Le Negresco Luxury Hotel Review
In many ways, the Belle Epoque architecture of Le Negresco Hotel in Nice, France sets the tone for your luxury adventure in the Cote d’Azur.
This monument to Old World luxury shines its face on the sunny Promenade des Anglais facing the Mediterranean sea.
Le Negresco luxury hotel dates from 1912.
More than a century ago.
Yet magically, when you are here, you can close your eyes and easily imagine the “scene” a century earlier …
…an era seeing ladies strolling along the Promenade des Anglais dressed in beautiful white dresses and dainty white parasols
Negresco Luxury Hotel Today
The Negresco is an ongoing part of my life.
Starting in University, when we’d travel to Nice and walk by this amazing hotel.
Then, when I was a student at the Institute de Francais in nearby Villefranche-Sur-Mer, I’d walk by the Negresco several times a week.
Beyond the Negresco luxury hotel’s impressive façade, I would take note of the colorfully dressed doormen.
Instead of the customary white uniform with gold braid – and white gloves – of many luxury hotels, the Negresco doormen are attired in the manner of the household staff of 18th-century elite bourgeois households.
This includes red-plumed hats.
… Just those uniforms creates a sense of wonder ….
If a hotel puts this much effort and expense into dressing their doormen with all the details of a princess attending a royal ball, what would the luxury hotel experience be like???
Whirlwind Tour of the French Riviera
Happily, a few weeks ago I booked a room at Le Negresco on my way back to New York after a whirlwind luxury tour of the French Riviera.
Finally, all those years of wondering what the experience would be like were worth the wait!
Welcome to my Adventure!
Le Negresco luxury hotel is nicely located between Cannes and Monaco.
Distances are so close in the Cote d’Azur you can easily reside at Le Negresco and see Cannes and Monaco in a day trip.
The hotel itself overlooks the Promenade des Anglais.
This is the “promenade” (or sidewalk) adjacent to the beaches of Nice.
History of Negresco Luxury Hotel
The hotel was constructed in 1912 by Henri Negresco.
Mr. Negresco had grown up in a hotelier family, and worked in Paris.
Apparently Mr. Negresco had an eye for the precise details that luxury travelers expected in a grand hotel.
This includes “details” such as a spectacular Baccarat 16,309-crystal chandelier in the Negresco’s Royal Lounge.
The Era of Madame Jeanne Augier
In 1957, the hotel was purchased by the Augier family.
Madame Augier reinvigorated the hotel with luxurious decorations and furnishings.
This included an outstanding art collection and rooms with mink bedspreads.
Though I never met her, from what I hear Madame Augier was found of celebrities, artists, and musicians and encouraged their visits.
Every floor of this grand hotel features multiple works of art, including painting, sculpture, and even the furniture itself.
Some of the furniture is so striking you’d expect to find it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, with a gold rope and a “do not sit here” sign on top of it.
My Arrival at Le Negresco
After the long trip two hour trip from St. Tropez, I was really looking forward to some luxury hotel relaxation.
And of course, I was excited to see the hotel from an insider’s view!
Our driver parked in front of the hotel.
Then those famous, colorfully dressed doormen were quick to take our luggage into the hotel.
The receptionist was quick and efficient.
Surprisingly, she also personally escorted us to our room.
This is quite a change.
Even in some of the major luxury hotel brands, you are given the keys and that’s the end …
… or you are dispatched to a bellman.
The Anticipation of the Le Negresco Room
The Negresco luxury hotel is a very unique.
As you walk to the “elevator” you are entranced by the Rotunda before you, filled with numerous paintings and works of art.
Your first instinct is to just go explore, but you are en route to your room so you must follow the order.
First, you step into the antique elevator …
…once we exit the elevator and sink our shoes into the thick carpet, we are escorted to our room.
As we requested, it faces the azure Mediterranean sea.
… and as I anticipated, it is beautifully furnished.
For example, there is a “niche” near the full sized floor to ceiling window where the writing desk is located.
By this word, I mean a recessed space that is not big enough to be a room, just a small space where one can sit and write letters or plug in a lap top.
The view is spectacular!
The windows open to the sea.
It is not a terrace or patio, but it is possible to take a single step outside and take in the salty sea air.
After this luxurious experience, I made my way to check out the bed.
It is a single room, not a suite, yet it is large enough for two people.
The bed looks like it is fun to sleep in!
First off, it is so high off the floor I have to jump a bit to lay on top.
