To experience the 19th-century heyday of the Emerald coast, there’s no better place than at the birthplace of one of its heroes: writer Chateaubriand. Located inside the walls of old St-Malo, the flowering courtyard feels as though you’ve stepped into the Romantic era. Common areas still have this bygone feeling; however, guestrooms have been brought into the 21st century with modern sea-inspired prints and colors. Request a room with views of the ramparts or the sea. The sweeping sea views can also be enjoyed from Le 5, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant which serves gourmet seafood dishes. More well-prepared surf and turf, including the famed Chateaubriand steak, can be sampled  in the swank ground-floor Brasserie.