotel, began to grumble — and the hotel listened.
Her fix was borrowed from an unexpected place. On a trip to the United States she noticed the written codes of conduct displayed in private members' clubs, and adapted the idea for the Riviera. The new house rules cover the basics of decorum: no wandering around in bathrobes or towels, shirts and shoes required in public areas, and no photography or phone calls at the pool. More pointedly, the hotel's website now states plainly that photo shoots are not permitted anywhere on the property, in the name of preserving guests' peace and privacy.
There are exceptions. Guests who want a proper souvenir can ask the concierge for details of the hotel's official partner photographer, and casual snaps are still allowed along the 200-metre Grande Allée, the hotel's famous tree-lined promenade — though if other guests appear, photographers are asked to pause.
Enforcement has been the awkward part. Volant admits it is tricky to pull up VIP guests on their behaviour, but says plenty of other visitors have thanked her, with some suggesting the hotel should go even further. It is a small sign of a wider swing in luxury hospitality: after years of chasing Instagram clout, the most exclusive properties are now selling the opposite — discretion, calm and the assurance that nobody will be photobombing your dinner.
For travellers, the takeaway is practical as much as gossip. If you are planning a splurge lunch at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc — and its four restaurants, Dior-run spa and sea-view pool make it a tempting one — go to eat, not to stage a shoot. Bring one outfit, keep your phone at the table, and expect the same rules whether you are paying by the plate or the night.
