GETTING AWAY

The Promenade des Anglais and the colourful streets of the old town are not to be missed, but the capital of the Côte d’Azur has many less well-known places with charms of their own.a must-go tourist centre. Discover this fast-changing city, from the Calanques to the Belle de Mai arts centre and from the Vieux Port to Estaque.

LE NEGRESCO  

This legendary hotel has been an emblem of Nice and a byword for French luxury for over a century. Each room is different, mingling Empire style with modern design and even Street Art. It’s this eclecticism that gives the place its unique charm. The food is equally good, be it in the gastronomic restaurant Le Chantecler or the recently modernised brasserie, La Rotonde.
Unexpected. The hotel features a collection of more than 6000 artworks: old masters, modern and contemporary art, sculptures and precious furniture.
37 promenade des Anglais. Tél. 04 93 16 64 00

BOSCOLO EXEDRA NICE  

A dazzling white hotel with an Italian take on luxury. La dolce vita. There is light everywhere, from the 113 romantic rooms to the Deep Nature spa, a place to nurture wellbeing at your leisure. Unexpected. The B Club Terrasse restaurant beside the rooftop pool, for cocktails, modern cuisine and a magnificent view across the city.
12 boulevard Victor Hugo. Tél. 04 97 03 89 89

HYATT REGENCY NICE PALAIS DE LA MÉDITERRANÉE  

Behind its imposing Art Deco façade, this luxurious complex a few yards from the beach boasts 178 modern guestrooms and 9 suites with views of the Baie des Anges or the town. The complex also includes the town’s casino and a 1000-seat theatre. Unexpected. A corridor on the third floor of the hotel leads to a magnificent terrace. The ideal place for gazing out to sea from a lounger by the pool or while you enjoy the restaurant’s local, organic seasonal fare.
13 promenade des Anglais. Tél. 04 93 27 12 34

HÔTEL BEAU RIVAGE  

The artsy decor of the Beau Rivage honours the hotel’s reputation as an artists’ residence, playing on the theme of beach pebbles in many different ways. The 114 rooms and 240m² of business tourism space combine comfort and modernity for a relaxing stay in an artistic setting.
Unexpected. As well as its famous beach, the Beau Rivage boasts a secret patio. A hidden staircase leads to this verdant cocoon, perfect for a siesta in the shade of a parasol.
24 rue Saint-François-de-Paule. Tél. 04 93 47 82 82

LE CHANTECLER   
Award-winning chef Virginie Basselot, named Cook of the Year by the Gault & Millau guide, has breathed fresh life into this Michelin-starred restaurant. Her cuisine, as classic, direct and simple as herself, plays tribute to the region’s produce in a unique 18th-century decor.
37 promenade des Anglais. Tél. 04 93 16 64 00

LE PATIO DE L’HÔTEL LA PÉROUSE  

The hanging terrace of the select Hôtel La Pérouse nestles against the rockface of the Colline du Château. A delightful, protected place where you can dine in the shade of lemon trees. Sophisticated Provençal cuisine.
11 quai Rauba Capeu. Tél. 04 93 62 34 63

LE PLONGEOIR  

This restaurant, perched on a rock 18 feet above the waves, has become a legend. The food is sunny and southern: sea bream a la plancha, courgette flower fritters, fennel barigoule and more. And they make socca (crisp, savoury chick pea pancake) to go with your cocktails.
60 boulevard Franck Pilatte - Tél. 04 93 26 53 02

LE BELLA BAY  

On the 4th floor of Galeries Lafayette there’s a brand new, elegant but laid-back restaurant, bar and tea room. Salmon tartare, vegetable poke bowl, luscious pastries to choose from the display, and a splendid bird’s-eye view of Place Massena.
6 avenue Jean Médecin - Tél. 04 93 62 24 92

LE JARDIN DU WINDSOR  

Behind its stone façade the Hôtel Windsor boasts a secret garden, a tropical world of bamboos, bougainvilliers and fruit trees where the owner’s pet birds flit here and there. In the evening Laureline Palmade, the young chef, delights guests with an exotic summer menu. Everyone loves her cold soups and tatakis.
11 rue Dalpozzo. Tél. 04 93 88 59 35

CHEZ LES GARÇONS  
Whoever said «No Game Boy at table»? At Chez Les Garçons we’re back in our teen years, as the name suggests, with retro 1980s decor and board games and suchlike on the tables. The food, though, is modern: buddha bowls, salads served in jars, brookies … what’s not to love!
1 rue Niepce. Tél. 04 93 80 42 59

LA VILLA ARSON  

In the late 1960s architect Michel Marot completely overhauled and extended an old 18th-century house. The brutalist design, playing with space, light and shade, fits perfectly into its natural surroundings. The 23,000m² building houses an art school, a contemporary art centre and artists’ residences. In situ artworks rub shoulders with temporary exhibitions, and hanging gardens lead to open-air theatres and a splendid view of Nice.
20 avenue Stéphen Liégeard. Tél. 04 92 07 73 73

LA CATHÉDRALE RUSSE SAINT-NICOLAS  
The Russian cathedral is one of the Côte d’Azur’s most improbable sights with its lovely architecture, gleaming onion domes and lavish interior. Who’d expect to find an Orthodox church of such splendour in Nice? It was built in 1903-1912 with funds from the Russian imperial family and still today bears witness to the Russian community’s links with the town. Volunteer guides show visitors round the cathedral’s hidden treasures.
Avenue Nicolas II.

CROQUER LA VILLE AVEC SYLVIE T  
Sylvie T. takes us into the heart of Nice to discover the town through art. Each member of the group sketches the same building, street corner or garden in their own way: a collaborative project, with Sylvie stimulating our creativity and opening our eyes to the history and heritage of the town.