Winston Churchill’s Favorite Restaurant on the French Riviera Is Now a $31.25 Million Residence
Villa Zelda, named after F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, is located within the former Hôtel Provençal, a legendary Art Deco stay where countless Hollywood stars, royals, and politicians once dined and socialized
What was once Winston Churchill’s favorite restaurant—and a palatial ballroom—on the French Riviera is now a stunning five-bedroom residence, which was recently listed for $31.25 million. Villa Zelda, which is named after author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, is located within the former Le Provençal, an Art Deco stay where countless Hollywood stars, royal family members, and politicians dined, socialized, and stayed before it closed for refurbishment in 1977 and never reopened. In 2014, the property was acquired by Caudwell, and the masterful renovation began.
“Villa Zelda is one of the most important marquee residences to be unveiled at Le Provençal,” says John Caudwell, founder of Caudwell. “It combines Art Deco design details, exceptional contemporary living spaces, and outstanding heritage since the rotunda was formerly the ballroom/restaurant which entertained royalty, Hollywood stars and famous Prime Ministers.”
Caudwell adds that the villa “provides a discerning buyer with a totally unique opportunity to acquire an iconic piece of Riviera history that has been transformed by Caudwell into one of the finest trophy residences on the Côte d’Azur.” Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Ernest Hemingway, Estée Lauder, Coco Chanel, Ella Fitzgerald, and Charlie Chaplin are some of the many stars who spent time on the property.
The aforementioned famous guests at the hotel also included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and Marlene Dietrich, all of whom were luncheon guests in 1938. Additionally, Pablo Picasso dined at the hotel in 1937, Charlie Chaplin had breakfast here when he lived at the hotel from 1931 to 1932, and Coco Chanel dined in the rotunda during her 1931 visit. Another notable guest was Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, the sister of the Shah (King) of Iran.
The 6,500 square foot space features 16-foot arched French doors, five bedrooms, six baths, a grand reception room, twin dressing rooms, a private pool, a cinema room, and more.