Adam Marshall

Stepping into the five-star Le Victoria from the hot, humid streets of Nice in summertime has an instantly cooling effect. Greeted by a friendly concierge (the main reception is a flight up), the interior creams and soft lines are a welcome antidote to the sweaty bustle of the city’s busy old town and Place Masséna. Indeed, ‘casually luxurious’ is the pitch made by Maison Albar’s family of hotels, with the Nice location opening in 2024 to join its ranks spanning France, Portugal, Italy and China. Why stay at Maison Albar - Le Victoria? A little bafflingly described on the website as being ‘conceived as an immobile cruise’ (what is a cruise ship if not a travelling hotel?!), we take the point – Le Victoria has everything you need across its six floors, with 102 rooms, 30 suites, rooftop restaurant and swimming pool, spa and views of the Côte d'Azur. While it’s nice to have the option to kick back and relax within its confines, you also have Nice’s most exciting bits on your doorstep, with the Promenade des Anglais, seafront and Place Masséna moments away and surrounded by a shopping spree’s-worth of luxury stores. The stylish blacks and golds of the interior are the work of the Parisian interior design Stu­dio MHNA and are a throwback to the French Riviera’s Jazz Age heyday of the 1930s. It compliments the work of Nice architect Jean-Paul Gomis, who fully renovated the historic Boscolo Plaza hotel over several years ahead of its grand opening in November 2024. What are the roo

Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez – the French Riviera doesn’t exactly scream of an affordable getaway. Yet AMMI gives visitors the chance to experience Nice without blowing the budget. Over five central locations, it provides stays for less than £100 per night and, because the rooms in three of those also feature cooking facilities, it also means you don’t need to eat out multiple times a day. Win win. We stayed at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice, which is the group’s hotel in the historic old town. Why stay at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice? Location, location, location. In addition to price, it’s this accommodation’s proximity to Nice’s Vieille Ville neighbourhood that makes it stand out when searching for stays. If you’re the kind of traveller who loves nothing more than getting lost in a maze of small cobbled streets and packed-in buildings that predate Napoleon Bonaparte, then having the city’s old town available to explore at the back of the hotel is ideal. It doesn’t look much from the outside – a rather unsuspecting keycoded door that leads up narrow stairs to the reception and rooms (there’s no lift, so bear that in mind if you have accessibility requirements). Once in, though, you’re welcomed into the cheerful reception by a solo receptionist doing their best to juggle check-ins and guest enquiries. What are the rooms like at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice? There are 10 studio rooms, all of which have a small kitchenette and ensuite bathroom and a few featuring private balconies. They

With its knowingly gaudy decor, DJ nights and cheeky X-rated extras, Mama Shelter Nice is a hotel that knows its clientele. Inviting guests to ‘Work & Celebrate’, you’re more likely to see a digital nomad on a Zoom call and groups of mates enjoying a party by the pool than you are the traditional chapeau-wearing holidaymakers to the French Riviera. Instead, this hotel is for the young – right down to the neon signage (‘Mama Loves You!’), incredibly Instagrammable rooftop and, yes, extensive array of sex toys at reception.  Why stay at Mama Shelter Nice? Having opened in 2024, the 102-room Nice property takes its place among the growing Mama Shelter family, which has locations in London, Rome, Dubai and more – plus 11 in France, and counting. Each one provides an affordable alternative to pricier, more prosaic hotels that we suspect the Mama team would tell you take themselves too seriously. The first thing that struck us on entering reception was the monochrome street art-style ceiling, technicolour carpet and curtains, mismatched furnishings and dozens of sunflowers. It’s a potentially divisive hodgepodge design that’s entirely intentional and pervades every nook and cranny of the property, offering a playful riposte to the muted tones of its competitors. There’s a method in the madness, though – it’s all been carefully envisioned by Beniloys, a Lyonnaise graphic designer, and heavily inspired by one of Nice’s most famous residents of the past: Henri Matisse. What are the ro

Picture a classic French hotel with a facade in Belle Epoque style, overlooking the Côte d'Azur and you’ll probably be imagining something uncannily similar to the Anantara Plaza Nice. A staple of the city’s touristic heart since 1848, the recently renovated 151-room luxury hotel combines five-star comfort and facilities with all the prestige that comes with its 175+ year history. Why stay at Anantara Plaza Nice? With its panoramic rooftop terrace and restaurant (more on which below), extensive spa menu, full concierge service and well-equipped rooms, the Anantara Plaza Nice gives the impression of no expense having been spared in the pursuit of customer comfort. Its location is another plus point, mere minutes from Nice’s famous Promenade des Anglais and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea and within walking distance of the shopping district and vibrant old town. That gives you the choice of enjoying a lazy day overlooking the city with carefully-crafted cocktail in hand, casually strolling next to the azure sea, or getting lost in the rabbit warren of the Vieux Ville. Originally established as the Hotel de France in the mid-19th century, you can easily imagine the height of French society vacationing here in years gone by. It enjoyed an all-encompassing four-year renovation – a collaboration between award-winning interior design studio David Collins, local architect Jean-Paul Gomis and TBC Interiorismo Studio – before opening its doors under the current name in late 2022. The

With its knowingly gaudy decor, rotating line-up of DJs and cheeky X-rated extras, Mama Shelter Nice is a hotel that knows its clientele. Inviting guests to “Work & Celebrate”, you’re more likely to see a digital nomad on a Zoom call and groups of mates enjoying a party by the pool than you are the traditional chapeau-wearing holidaymakers to the French Riviera. Instead, this hotel is for the young – right down to the neon signage (‘Mama Loves You!’), incredibly Instagrammable rooftop and, yes, extensive array of sex toys at reception.  Why stay at Mama Shelter Nice? Having opened in 2024, the 102-room Nice property takes its place among the growing Mama Shelter family, which has locations in London, Rome, Dubai and more – plus 11 in France, and counting. Each one provides an affordable alternative to pricier, more prosaic hotels that we suspect the Mama team would tell you take themselves too seriously. The first thing that struck us on entering reception was the monochrome street art-style ceiling, technicolour carpet and curtains, mismatched furnishings and dozens of sunflowers. It’s a potentially divisive hodgepodge design that’s entirely intentional and pervades every nook and cranny of the property, offering a playful riposte to the muted tones of its competitors. There’s a method in the madness, though – it’s all been carefully envisioned by Beniloys, a Lyonnaise graphic designer, and heavily inspired by one of Nice’s most famous residents of the past: Henri Matisse. W