Hotel Negresco Review: A Luxury Stay in the Heart of Nice
Grand, glamorous, and truly original, Hotel Negresco is a Riviera icon that we return to again and again. This in-depth review explores what it’s really like to stay at this legendary luxury hotel in Nice — with exclusive photos, first-hand notes, and a look inside the rooms, the artwork, and the dining experience.
Many first-time visitors to the French Riviera head straight for Cannes — and they’re not wrong to. But if you’re looking for something with more personality, more elegance, and far more art, head a little further along the coast to Nice. There, beneath a pink dome and overlooking the Baie des Anges, stands one of Europe’s most distinctive luxury hotels: Hotel Negresco in Nice, France.
Hotel Negresco, in Nice
We’ve stayed many times over the years, returning for its character, its beauty, and the sheer sense of theatre that comes with every visit. More than a one night review, this isa glimpse inside a hotel that has become part of our South of France story.
What It’s Like to Stay at Hotel Negresco?
Inspirational, Comfortable, Discreet. There’s a moment, every time, when you step through the revolving doors and the world outside seems to disappear. The staff in postilion hats and red livery greet you with warmth and a touch of ceremony. The lift (there is only one) is velvet-lined and cinematic — decades ahead of a Wes Anderson film. Whilst most visitors won’t leave the ground floor, it is upstairs on the guest floors that the Negresco really stands out.
Inside the Rooms at Hotel Negresco
We’ve stayed in rooms with pastel tapissière walls and antique armoires, and in suites with mirrored walls, sea views, and deep bathtubs you can disappear into. Each room is truly different - to each other - and to any other hotel we’ve stayed in. Some of the reviewers don’t appreciate its uniqueness. There are no standard sized bedrooms, no beige walls and undefined art.
Above - Negresco photos from 2019
If you’re lucky enough to have a room facing the sea, you’ll wake to the light bouncing off the Baie des Anges, the sound of the Promenade gently coming to life. Looking out in the morning you’ll see the pastel colours of sunrise as joggers pass by on the Promenade des Anglais, the sound of vehicles down below silenced by thick windows.
In every room the beds are supremeley comfortable. The carpets are lush and the furniture antique. Modern amenities including the TV are here but don’t dominate the room. The bathrooms are well stocked with products and no shortage of fluffy towels and robes.
Below - Negresco photos from 2022
In addition to room numbers there are names, like the Coco Chanel Suite where a Gold bath tub seems totally normal!
Art and Interiors: A Hotel Like No Other
Most visitors only see the lobby — and it is spectacular. A mosaic-tiled statue of Miles Davis greets you outside, while inside the rotunda a voluptuous sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle twirls under the stained-glass dome. Both pieces are bold, modern, and unmistakably part of the hotel’s DNA. (And both feature in our Tous Léger article.)
Art by Niki de Saint Phalle at Le Negresco
But that’s just the beginning.
As a guest, you get the full experience. Climbing the grand staircase, you’re surrounded by a private collection that rivals many museums. Each landing has its own theme. Each corridor has its own feel. There are tapestries, religious icons, antique furniture, and surreal portraits you won’t find anywhere else. It’s eclectic, eccentric, and totally unique.
A surrealist painting of Jeanne Augier and some of her collection
What’s most impressive is how the collection came together. Jeanne Augier, the hotel’s former owner, sourced many of the works from flea markets and estate sales. She wasn’t curating for prestige — she was collecting with heart, filling the hotel with art that told stories. And the rooms reflect that same spirit. Some are gilded, others soft and romantic. But all feel part of a singular vision.
African Art on one of the bedroom floors
Even the carpets can be art!
Dining at Le Negresco
Dining at La Rotonde is one of the most memorable hotel breakfast experiences in Nice. Carousel horses gently rise and fall around the edge of the room while you sip coffee and choose from classic continental offerings: warm croissants, ripe fruit, artisan cheese. The setting makes the moment.
For fine dining, the Michelin-starred Le Chantecler restaurant at Hotel Negresco delivers a theatrical, multi-course evening. On our last visit, we were met with a champagne trolley offering six cuvées, followed by a procession of dishes served beneath silver cloches. Escargots, foie gras, delicate amuse-bouches — it’s indulgent in every way.
But Le Negresco isn’t prescriptive. With so much to eat in Nice, we usually do both: a night of elegance at the hotel, and nights out in the old town or by the port. (read our archive guide of where to Eat in Nice from 2022.)
A Legacy of Luxury
The history of Hotel Negresco is just as distinctive as its dome — from its Belle Époque origins in 1912 to its transformation under Jeanne Augier.
Henri Negresco opened the hotel in 1912 as a destination for Europe’s elite. His vision was cut short by war, and the hotel became a military hospital. It wasn’t until the 1950s that it found new life under Jeanne Augier and her husband Paul Augier, a decorated member of the French Resistance. There’s still a plaque in the lobby honouring his role.
Jeanne turned the hotel into something rare: a Riviera palace filled with art and spirit, not trends or fashion. She refused to sell, famously turning down Bill Gates, and created a foundation to keep the hotel independent and intact. Here, she welcomed royalty, movie stars, and rock legends — including The Beatles and the Sultan of Brunei.
Even in her later years, Jeanne could be spotted in the lobby, flame-red hair unmistakable, still watching over it all.
Why Is Hotel Negresco So Famous?
Its pink dome and sea-facing location make it one of the most recognisable hotels on the French Riviera. But its fame also stems from its history, its private art collection, and its refusal to conform to modern hotel norms — which is exactly what makes it unforgettable.
Why We Keep Coming Back
Le Negresco is more than a five-star hotel in Nice. It’s a landmark, that deserves to be photographed time and again. It is a a place that stays with you, urging you to return.
We remember breakfasts under carousel horses, rooms that felt like they belonged in a film (they have), and that quiet moment of stepping out onto the balcony, looking over the sea. There are glossier hotels. More minimal ones. But none with this much soul.
And that’s what makes it special. What makes it worth returning to, time and again. It’s not just a place to stay. It’s part of the holiday.
The Versailles Salon
37 Prom. des Anglais, 06000 Nice, France
