Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel: portrait of a renaissance

Lydia Bacrie | 8/8/23

At the heart of the Promenade des Anglais and facing the mythical Baie des Anges, this is one of the Riviera's oldest and most prestigious addresses. Reopened after four years of restoration, the Plaza Nice, now under the banner of the Anantara chain, unveils a more contemporary layout that enhances the spirit of the place, and its exceptional geography.

With its sumptuous Belle Époque façade, it's part of the city's landscape, but you only have to ask the people of Nice to understand that it's also a piece of its history. Built in the 1840s, the Plaza Nice quickly became the preferred refuge of the European aristocracy (English and French in particular).aise en tête), but it was above all the HQ of the locals who, generation after generation, came here to celebrate the joys of life: weddings, births, graduating from high school... The hotel played such a key role in the daily lives of the people of Nice, that they were all very enthusiastic.mused about its takeover in 2018 by the Thai group Minor, despairing at the thought of it losing its soul...

Reopened in December 2022 after four years of colossal restoration, the place - now the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel - has fortunately kept its spirit intact. Fascinated by the history of this iconic hotel, Nice architect Jean-Paul Gomis immersed himself in the archives, preserving the imposing façade, the nobility of the volumes, the gilding and woodwork of its lobby lounge "Les Colonnades".les Colonnades", which now houses a bar and counter adorned with a contemporary mosaic whose design, spotted in a 1930s photograph, was reproduced identically by local ceramists.

Modernizing without betraying was the motto of this skilful restoration, particularly for the 151 rooms and suites, which benefit from palatial comfort, but retain their original character.marble bathrooms, precious furnishings and vintage photographs that recall the Riviera's golden age. In keeping with the structure of the building, the architects used the basements to create a spa with sauna and hammam, fitness rooms and cabins offering exceptional treatments.exceptional treatments are offered, such as a signature massage with an oil scented with a made-to-measure fragrance, subtle notes of ginger and mimosa composed by local artisans...

The mimosa, emblem of the Riviera, lapped by an azure sea. Here, the Mediterranean reigns supreme, and you only have to step out onto the palace terrace to discover this. Unquestionably the city's most spectacular rooftop, it boasts breathtaking views of the Baie des Anges and the legendary Promenade des Anglais, the city's rooftops dotted with palm trees and umbrella pines, and, as a backdrop, the first peaks of the Alps. A dreamy panorama to be enjoyed at any time of day in the bar or restaurant - from the first coffee in the morning (breakfasts are divine) to the sumptuous dinners served in the SEENners served at the SEEN restaurant, led by chef Olivier Da Costa, who delights us with reinvented Niçoise cuisine, which we savor as we gaze up at the sunset. Proof of the success of this renaissance? The people of Nice are here, more than ever!

3 questions to Stéphane Vilar, Director of the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel

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You've just reopened after four years of renovation. How did you go about the restoration?

It's in keeping with the philosophy of the Thai group Minor, which aims to break away from the often (too) standardized palaces. For its first address in Europe, the brand followed its golden rule to the letter: preserve the soul of the premises while adapting them to contemporary desires. To achieve this, we collaborated with an architectural firm and local craftsmen. We created suites while preserving the historic harmony of the volumes, and kept the structure of the terrace, enlarging it to open up the view and offer a 360° panorama of the Baie des Anges and the hills.

What do you mean by "contemporary desires"?

In winter, we welcome 70% French and 30% foreign guests, and the trend is reversed in summer. In all cases, our guests are looking for a holistic experience. They come for the beauty of the place, for the excellence of our services in terms of comfort, gastronomy and well-being, and for our involvement in local life (partners in the jazz festival, projects with museums and the opera). What's more, our guests are increasingly concerned about respect for the environment and appreciate our policy in this area: dispensers in bathrooms (soap, etc.) to eliminate packaging, à la carte breakfasts only to avoid waste...

Do you also intend to make the Anantara a place for the people of Nice?

Many people were worried about the renovation, but we managed to win them over. The people of Nice come during the day for business meetings, at lunchtime and in the evening for our restaurants and our rooftop, which has become the preferred HQ of the younger generation. Since the beginning of March, we've also been offering "Delici Carnaval", an afternoon tea from Nice (with pissaladière and socca), as well as a Sunday brunch with a gospel concert and kids' club.