The Palais de la Méditerranée is one of the few hotels in Nice whose address is itself a landmark. It stands at numbers 13 to 15 on the Promenade des Anglais, in the Art Deco building that has been part of the seafront since the late 1920s, and today operates as a five-star property in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. It has 173 rooms, which makes it large enough to run like a proper luxury hotel and small enough to feel personal, and it sits a minute from the Promenade itself, three minutes from the Blue Beach, and about eight minutes on foot from Place Masséna. The facilities are the main reason to choose it over a smaller seafront hotel. There is both an indoor and an outdoor pool with sun loungers, a 24-hour gym and a sauna, a terrace, a restaurant called Le 3e and a bar, and the hotel offers bike rental and valet parking for a surcharge. Breakfast is available at an additional charge. It is not a spa resort in the strict sense, so if a treatment menu matters to you, check what is offered when you book. What it does offer is an uncommon combination in central Nice: a pool you can use in any season, a seafront address, and a building with real character.
Rooms and setting
Rooms are modern and comfortable, and the better categories look toward the sea and the bay, which is the best use of the money here. Because the hotel is by the sea, it makes sense to ask for a sea-facing room when you book, and to confirm exactly which categories include the view and which look toward the city. The building has been recently renovated according to guest reports, so check the date of the photographs when you compare.
Living in it
The pool and terrace make the hotel a good base for summer and for travellers who like to return to the hotel between sightseeing. In winter, the indoor pool is a pleasant alternative to the beach. The restaurant and bar mean you can eat in, and the central position gives you the old town and the Cours Saleya within a reasonable walk, with the tram and station nearby for day trips along the coast. Pool hours are limited, roughly from eight in the morning until nine in the evening, so check them.
Who it suits
Couples and families who want a high-quality hotel with a pool in the centre, business travellers who value meeting rooms and a ballroom, and anyone who wants to wake up on the Promenade. Rates sit at the top of the Nice scale and climb sharply in July and August, during Carnival in February, and around major events. The good news is that off-season stays can be very attractive, with winter sun and fewer crowds. Look at the room photographs carefully before booking, and ask the hotel about the view categories.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor and outdoor pools
- ✓Restaurant Le 3e and bar
- ✓24-hour fitness room
- ✓Sauna
- ✓Terrace
- ✓Bike rental
- ✓Valet parking (surcharge)
- ✓Promenade des Anglais address
Good questions
Does the Palais de la Méditerranée have a pool?+
Yes, both an indoor and an outdoor pool with sun loungers. Pool hours are limited, so check them when you book.
Is it on the seafront?+
Yes. It is at 13-15 Promenade des Anglais, about a minute from the Promenade and a few minutes from the beach.
How far is Place Masséna?+
About eight minutes on foot.
