France. Bordeaux. The Saint-James Hotel. Across the Garonne in the hill-top village of Bouliac, this faux-industrial palace of eccentric minimalism was designed by France's premier architect, Jean Nouvel, and heralded by Herbert Ypma, doyen of Hip Hotels, as the hippest in France. Calm, elegant, stark and mostly monochrome, its pretentiousness and naffart can nonetheless be wearing (stay in room 9, and you'll find a Harley-Davidson parked in it). But the views, the brilliantly inventive lighting and the sleek navy swimming pool make up for a lot. The very formal Michelin-starred restaurant serves outstanding food (at a price), but it has a cheaper sister restaurant, Le Bistroy.