Monastic luxury and a futuristic silhouette. In just a few days, the city of Nice will have seen the emergence of two new hotels with diametrically opposed styles. Out of respect for the oldest and most luxurious hotel, priority is given to the Hôtel du Couvent, which took up residence in mid-June within the peaceful and spiritual walls of the Visitation convent, founded at the very beginning of the 17th century.e century by Poor Clare nuns. They built it themselves, using local resources such as lime, stone and wood salvaged from the neighbouring castle. This ancestral know-how inspired the transformation of this timeless place into a five-star hotel, a member of Marriott's Luxury Collection.
Studio Mumbai and Studio Méditerranée, for the architecture, and Festen for the interior design, worked together to carefully restore the three existing buildings over a period of almost ten years, adding a fourth construction in the style of the past, in stone, wood and lime. Spurred on by the municipality and supported by the Perseus group, this project is helping to the hustle and bustle of Nice's luxury hotels after the inauguration of theAnantara Plaza at the end of 2022 or the recent renovation of the Victoria.
Situated on the heights of Old Nice, the Hôtel du Couvent offers a place to reflect and recharge your batteries with 88 rooms and suites ranging from almost monastic cells to rooms with views over the city and the Mediterranean and others overlooking the garden. The most exclusive of these have a terrace or private garden, while several flats, up to 166 m², have a large kitchen, Lacanche stove and dining room.
While the Hôtel du Couvent caters for leisure guests with its various dining venues, its spa inspired by Roman thermal baths and its swimming pools in the courtyard garden, it is also ideal for hosting VIP events with its five meeting roomsThe largest can accommodate 160 people.
The Iconic building, which recently opened its doors to the DoubleTree by Hilton Nice Centre, has the silhouette of a diamond cut into sharp edges, and stands out both for its modernity and for its XXL size, extending over 20,000 m². Designed by starchitect Daniel Libeskind, this "city building", as its developer, Compagnie de Phalsbourg, describes it, is part of the urban redevelopment being carried out around Nice-Ville station, in the Thiers district.
This project, slowed down by covid and delayed by both logistical and legal problems, is gradually seeing the light of day. In the spring, a number of retailers moved in, including Uniqlo, Monoprix and Starbucks and Five Guys on the restaurant side. With business schools, a gym, coworking spaces and, no doubt, a 600-seat auditorium in the offing, the DoubleTree has become part of this trend. gradual opening.
Recently inaugurated by Nice mayor Christian Estrosi, Compagnie de Phalsbourg chairman Philippe Journo and Hilton France director Emmanuel More, the establishment spans four floors of the building, from its lobby at 5e floor. It offers travellers 105 rooms, all equipped with HD television, coffee machine and contemporary furnishings, some of which can accommodate families of 5. Looking out over the interior and exterior, this summer the bar will be offering customers plates to share and a short-lived menu based on local produce. In the meantime, Pesca, its seafood restaurant, will be opening in September, with an extended terrace.
Designed as a boutique hotel, the interior by Karine Journo, director of Compagnie de Phalsbourg's creative studio, also features a fitness centre and a 60 m² meeting room. Another, still under construction, should be available by the end of the year. " Whether travelling for business or pleasure, guests can expect a warm welcome and contemporary accommodation at the DoubleTree by Hilton Nice Centre Iconic." said David Kelly, Hilton's Senior Vice President for Continental Europe.
