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The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Nice, France

Get a flavour of Nice with a stroll along the seafront boardwalk
Get a flavour of Nice with a stroll along the seafront boardwalk | Courtesy of Hôtel Suisse / Expedia

Nice is reputed to have the second-highest number of hotel rooms in a French city, just behind Paris – and there’s certainly a lot to choose from. So if you’re looking to book a stay in the French Riviera, we’ve picked everything from old-school charm to modern delight – something to suit every taste and budget with the best boutique hotels in Nice.

Hotel Villa Les Cygnes – for swanning about town

Hotel, Guesthouse, Villa

A room with a view at the Hotel Villa Les Cygnes in Nice, France featuring a chandelier and modern wall art
Courtesy of Hotel Villa Les Cygnes / Expedia
If peace and quiet is top of your list of requirements for a Nice boutique hotel, you’ve come to the right place here. It’s an elegant stone villa surrounded by pleasant gardens. It’s located on Baumettes hill, a short saunter from the famous Museum of Fine Art and 500m (1,640ft) from the beach. Each of the six rooms has air-con, wifi and character; bathrooms are well equipped; breakfast pastries are worth waking up for.

Hôtel Rossetti – for morning coffee in the courtyard

Boutique Hotel, Hotel, Guesthouse

A courtyard with dining tables at the Hôtel Rossetti in Nice
Courtesy of Hôtel Rossetti / Booking.com
No one does chic like the French – and this hotel in Nice couldn’t be anywhere else. Its rooms are sophisticated but minimalist, while the bistro seating in its fragrant courtyard garden is a lovely spot for a coffee. Tucked away by the lively Place Rossetti square and next to the Nice Cathedral, it’s an excellent place to stay if you’d rather be close to the shops and sights than spend all day on the beach.

Hotel de France – for joyful touches

Boutique Hotel

A double room with a window and desk at the Hotel de France in Nice featuring floral wallpaper
Courtesy of Hotel de France / Expedia

This three-star hotel in Nice is an excellent spot with French hospitality in a bijou package. Its double and twin rooms are pleasantly decked out with floral wallpaper and sunny yellow accents, plus high-end bedding and a choice of pillows, while studios come with kitchenettes and sleep up to four people. Just 150m (492ft) from the Promenade des Anglais, this is a lovely little spot to explore the delights.

Hôtel Suisse – for glitz and glamour

Hotel

A double room with an oceanfront view and balcony at the Hôtel Suisse in Nice
Courtesy of Hôtel Suisse / Expedia

Check in to this four-star hotel to experience all the glamour of the Côte d’Azur. On a promontory looking down on the Baie des Anges, its prime location gives the hotel and its 38 rooms the best view in Nice – a curved slash of white sand between the azure sea and sky which gives this coast its name. Take full advantage by requesting a room on the fifth floor and reclining out on your balcony while sipping house cocktail le suisse (made with apricots and Champagne). It’s a real bucket-list moment.

Hotel La Pérouse – for a hilltop holiday

Boutique Hotel

A room with an outdoor deck, hot tub, view and sun loungers at the Hotel La Pérouse in Nice
Courtesy of Hotel La Pérouse / Expedia

This upmarket boutique hotel is a bijou affair. Perched high in the hills, complete with a heated swimming pool – carved into the cliffside – and incredible views over the Med, it’s away from the crowds, so you’ll find plenty of ways to chill out here, whether by the pool or down on the beach a short stroll away. The 56 rooms are all individually designed – and the hotel has its own bar and restaurant for pre-dinner cocktails to go with those postcard verandah views.

Le Negresco Hotel – for a rockstar stay

Hotel

A grand lobby area with lounge chairs and portraits at the Le Negresco Hotel in Nice
Courtesy of Le Negresco Hotel / Expedia
Crowned by a vivid pink dome supposedly inspired by the architect’s mistress, Hôtel Negresco is a standout landmark in the city along the Promenade des Anglais. The belle-époque hotel has been a symbol of French culture and hospitality for over a century, entertaining kings, queens and the odd rock star too. Inside, you’ll be bowled over by the marble-floored rotunda with its intricately decorated glass ceiling. Diligent doormen dressed in navy and red frock coats are there to greet you and help take your bags to your room – upgrade to a Rivoli double for views over the Palais Massena gardens or a deluxe sea view room for sweeping vistas over the Baie-des-Anges.

