Boscolo Exedra Nice, Autograph Collection

Housed in a Belle Epoque-era building from 1913, the Boscolo Exedra Nice is an upper-middle-range boutique that was completely renovated in 2008. In contrast to its historic facade, the interiors are modern and minimalist, with retro-futuristic elements in its furnishings and artwork. The nearly all-white lobby features pretty touches like a metal horse sculpture, colorful flowers, a red billiards table, and a few touches that evoke the hotel's original Louis XVI interiors. The hotel draws largely well-heeled tourists, and those who want a hotel with a more contemporary feel than other, more traditional Nice hotels. Guests gather in the lobby, Mediterranean restaurant with show kitchen, and inviting spa, featuring a pool with waterfall feature. Overall the atmosphere is chic and relaxing, fitting in nicely with the location in Nice.

Boscolo Exedra Nice offers a good location on the Boulevard Victor Hugo in central Nice, in an area with many 19th-century villas in the immediate vicinity. It's fairly quiet at night, but traffic can be heavy on this avenue during rush hour. The hotel is a 10-minute walk north of the Theatre Verdure, Promenade des Anglais, beach, and Mediterranean Sea. The main public square of Nice, the Place Massena, is located a 10-minute walk southeast. A short stroll east of the Place Massena is the old town of Nice featuring restaurants, shops, ice cream stands, bars, clubs, public squares like the Place Rossetti, the Cours Saleya flower market, and Baroque churches like the Chapelle de la Miséricorde. The Jean Medecin tram is a three-minute walk northeast, the Galeries Lafayette shopping mall is a five-minute walk southeast, and the Russian Orthodox Cathedral is a 10-minute walk northwest of the hotel. The Gare Nice Ville train station is an eight-minute walk or three-minute drive north of the hotel. Located an eight-minute drive east of the hotel, Castle Hill offers up a superb view of the city and sea. Nice Cote d'Azur Airport is a 10-minute drive southwest of the hotel.

Spread over five floors, the Boscolo Exedra's 113 modern rooms come in several different configurations, including numerous types of suites. The rooms feature a striking all-white color palette, dashes of cream and ivory, and Rococo touches in the headboards. Rooms are quiet and spacious and come with free newspapers, in-room safes, minibars, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, plush beds with cotton-rich sheets, and marble bathrooms with bathrobes and slippers. Some rooms have balconies and/or views of the city and hills surrounding Nice. Suites have coffeemakers and iPod docks, and the larger suites have living areas. While the white color palette may be a little harsh to some, and rooms are not as sumptuous as those of Nice's top luxury hotels, the rooms here have a stylish feel and good amenities. 

The Boscolo Exedra has a wide array of amenities, including a small indoor pool. Set in an atmospheric, ethereal space with a cool blue glow, the pool features a waterfall tree sculpture. Set in a space with retro-futuristic design, the full-service spa offers massages and beauty treatments (both for a fee) along with a fitness room, Turkish steam room, sauna, aromatic showers, and relaxation room with herbal tea. There is no hot tub in the spa. Situated in an inviting space with an olive tree, lots of natural wood, and weathered floorboards, the hotel restaurant features a show kitchen and fireplace. While the menu isn't the Michelin-level quality of other high-end Nice hotels, the cuisine consists of good Mediterranean and Italian fare with an emphasis on fresh seafood and locally sourced ingredients. A breakfast buffet (for a fee) and 24-hour room service are available. A local gathering spot, the cocktail lounge features the cool retro-futuristic design of much of the rest of the hotel. The outdoor terrace overlooks Boulevard Victor Hugo. The hotel also has a dedicated concierge, bell staff, small lobby business corner, and valet parking (for a fee). Wi-Fi throughout is free.