Best Luxury Hotels in Nice

The five-pearl Hotel Negresco oozes charm and personality, with a beachfront location, decadent decor, and a spectacular art collection. Right on the famed Promenade des Anglais, it’s a great base for exploring Nice’s Old Town. The 177 rooms are spacious and individually decorated to give each a distinct personality. But some rooms (especially their bathrooms) are dated, and the 1913 hotel can show its age at times as some guests complain of broken showers and spotty air-conditioning. For more modern accommodations in an equally luxurious setting, consider the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Mediterranee, but expect to pay more.

This Art Deco grand dame attracts tourists, families, and business travelers with its sumptuous modern decor and ideal location on the famous Promenade des Anglais, steps from the Bay of Angels. The 187 rooms are spacious and modern, with bold splashes of color, large modern bathrooms, and views overlooking either the sea, wedge-shaped outdoor pool, or surrounding streets. Behind the hotel's white Art Deco facade, there's three gourmet eateries and bars, a Turkish bath, and one of Nice's most famous casinos.

Originally built in 1860, the Hotel Beau Rivage was one of the first of its kind just beyond the French Riviera's renowned Promenade des Anglais and a popular haunt with artists and writers such as Matisse, Fitzgerald, and Nietzsche. The hotel has 118 rooms, all of which are decorated in smart, contemporary woods with local black and white photographs, striped carpets, and pebble-beach motifs. Standard in-room amenities include free Wi-Fi, 23-inch flat-screen TVs, and minibars while only suites have tea and coffee facilities. Note that some rooms are starting to look a little worn and street noise can be an issue. The private beach is the largest of its kind on the French Riviera but, typical for Nice, loungers are expensive -- even for guests.

The upper-middle-range Goldstar Resort & Suites offers 56 spacious studios and apartment-style rooms with sitting areas, kitchenettes, and granite bathrooms with large tubs. Conveniently located, the hotel is a five-minute walk to the Promenade des Anglais and about a 15- to 20-minute walk to Old Town. There's a nice rooftop terrace with a covered pool, but the fitness are and sauna are small and disappointing. There's also a bar, restaurant, daily breakfast buffet (for an extra fee). Decor is a bit impersonal, but the property is well-maintained and clean. Travelers seeking a hotel closer to both the water and Old Town might want to check out the Hotel Beau Rivage.