The Alps Hotels|Evian-les-Bains, France

Hotel Royal, Evian Resort

Name: Hotel Royal, Evian Resort
Telephone: 33-0-4-50-26-50-50

Historic glamour meets modern wellness

VERIFIED LUXURY

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Sharing its name with one of the world’s most famous mineral waters, Hotel Royal, Evian Resort has been synonymous with wellness for more than a century.

Set on the shores of Lake Geneva in the French town of Évian-les-Bains, it’s a destination that has long attracted Europe’s well-to-do. The English novelist Mary Shelley was among the town’s early visitors, even using Évian-les-Bains as the setting for part of Frankenstein. But it was the bottling of Évian’s mineral springs in the 19th century that transformed it into one of Europe’s foremost spa destinations, attracting royalty and high society from across the continent.

Built in honor of England’s King Edward VII,Hotel Royal, Evian Resort opened in 1909 at the height of the Belle Époque to welcome this fashionable new clientele. The palace-inspired resort still retains the era’s grandeur, while a 2015 renovation introduced a more contemporary feel to its 150 rooms and suites.

Our Inspector's Highlights

Wellness has remained central to the experience here since its earliest days, when its spa attracted devoted wellness seekers, including Greta Garbo. Today, that legacy continues at the 18,300-square-foot Evian Spa, Europe's first spa to bear the Evian name. Inspired by the 15-year journey the region's mineral water takes through the Alps, the wellness center features exclusive indoor and outdoor pools, a thermal circuit with a sauna, steam room, cold plunge and snow room, plus alpine-inspired treatment rooms offering indulgent rituals such as mineral-water scrubs using Evian water.
Hotel Royal, Evian Resort is remarkably family-friendly. There are no supplemental charges for children under 13, and the more than 10,700-square-foot Kids’ Resort features baby, kid and teen clubs with age-specific programming that covers everything from sensory games and sports instruction to orienteering and social outings for older kids. Babysitting services, a dedicated children’s pool and bespoke spa treatments developed in collaboration with premium French children’s brand Bonpoint ensure younger guests are just as well catered to as their parents.
Set within the forested 47-acre Evian Resort estate, the luxury hotel has no shortage of ways to get outdoors. Guests can enjoy everything from watersports on the lake and tennis, padel and pickleball to paragliding and scenic helicopter flights over the Alps. A team of experienced local guides also arranges excursions, including fishing, kayaking, hiking and skiing.
Just a two-minute drive away, the Evian Resort Golf Club is home to an 18-hole championship course that hosts one of the world's major women's golf tournaments each year. There's also a six-hole Lake Course for those looking to sharpen their game, a golf academy offering lessons and coaching, and, during the winter months, an indoor golf simulator back at the hotel.
Dining is consistently excellent, whether you're enjoying the generous breakfast buffet or weekly Epicurean Brunch at La Véranda or indulging at Hotel Royal, Evian Resort’s culinary jewel, Les Fresques. Led by chef Yohan Fatela, this restaurant serves seasonal menus built around ingredients sourced from local producers and the property's more than 32,000-square-foot kitchen garden, and is widely regarded as one of the region’s standout fine-dining destinations.

The Rooms

More than 120 guest rooms overlook Lake Geneva, while others face the estate’s manicured gardens. Throughout, original Belle Époque details— including ornate crown molding, royal blue carpeting and decorative wall paneling — have been carefully preserved, while contemporary furnishings and an impressive collection of eclectic artwork lend fresh energy to the historic interiors.
In the rooms, a timeless palette of ivory, warm woods and muted gray gets a lift from rich royal blue and cheerful saffron-yellow accents. All the little touches make a big difference, from complimentary Evian water and the brand's signature facial mist to Malongo coffee machines and luxury bath amenities by Parisian fragrance house Atelier Cologne.
All rooms and suites come with some form of outdoor space, from furnished balconies to larger private terraces. Many are architectural highlights in their own right, whether it’s a curved rotunda-style balcony following the contours of the hotel’s façade or a terrace framed by a striking oversized arch overlooking the lake and Alpine views.
The suites are distinguished by original period furniture, including mahogany, rosewood and satinwood pieces, which were custom-made for the Lake Geneva hotel when it opened in 1909 and meticulously restored to preserve their delicate patina.
Hotel Royal, Evian Resort’s crowning accommodation, the Royale Suite, occupies the sixth floor and spans more than 2,200 square feet. This two-bedroom residence feels like a palace within a palace, complete with a chandelier-lit living room, a private bar, a billiard table and 645 square feet of wraparound terraces with panoramic views.

Amenities