Cannes resort launches VIP club for future filmmakers

The stunning city of Cannes in the chic South of France is famous for its snooty Film Festival fete and festive season frollickers. But now, one of its top celebrity stays, the Hotel Barriere Le Majestic, wants you to bring your kids to the party.

It just launched the enegmatically named Studio by Petit-VIP, a kids club offering language workshops and artsy activities ranging from sculpture and photography to cinema classes, where budding auters learn the biz.

We hear the class on making your assistant cry was nixed.

But wait there’s more! Located on the Croisette facing the Palais des Festivals et des Congres and next to the old port, your budding francophiles will also be getting an important introduction to haute cusine (just don’t tell them about room service).


Exterior of Hotel Barriere Le Majestic.
Rates from $183 per night at the Hotel Barriere Le Majestic.
Pascal Pronnier

The hotel boast four restaurants, including the famous Fouquet’s, the beachside BFIRE, Paradiso Nicole et Pierre — a sceny, spot that’s more resort-glam than beach bohemian — and Mademoiselle Gray, which is one of the best in all of Cannes. It’s located directly on the beach and affiliated with Le Majestic’s sister stay Le Gray d’Albion.

Want to let the kids stay up til midnight? This year, Le Majestic is offering a “Gourmet New Year’s Eve Getaway” that includes accommodation in a double room, breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant, a New Year’s Eve Dinner at Le Fouquet’s restaurant in 6 courses with musical entertainment (and for mom and dad, a bottle of champagne in the room upon arrival).

But maybe the best thing about bringing your kids to Cannes is being able to drop them off. After all, mommy and daddy have socializing to do.


Interior of kids making movies at the hotel.
Kids become Coppolas with film workshops at the new Studio by Petit-VIP in the city that hosts the season’s biggest film fete.
Jean Francois Romero

“The city that attracts a lot of celebrities all year around,” Gilles Bastoni, head concierge of Le Majestic, told The Post. “We have the beach, the weather and all the top shopping. So if you can embrace the flashing cameras, Le Majestic is the place to be.”

And while, the kid is morphing into the next Fellini, be sure to make friends with Emanuele Balestra — aka the King of the aromatic cocktail.

Balestra maintains his own apiary and gardens at Le Majestic where he grows herbs and harvests honey for his cocktails. Emanuele pairs his cocktails with house-made perfumes and experiments with flavor and aroma using state of the art technology, such as an ultrasound machine and a rotovap to break down the molecular structure of ingredients and assemble new flavor profiles.


Kids getting the red carpet treatment at the hotel.
While your little scion is getting the VIP treatment, there is plenty of grown-up fun to be had at the bar where aromatic cocktails flow like water.
Jean Francois Romero

Don’t feel too guilty while you’re saddled up at the bar. Back at the Studio, you’re progeny will be sipping one of four fruit cocktails on offer.

Once you start missing each other, hit up Bastoni and book one of the hotel’s wide range of family activities, from spa fun to water sports. And, of course, the hotel is equipped with a screening room: Just don’t expect to book it in May.

Standard rooms start at $183 per night and suites starts at $535. But during that aforementioned festival “VIP suites — like our two Majestic Suites, the Dior Suite, the Suite Horizon, the Melody Suite and the Suite Riviera — can go as high as $20,000 a night,” Bastoni said. Sorry kids, it’s not for you.