The heart of Saint-Martin-de-Ré is home to Villa Clarisse, an 18th-century mansion reimagined by Pierre-Yves Rochon (who also worked on The Woodward in Geneva and the Waldorf Astoria in New York) into a charming coastal retreat. Nine rooms, a beautiful garden, and a sibling property, L'Hôtel de Toiras, just five minutes away sharing its outdoor swimming pool.

A family-owned 1920s villa overlooking Mont Saint-Michel Bay, Château Richeux belongs to chef Olivier Roellinger, whose three Michelin-starred restaurant Le Coquillage is reason enough to make the journey. The hotel also has an épicerie, a pâtisserie, a spa (Les Bains Celtiques), and gardens, greenhouses, and a farm to roam, all with that extraordinary coastal view in the background.