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Palais de la Méditerranée, Nice

2010-10-15 16:21

Looking for a dazzling location for an autumn or winter getaway?

Book a room at the Palais de la Mediterranee

The 5-star Palais de la Méditerranée is an impressive building on the Nice seafront, recognizable from its original Art Deco façade, and promising untold splendour and luxury within. Built in 1929, the hotel saw all the celebrities of the day pass through its doors, many of them part of the influential circle of the American billionaire Frank Gould. A dream palace in marble, crystal and stained glass, the hotel became as famous for its sumptuous appearance as for the myriad illustrious names who passed through its doors.

Despite the fact that the hotel has been substantially rebuilt in recent years, it still has its famous façade (cleverly incorporated into the design of the new pool terrace), the restored historic Casino (all chandeliers and stained glass); and an enviable reputation as one of the most opulent hotels of the French Riviera.

Entering any of the 188 plush, spacious rooms, or gazing out at the panoramic sweep of the Baie des Anges, it’s quite easy to believe you’ve been transported back to the glamorous era when this place was the haunt of Mr Gould and his friends. Except now, as well as a stunning nine storeys of imaginative new architecture, visitors also benefit from all the innovations of modern hotel living: gastronomic restaurant, fitness rooms, and – for larger parties – an array of beautifully-appointed meeting and conference rooms.

The flagship bar-terrace-restaurant, under the guidance of head chef Cédric Biron, has a strikingly original yet luxurious appeal, with the main dining room furnished in specially imported Padouk wood which gives the restaurant not only its name but also a rich, deep colour as sophisticated as the menu itself.