7 Promenade du Cap, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France | (937) 315-4602
Stylish Bauhaus interior designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel
Located across the road from a pebble beach
Stylish, modern rooms with kettles, flat-screen TVs, and electronic safes
Some rooms have furnished sea-view balconies
Quaint village is within walking distance from the hotel
Stocked minibar is included in the room rate
24-hour bar and quality breakfast served on-site
Bus right outside hotel doors takes guests directly to airport
Just 11 minutes by train from Monaco
Wi-Fi throughout the property is free
Hotel lacks a full restaurant, pool, gym, and spa
Not a lot to do or dine at in the immediate area
Parking on site is limited and incurs an extra charge
Some bathrooms are compact
Not all rooms have balconies
Designed with Bauhaus chicness, the upscale Hotel Victoria is a seaside property in quaint village just 11 minutes by train from Monaco. There aren't many features at this modernist hotel, but what's on offer is executed to perfection: The bar is open 24/7; the pebbly beach across the street is beautiful, if busy; and minibars are included in the room rate. All 32 rooms also provide coffee- and tea-making facilities, flat-screen TVs, and sleek (albeit small) bathrooms. It's lovely for couples looking for a quiet seaside vacation, but families are also catered to with bottle warmers, cots, and free stays for those under 10. Travelers looking for a pool may want to consider sister property Hotel Napoleon in Menton.
Scene
Bauhaus perfection defines the common areas
The hotel's chic, Bauhaus interior was designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel, who's had his hand at some of France's most stylish hotels. This time, he pulled inspiration from the natural setting outdoors -- expect lots of bold blue walls and white furniture -- and he drew from some of the town's most notable residents: Le Corbusier's furniture (LC2 chairs) and prints grace the lobby. Hotel Victoria attracts a lot of couples due to its modern interiors and relaxed vibe, but given its family-friendly features (triple rooms, bottle warmers, kids under 10 stay for free in their parents' room), it's a popular spot for those with kids, too.
Location
Across the street from a beach and short walk from the town center
The hotel is directly across the coastal road from a pebbly public beach, which gets busy during summer. The quiet village, which feels like a charming step back in time, has some pedigree for its size: Le Corbusier, Eileen Gray, and Coco Chanel all lived there at some point (in fact, you can visit the first two's residences, which are within walking distance from the hotel). Next door to the hotel is an Italian restaurant that's good value for money, and there's a grocery store and boulangerie within a one-minute walk. There aren't many other restaurants or bars in the immediate area, but the walk to the center of town is about 15 minutes.
The railway staton is five minutes away on foot, which takes guests to Monaco in 11 minutes -- making this hotel a great option for tourists who want to see the little country but don't want to pay its high prices to stay there. The bus to Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport is directly outside the hotel's doors and takes about an hour door to door; By car, it's about 40 minutes.
Rooms
Rooms are as sleek and modernist as the rest of the hotel.
The hotel's 32 rooms are sleek, spacious, and modernist. They continue the common area's shore-and-sea scheme with dark periwinkle walls, sleek white-wood furniture, and blond-wood floors, plus Le Corbusier-inspired murals on the walls. Gorgeous sea views are definitely worth the upgrade, as are rooms with a private terrace. Rooms come with tea- and coffee-making supplies, and, delightfully, the minibar is included in the room cost. Flat-screen TVs, electronic safes, and free Wi-Fi are also standard amenities. Bathrooms are on the small side, but as well done as the rooms, with blue tiling and walls, and a walk-in shower. A hairdryer and small selection of toiletries are included, and there's plenty of space for cosmetics on the counter.
Features
Very little in the way of amenities, aside from 24-hour bar
The hotel's 24-hour bar is more of a counter, but it's streamlined and chic white-leather couches, joined by colorful rugs, make an elegant spot for an aperitif or nightcap. It functions as sort of a restaurant-lite by serving snacks alongside great drinks, as the hotel doesn't have a restaurant of its own. Breakfast, served in a tunnel-like stone passage or in a sea-view space, isn't included in the room rate, but it's reasonably priced for a spread that goes far beyond pastries and coffee (although if you're just in the mood for that, there's breakfast on offer for half the price of the buffet).
The hotel is relatively bare as far as other amenities, although guests can take the number 18 bus from outside the hotel to the property's sister hotel in Menton, which does have a pool. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the property. Parking is available at a daily rate, though spots can be hard to come by.