The Maybourne Riviera

Short summary: Beautiful views but noisy party hotel with everyday private events closing the pool. Come for lunch instead, take your pictures, and stay elsewhere. This hotel truly does have some beautiful views of Monaco. BUT, you may not get to enjoy those views. We paid for a “Panoramic Sea View Studio” which is the most expensive room category under a suite, and they gave us a room with a view of the opposite side of the hotel, the Italian riviera. It is pretty, but it is not Monaco, which is the view plastered all over the website and shown as the room view on this room type. I don’t know how a hotel built around Monaco views can have a “Panoramic” room that has ZERO view of Monaco. Unacceptable. But hey, it’s beautiful, so just chill and go to the pool, right? WRONG - The second night of our stay, a SATURDAY night, the hotel pool will close early at 16:30pm, the front desk agent told us at check-in. WHAT? Oh, it’s closing early for a private event, he said. WHAT? We are paying 2500 Euros per night for a hotel with views and a pool and you’re closing the POOL? He didn’t even offer some compensation or anything - just annoying bad views to start your vacation off on a sour note as you’re checking in. They gave us no prior warning about closing the pool before we came (not that it would have excused it). But whatever, it was check-in after a long trip, I’m not not going to argue with the front desk guy about it. So today, we go to the pool at 15:00 to enjoy for an hour and a half before they close it. And at the pool check-in stand, the woman says, wait here, I need to get a manager. WHAT NOW??? The manager comes over and tells us, oh sorry, the pool area is closed (it is packed with people behind her). What? I ask. The pool is closed from 15:00pm today, she says, for a private event. I’m so confused - but they told us 16:30pm at check-in, right? After some arguing, this manager woman rolls her eyes and sneers like I was the one causing trouble, and lets us sit down but tells us we need to leave by 16:00. I ask the pool guy for two towels and he says they’re out of towels. I’m not joking. Around 15:45 they’re telling people to leave the pool area and are running vacuums and moving away chairs. I have never seen anything this tacky and ridiculous at any hotel in my entire life. If you’re going to keep inching forward the closing time, why open the pool at all today? Why not just close the pool permanently and save yourself the trouble? Hell, why not just close the hotel? And aside from this ridiculous incident, the pool normally closes at 19:00. WHY? Sunset is 21:15pm here in the summer - I want to watch sunset and dusk from the pool. Why is the pool not open until 22:00 or even 23:00?? Anyway, aside from this insane point, this hotel is so loud and annoying. Our first night, there was ANOTHER private event on the floor overlooking the pool with extremely loud saxophone screeching from 16:30 to 19:00. No way to enjoy a peaceful serene view of the ocean while lounging by the pool with that racket behind you. I thought it might be quieter in our room since it’s on the opposite bad side of the hotel, but NO - we could hear thumping club music in our room with bass shaking the pillow until after midnight. I will say the breakfast here is very delicious and well done - good job to the breakfast team - the room service is sub-par though, a limited menu of plain-tasting hotel food. This hotel is designed for annoying Instagram types to take pictures, make a lot of noise with their 6 friends staying in the same room to split the cost, and leave. I’m not even joking - our hallway had constant slamming doors and someone knocked on our door by accident at night. It’s like a college dorm. This is not a classy, serene hotel to serve as a base to enjoy the region. You stay here one night and leave - or better yet, come for lunch, take your Instagram photos, and stay somewhere else. There’s no point staying at this hotel.

The Maybourne Riviera is a true 5-star property. With rates starting around €2,500/night for entry-level rooms, expectations are understandably sky-high—but I am pleased to say it was worth every single penny. Here is a breakdown of our experience: The Rooms & Views The View: Arguably the most breathtaking, impressive view you will find anywhere on the French Riviera. Space: The rooms are incredibly spacious, perfectly accommodating our large family group. Personalized Touches: The attention to detail is remarkable. The staff prepared a personalized bib, embroidered with our baby’s name for the room—a beautiful, thoughtful gesture. Dining & Amenities Breakfast: An absolute must-do every morning. Outstanding quality. Poolside: Do not miss the pizzas by the pool; they were fantastic. The Beach Club: The hotel offers a complimentary transfer to their private beach, La Môme. While the lunch itself was less to our personal liking, the overall vibe and atmosphere at the beach are exactly what you want for a Riviera holiday. Spa & Wellness: The spa is exceptionally luxurious, and the massages were top-tier. Service & Logistics On-Site Service: Impeccable. The staff took incredible care of us throughout our entire 4-night stay, making us feel highly valued. Monaco Transfers: The complimentary shuttle service to and from Monaco is a massive plus and seamless to use. The One Hiccup: Our airport pickup was unfortunately quite messy. Despite requesting a baby seat in advance, the car arrived without one. Pro Tip for Future Guests Because the price tag here is high, expectations are naturally elevated, and it's easy to notice some guests letting that translate into disrespect toward the team. Be kind to the staff! A simple hello, a warm smile, or a quick bit of pleasant chit-chat goes a very long way. The team works incredibly hard, and treating them with basic respect makes it easy for them to remember you in a good way and look after you even better. Final Verdict Despite the rocky start at the airport, the Maybourne Riviera completely won us over. The combination of jaw-dropping views, generous room sizes, and deeply personalized service makes this a world-class destination. We would absolutely return.

The whole stay at the Maybourne Riviera was outstanding. You are at first captured by the incredible architecture and the warmth of welcome from the doormen and reception. The views for on our amazing accommodation is breathtaking. The room encapsulates everything you can possibly imagine in a modern luxurious space. The service at breakfast , dinner and bar were top notch. The pool area and attention are another level. A must go !

stayed at The Maybourne Riviera and was extremely disappointed with the level of service. At 00:15 at night, there was loud construction noise coming from the room above. This is unacceptable for a hotel of this level and effectively a violation of nighttime peace. When I contacted reception, the staff not only failed to resolve the issue but also stated that renovation work was ongoing and could not be stopped even at night. Even more shocking was the “solution” offered — to move to another room at 1 AM. Instead of ensuring basic conditions for rest, I was effectively forced to pack my belongings and move around the hotel with my luggage in the middle of the night due to a problem created by the hotel itself. Such treatment of guests is completely unacceptable, especially for a 5-star hotel. Nighttime noise, ignoring complaints, and shifting inconvenience onto the guest are serious violations of hospitality standards. I strongly do not recommend this hotel to anyone expecting peace, comfort, and professional service.

Stunning view for taking photos — and that’s where the positives end. Service: zero. Professionalism: zero. If you’re looking to spend a lot for terrible service, this is the place