2027 Design and Hospitality Award: Zouzou Riviera Brings the Roaring Twenties Back to Life in Nice
Stained-glass windows, mirrors, seashells, and the shadow of Josephine Baker. At the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice, Zouzou Riviera won the Design and Hospitality of the Year Award, presented on November 9 during the Gault&Millau gala.
"Zouzou" was originally a 1934 film starring Josephine Baker. Today, it is the name of the restaurant and bar atthe Hôtel Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice. The 2026 Gault&Millau gala was held on Monday, November 9, at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. Zouzou Riviera received the 2027 Design and Hospitality Trophy of the Year, presented by Laurent Denize d’Estrées, editor-in-chief of Intramuros magazine. The venue was completely redesigned by British interior designer Linda Boronkay and her studio.
Carrying on the Legacy of the Palais’s Golden Age
Located on the Promenade des Anglais, the Palais de la Méditerranée has long been a venue for music, performances, and celebrations. Zouzou Riviera reconnects with this history without resorting to mere reenactment. On the menu: Riviera-inspired cuisine, dishes meant for sharing, signature cocktails, and concerts. “We wanted to honor the Palais’s history while reinventing it for a contemporary audience,” explains Linda Boronkay.
From the restaurant to the bar, a three-part journey
Open from breakfast through dinner, the restaurant exudes a sense of calm: pastel tones, verdigris accents, an ornate ceiling, checkerboard flooring, and stained-glass windows. You then pass through the wine cellar, with walls and ceiling covered in wavy mirrors, followed by a small museum of seashells, displayed on shelves against mirrored backgrounds. At the end of the journey, the bar transports you to the Roaring Twenties: mirrors, custom Art Deco light fixtures, embroidered armchairs, and a counter adorned with a mosaic inspired by marine life. It opens onto the pool terrace.
Vert-de-gris, natural stone, mosaics, olive green, ochres, and sandy tones: the materials echo the coastline. Shell shapes blend with the curves and geometric patterns of the building’s Art Deco design. The stained-glass windows and ironwork were custom-made. Facing the Baie des Anges, the terrace makes the view part of the decor.
A big thank you to our partners Hublot, Sainte Joie, La French, De Buyer, ePack Pro, Italian Trade Agency – SIGEP, Robur, Nespresso, Sysco, Jinchan, Pacoclean, Nivers, Kaviari, Unima, Lenôtre, and Champagne Jacquart for their support.