Le Negresco: Rubenesque Women
Then, when I lay down, I am greeted by the welcome site of cupids and rather Rubenesque women on the fabric of the old-fashioned canopy above me.
I am a woman who has too many iphones, ipads, Android devices, and other electronic media for her own good.
So I was VERY pleased to see that there are places to plug in just above the nightstand.
And there is also another “niche” carved into the wall, this one containing a minibar, the safe, etc.
Le Negresco Bathroom
Like you, perhaps, the bathroom is the most important element of a luxurious hotel stay.
Of prime importance is the bathtub.
The Negresco luxury bath of our room was large, and it filled very quickly.
This is an important quality after a long, dusty journey.
…. And the shower!
A shower is one thing.
Yet a shower “experience” is another.
The area for the shower was deep, and probably big enough for two (or three) though I didn’t try this.
It had an overhead rain shower head, and also a hand shower.
Le Negresco Rooms and Suites
There are only 100 rooms and 25 suites in this luxury hotel, a National Historic Monument.
Each is furnished with period furniture inspired by remarkable periods of French art.
And the art on every floor is unique as well.
Tina Turner and Louis Armstrong – well, at least their portraits, grace the walls on our floor.
Along with some fabulous African art sculpture.
New rooms are being continuously resigned, following the concept of Madame Augier.
For example, one of the more innovative new arrivals is the “Street Art” room with its wall hangings designed by Pierre Fray.
I am happy to say that my room must have been the new room called “The Medicis,” decked out in Renaissance style.
Le Negresco Bars and Restaurants
The Chantecler is the Negresco’s luxury two-star Michelin restaurant, known for its “old-school” table service and 18th century décor …
… yet with a focus on the lighter style of cuisine and focus on regional products that is so fashionable today.
The Negresco Bar
This bar has authentic walnut woodwork, as well as tapestry circa 1683.
With all this lavish attention to detail, you can just imagine that the people I saw walking into the bar and the restaurant were quite “decked out” as befits the refined ambiance.
Think ultra-high heels, and chic designer dresses …
… plus those adorable miniaudiere a women’s fashion accessory, generally considered a jewelry piece.
They are intended to substitute for an evening bag.
Typically, though, only a lipstick … and some emergency cash or a credit card, will fit.
Yet if you have one (I have a collection) the Negresco luxury hotel is the perfect place to wear it.
Breakfast in Le Negresco La Rotonde Brasserie and Bar
La Rotonde is the expression of the French Riviera.
Very chic and relaxed, it is the epitome of “old style” glamour.
Depending on your room type, breakfast may be included.
…. And it is such an extraordinary luxury experience you would not want to miss this!
The breakfast is buffet-style.
In terms of seating, you have your choice between the air conditioned main room …
… and the beautiful outdoor area that faces the Promenade des Anglais and the Mediterranean sea.
As you enter, you are greeted by the receptionist and brought to your table.
Then you have your choice of a beverage and it is brought to your table.
The Le Negresco Buffet Offerings
At the buffet you will find fresh fruit, a variety of breads, cereal, cheese.
Almost any item you could wish for.
Protein fanatics will also find hard boiled eggs, as well as a station where you can boil eggs yourself to your liking.
If you desire more, other hot breakfast items such as omelets are available on a separate menu.
Le Negresco Activities
The concierge will be happy to provide options for other activities.
On this particular visit, after breakfast we just took advantage of the proximity to the Promenade to take a seat in the sunshine and watch everyone having fun on this beautiful stretch of beach.
Much of our attention was focused on the para gliding on the beach, just a few feet from where we were sitting.
Le Negresco: On the Beach
On the beach, families, friends, and others set up their towels on the pebbles.
Important to know there is no sand on these beaches. Yet the pebbles are small, not too hard, and you can get used to it
Final Thoughts On Le Negresco
When you visit Nice, you will not want to miss this luxury hotel experience.
It is not just a luxury hotel.
And it’s not even “just an experience.”
Le Negr
When you book a room here, you are vicariously living a hundred years of history.
You are re-living the initial concept of Mr. Negresco, who launched this hotel at the height of the Belle Epoque.
…You are living the reincarnation of the Negresco, through the eyes of Madame Jeanne Augier who made the renovation and decoration of the hotel her life’s passion.
… and there is a bit of Eloise – the fictional little girl who grew up in Manhattan’s Pierre Hotel here as well.
I remember coming home from an evening on the town in Nice, and not wanting to go to my room …
… I just wanted to walk around “the museum” that is the luxury Negresco’s airy, round-shaped interior and just inhale the stories of all the places the ancient furniture has been.
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