Villa Rivoli – for a slice of the high life

Boutique Hotel

A pink room with a twin bed and white furniture at the Villa Rivoli in Nice, France
Courtesy of Villa Rivoli / Expedia

Dating back to 1890, this petite 24-room gem is tucked away back from the sea. All whitewashed stucco, French windows and Louis XIV-style furniture – you get the feeling you’re in a French period drama here, as opposed to a modern boutique hotel. There’s no restaurant, but plenty of cafes and bars nearby. And if it’s just a chilled glass of rosé you’re after, the garden has a greenery-draped pergola which is the perfect spot to relax. Compared with other hotels on the main drag, Villa Rivoli offers an unrivalled touch of affordable luxury.

Hotel Windsor – for an artist's retreat

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

A large minimal white room with big windows and a large bed at the Hotel Windsor in Nice
Courtesy of Hotel Windsor / Expedia

This hotel may have a rather traditional look on the outside, yet it’s anything but inside. From the Andy Warhol-inspired lift to its tropical paradise of a heated outdoor pool and posters of Tintin on the wall, it alludes to the individuality of the rooms. There are 57 of them, 30 of which have been designed by artists in various modern styles, such as graffiti walls or comic strips. If you’re after something outstanding, the remaining 27 rooms offer a more conventional welcome. Hotel Windsor is central, affordable, unpretentious – and lots of fun.

Hotel 64 – for a sleek sleep

Boutique Hotel

A white and grey room with a large bed and mirror at the Hotel 64 in Nice, France
Courtesy Hotel 64 / Expedia

This elegant boutique hotel is close to the station, so it’s further out from the sea than most – but still only a six-minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais. Rooms are soundproofed and come with free wifi and sleek flat-screen TVs. It doesn’t have its own restaurant, but there’s ample choice of restaurants right around the corner. You can look forward to a fresh breakfast of flaky pastries and chilled fruit – not to mention the sea views if you upgrade to a room with a balcony overlooking the Med.

Hotel Le Petit Palais – for a peaceful place of your own

Boutique Hotel

An outdoor courtyard with a small swimming pool and sun loungers at the Hotel Le Petit Palais
Courtesy of Hotel Le Petit Palais / Expedia

This small hotel is situated in Cimiez, perched in the hills above the Med. It’s an exclusive part of town, mostly residential, so there isn’t much in the way of local restaurants and bars – but it’s a great choice if you’re looking for peace and quiet, with postcard-worthy sea views your backdrop. Down on the bloom-drenched terrace, you can brave the cold of the plunge pool on hot days or relax on a sun lounger. The garden is a tranquil spot where you can read the morning papers (The New York Times is available) with a cup of rousing coffee to kickstart the day.

Hôtel Le Meurice – for a jazzy experience

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

A large room with yellows and browns at the Hôtel Le Meurice in Nice with carved ceiling
Courtesy of Hôtel Le Meurice / Booking.com
Le Meurice is a traditional boutique hotel, with incredible art deco touches and an elegant wrought-iron lift to take you to your room. There are 23 to choose from, all recently renovated with parquet floors and 1920s furnishings, while bathrooms redefine lavish with hydro-massage showers or jet-powered bathtubs. There’s no restaurant here, but there many eateries within strolling distance and the leafy Albert 1er garden for cold drinks and ice creams when the sun is beating down.

Hotel La Villa Victor Hugo – for literary pedigree

Boutique Hotel

A white and black room with a large bed and big windows at the Hotel La Villa Victor Hugo in Nice
Courtesy of Hotel La Villa Victor Hugo / Expedia

Hotel La Villa Victor Hugo is set in a tree-lined street, just a stone’s throw from the Promenade des Anglais. You might think the superb belle-époque façade is an indication of what’s to come within – but its 47 rooms are as modern as they come, with free wifi, books repurposed into headboards and literary quotations adorning the corridor walls. This is a nod to the hotel’s namesake, arguably the most famous playwright France has ever produced. You can also take advantage of a 24-hour bar and a selection of exceptional champagnes produced by the Ployez Jacquemart and Gardet estates.

Alex Ledsom and Sarah Warwick contributed additional reporting to this article.

On a budget? Check out our pick of the most budget-friendly hotels in Nice, bookable with Culture Trip. Or hit the beach when you stay at these beach hotels in Nice. For more options in southeast France, check out the best boutique hotels in Provence, and book your stay on Culture Trip. Alternatively, escape the city and enjoy a holiday with a sparkling drink in hand by booking one of the best hotels in the Champagne region.

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