Hotel Riviera
Sidmouth, Devon
Good Hotel Guide Review
On the esplanade, overlooking the pink-pebble beach, Peter Wharton’s stuccoed Regency hotel is loved by many readers for its old-style values. ‘I last stayed in 2014, but was welcomed back by the concierge, who collected my bags from the taxi and showed me to my room,’ writes one. ‘We have not had such a wonderful reception since we stayed at the Savoy,’ declares another. A bow-windowed sea-view room is top choice, but town-facing rooms are perfectly fine. ‘My room was clean, comfortable and well appointed, with Molton Brown toiletries, shortbread, a well-stocked hospitality tray.’ A resident pianist sometimes plays in the refurbished cocktail bar. In the restaurant, dinner is a ‘delightful ritual’ with ‘consistently imaginative but unpretentious cooking’ including dishes such as Dover sole with chive butter or mushroom stroganoff. ‘The arancini is standout.’ Like Sidmouth itself, the Riviera has resisted modernisation, but that’s part of its charm. ‘It is slightly dated but it has a wonderful feel about it and very attentive, well-trained staff.’ (Ian Marshall, Michael Lewis, Richard Bright, and others)
Hotel details
Address
The Esplanade
Sidmouth
Devon
EX10 8AY
England
Telephone
01395 515201
Bedrooms
26. None on ground floor.
Open
all year.
Facilities
small lift, foyer, lounge, bar, restaurant, function rooms, in-room TV (Freeview), terrace, parking (£7.50 a day), public rooms wheelchair accessible.
Background music
in bar and restaurant, occasional pianist in bar.
Children
all ages welcomed, under-3s free, extra bed 25%–75% of per-person adult rate.
Dogs
small dogs allowed in some bedrooms (£16.50 a night, by arrangement, not in public rooms.
Credit cards
Amex, MC, Visa.
Prices
B&B doubles from £258, singles from £142. Set-price dinner £43–£47, à la carte £60.
Other reviews
VisitEngland Four Star Hotel
AA Four Star Hotel with Two AA Rosettes
Good Hotel Guide articles about
Hotel Riviera
- Visit South Devon: Five hotels for weddings in Devon
- Wedding Ideas Magazine: The top 10 most beautiful Devon wedding venues
- Visit South Devon: Five South Devon hotels for foodies
My room was clean, comfortable and well appointed. The food was well cooked, attractively presented and of top quality. Everything was brought to the table at breakfast;. there was a good choice of cooked dish, and the service was friendly and attentive. This is a lovely traditional seaside hotel occupying a Georgian building on the sea front. Most of the staff addressed me by name and, without exception, they gave the impression of being committed to providing first class service to all their guests.
- Ian Marsha - November 2020
Just a brief not to confirm that this hotel really does deserve its entry in the Guide. Hard to imagine how a (relatively) small hotel could be bettered in present (or most other) circumstances. Very helpful, cheerful and well-trained staff; consistently imaginative but unpretentious cooking to very high standards. Our room was spacious, with the best planned bathroom we have met for many years. A real treat, right down to valet parking, which was a wholly unexpected bonus in a hotel of this size.
- Michael Lewis - October 2020
This hotel, has a wonderful feel about it, and very attentive and well trained staff. The food is first class; the five-course dinner each night was delicious and well thought out. Full cooked English breakfast was superb. We also had a table in one of the bay windows which was much appreciated. The rooms are excellent - all the normal services with plenty of storage space and two chairs to sit in the bay window looking out to sea.
- Richard Bright - January 2020
We again booked a sea view room, comfortable and well appointed in every respect. We again emphasise the outstanding quality of the service in all areas. Dinner is an event to look forward to. The main courses were imaginative without being excessively elaborate. One can be entirely confident of tasty, interesting, well -cooked food, a relaxed atmosphere and service which ensures that the meal proceeds at a steady pace. Breakfast was excellent.
- John Charnley - June 2019
A charming traditional hotel wonderful sea views. We had an excellent room. Dinner was excellent and served with style. It was good to see staff dressed traditionally (although one could not say that of all the male guests).
- John Barnes - May 2018
Last updated:
October, 2019. Information from the 2020 Good Hotel Guide
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