Hotel La Perouse

Named for the famous French navigator Jean-François Galaup, the Count of La Perouse, the Hotel La Perouse is housed in a 19th-century building with hues of salmon and beige on its exterior. The interiors evoke a distinct Provencal feel and the atmosphere is intimate and relaxed. Guests enter into a small, bright lobby that’s rather uninspiring compared to the rest of the property, especially the beguiling patio and garden. Here, guests can relax in an elegantly landscaped setting with olive trees, shrubbery, flowers, and potted plants. The patio boasts superb views of the Bay of Angels, as does the seasonal outdoor pool deck.

The hotel restaurant is an inviting spot to take a meal, with an outdoor terrace with lemon trees and shaded tables. Although La Perouse isn’t terribly far from the convention center, it's mostly tourists who stay at the hotel, especially during the summer high season.

Set into a limestone cliff on Castle Hill, Hotel La Perouse is on the eastern end of the Promenade des Anglais, overlooking the beach. At this end of the promenade, it's a little quieter and more secluded than the west. The hotel is a minute's walk south of the Castle Hill Elevator, which can take guests up to Le Chateau and its splendid views of the bay and town. Port Lympia is a 10-minute walk northeast and the ferries to Corsica are about a five-minute drive east. Old Town Nice, a quick walk northwest, features a honeycomb of narrow streets with public squares, shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and Baroque churches. Nearby public transit spots include Nice-Ville train station and the Opera-Vielle Ville tram stop. Acropolis Palais des Congres convention center is a five- to 10-minute drive north of the hotel and Nice Cote d'Azur Airport is less than a 15-minute drive southwest, barring traffic.    

The six-floor Hotel La Perouse has 60 rooms, ranging in size from 195 to 590 square feet. The smallest rooms, while not small by European standards, might feel a little snug to American travelers. Rooms have a contemporary Mediterranean feel and come in a largely muted color palette of gray, beige, white, and brown. Some spaces have richer and more vibrant colors of red and pink or blue, mauve, and purple. Furnishings are high quality and beds are plush with thick mattresses (though some double beds consist of two single beds pushed together). Bathrooms are clad in Botticino marble. 

All rooms have individual heating and cooling, work desks, safes, minibars, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Rooms do not have coffee/tea facilities, so the only in-room coffee is from room service. The hotel offers free low-speed Wi-Fi, but the service is quite slow, so many guests opt for the faster Wi-Fi available for a fee. Many rooms boast stellar views of the Bay of Angels, with one suite even offering a view right from its bathtub. 

Unlike many smaller hotels in Nice, La Perouse has numerous property amenities, highlighted by its seasonal outdoor pool. Open from April through October, the pool is heated and fairly sizable, with excellent views of the bay from its deck. Guests can soak in a small hot tub on the year-round patio, again offering bay views from its inviting space with olive trees, shrubs, and potted plants. The property also has a wood sauna and fitness room with views of the surrounding area, but the gym is a little small and limited for a hotel of this caliber.

The restaurant serves Mediterranean fare with French and Italian influences, utilizing fresh, seasonal ingredients, especially fish and vegetables. While not having the Michelin quality of some other Nice restaurants, the cuisine here is still excellent. From February to November, guests can dine on the exceedingly pleasant outdoor terrace, dotted with lemon trees for a Provencal feel. The kitchen has live cooking demonstrations on the patio and a cocktail bar is open all year long. The hotel also offers room service, laundry service, and concierge service, as well as parking for a fee. Several spaces can also be outfitted for business meetings and seminars.