Nice, FranceOld Nice
La Pérouse
Cliff-carved Riviera house
Old Nice Nice, France
Renovated
2023
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Classic LocalOutside the door
The house
Compagnie Hôtelière de BagatelleCliff-carved Riviera house
Tucked against Castle Hill, the hotel unfolds across terraced levels that catch wide sea views over the Baie des Anges.
“Or book a stay at Hôtel la Pérouse, up on the cliffs with far-reaching sea views over the sweeping Baie des Anges.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Friedmann and Versace lined the bar in seashell marquetry beside ceramic fireplaces.
Listed
Welcoming travelers along the Baie des Anges cliffside continuously since opening in 1936.
Listed
Century-old lemon trees shade a courtyard serving regional Niçois dishes beneath Castle Hill.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Cut into a cliffside overlooking the Baie des Anges, this one-time prison is now one of Nice’s most remarkable hotels, offering easy access to the beach and the old town
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Promenade des Anglais starts just outside the front door, and the flower stalls of Cours Saleya are a short walk away.
1 of 6
The rooms
Most rooms open onto private balconies overlooking the bay, finished with shell-patterned headboards and Italian ceramic tiles.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated outdoor pool is carved directly into Castle Hill's limestone rock, flanked by loungers beneath the cliff.
The spa
The gym
Cardio machines face sliding glass doors that open onto a sunlit rooftop terrace with an outdoor daybed.
Restaurant
Le Patio
Wrought-iron tables sit beside stone steps covered in jasmine, and Thursday evenings bring live music to the courtyard.
carved into the rock, flush with Nice’s leafy hilltop Parc du Château, this artfully reinvented 50-room landmark hotel sits above the seafront Promenade des Anglais
How it began
Its name honors eighteenth-century explorer Jean-François de Galaup, inspired in 1936 by cliffside views that feel like standing aboard a ship.
Nice
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.