The best boutique hotels in Cannes
An expert guide to the best boutique hotels in Cannes, including the best for private beach access, rooftop bars, design interiors and luxurious spas, near La Croisette, the Palais des Festivals and Le Suquet.
A 45-room boutique hotel in the centre of Cannes, two steps from La Croisette and the beach beyond. The hotel that describes itself as 'the best kept secret in Cannes' is just that: guests enter through a rather anonymous sliding door that leads to stylish rooms and a lively rooftop bar and pool terrace. The serene Cinq Mondes & Carita Spa boasts a hammam, two saunas and four treatment rooms. The hotel has partnered with private beach Plage du Festival, just steps away, and staff are able to reserve sunbeds, towels and parasols for guests.
Recent renovation has given the place a civilised, Old South townhouse feel, with restrained colours and elements of elegance. It’s also bumped the America up to four stars. But the bounce, confidence and friendliness remain. This is, in short, a very satisfying refuge from the sometimes hectic state of affairs obtaining in Cannes itself. And it also has pleasing elements of elegance. The refurbishment has infused rooms with golds and browns and a retro style reminiscent of a Fifties New York duplex. Staff are young, enthusiastic, very welcoming and mainly multi-lingual.
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The Cavendish whisks guests back to the elegance of the nobler end of the early 20th century, without any sacrifice of 21st-century standards or comfort. It is a stroke of genius of the owners to host drinks in the lounge each evening. Free drinks – free drinks in Cannes! No-one’s ever heard of that before. This, though, is typical of the warm and civilised atmosphere throughout. The rooms have balconies with great views. The four top-end Rotunda rooms are a particular treat – round, as you might have guessed, with real parquet floors, fine little terraces and big beds in the middle of the room.
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Families and business people alike love this cheerful hotel with small but comfortable rooms on a commercial street in Cannes, opposite the Palais des Festivals and just 100 metres from the beach and the port. It's a convivial spot if ever there was one, cheerful with strong colours. Inexpensive French hotels used to offer the absolute minimum with a sour expression. Some still do. Here, they do as much as they can, with excellent taste and a smile. There is also an honesty bar. Satisfactory breakfast is served in a bright breakfast room.
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Smart folk who want to stay in the same district as the great palace hotels – but pay less for a double room than a couple of starters in the gastronomic restaurants – opt for Le Mistral. You don’t expect much in design standards from a two-star hotel – so the Mistral is a good surprise. From the dark wood and lime-green lobby – set off ambitiously with an orange settee – the hotel shows evidence of imagination and attention to detail. There are bracing splashes of art (though perhaps not everybody will appreciate the corrida paintings) and nuances of colour. The 10 rooms come in two predominant shades, either red or a sort of plum.