Hotel Napoleon

Upon stepping into the Hotel Napoleon, guests are greeted in a charming, sunlit lobby that exemplifies beachside-chic, with a mostly white color scheme accented by rattan chairs and beige rugs on glossy, dark wood floors. There's plenty of comfortable, stylish seating in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with light. The space doubles as the lounge, with an elegant white-paneled bar as well as mirrored shelving neatly stocked with bottles of liquor. The breakfast room is a bit more generic in terms of decor, though pleasant, with white linens on tables contrasted by red and yellow chairs. 

Though it's not a very large property, the hotel also offers a lovely garden area furnished with tables and chairs and teeming with all sorts of bushes, trees, and greenery sprouting from planters. All of these public spaces are a testament to the property's attention to detail -- it's clear that a lot of care was put into creating pleasant spaces for guests to lounge in. Guests are attracted by the stylish interiors and proximity to the beach, which draws a lot of sun worshippers and those seeking a seaside escape, while the hotel's proximity to the Old Town makes it a good choice for those wishing to sightsee on foot and explore the neighboring French Riviera towns.

The hotel is situated on the main avenue that runs along the coast in Menton, a charming town on the French Riviera. It's right by the port and across the street from a beach. There are several restaurants nearby, as well as a supermarket, while Menton's lovely Old Town is about a 15-minute walk along the coast, where guests can visit the Basilica St. Michel, Musée Jean Cocteau - Collection Severin Wunderman, and the market. The nearest train station (Menton-Garavan) is just an eight-minute walk from the hotel, while Menton's main train station is an eight-minute drive or 25-minute walk away. Menton is a good base for exploring the French Riviera; Monaco is a 25-minute drive away, the charming village of Eze is a half-hour drive, and Nice can be reached in about 45 minutes. The Italian border is just a five-minute drive east. Nice's Côte d'Azur Airport is a 40- to 50-minute drive away.

Clean, contemporary rooms have a fun blue and white color palette with splashes of colorful modern art and lime green accents. Beds are topped with blue and white bedding that matches the walls and curtains, while Picasso-esque abstract face designs add a cool and stylish touch to the white headboards. Other art pieces adorning the walls are a nod to Jean Cocteau as well as artist Graham Sutherland. Furniture is sleek and modern, including white nightstands, small desks, and small round tables and chairs. Large windows let in plenty of natural light, and some rooms have lovely furnished balconies, some with sea views. Junior Suites and Suites are the most spacious options and include sitting areas.

All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are sleek and modern as well, echoing the lime-green accents seen in the rooms. They're outfitted with shower/tub combos, heated towel racks, hairdryers, and Fragonard toiletries. Suites have separate tubs and showers. Note that some of the road-facing rooms can get noise.

One of the highlights here is the hotel's outdoor pool, which is a decent size and offers a number of umbrella-shaded sunbeds to lounge on, as well as tables and chairs. A small fitness room is situated right by the pool, with a wall of windows that opens right on to the pool area. It's a bit cramped and hot, however, with a number of machines crammed into the space -- though it does offer a decent selection of equipment. 

The hotel has a charming outdoor area full of greenery and furnished with tables and chairs where guests can relax or enjoy breakfast alfresco. A continental breakfast buffet (for an extra fee) is served in the dining area -- or can be taken in the garden or delivered to rooms -- and includes fresh fruit, pastries baked on-site, homemade jams, cheeses, charcuterie, hot drinks, and juices. An express breakfast is also available for a cheaper price. There's no full restaurant on-site, but the lovely lobby bar serves coffee and cocktails.

Other amenities include a conference room that's available for various functions, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the property. This is a pet-friendly hotel (for a fee), and all rooms are nonsmoking. Parking is available for a fee -- but it's limited, and reservations are recommended.