Opened in 1929 by famous Italian hotelier Emmanuel Michele Martinez, Hotel Martinez is an elegant Art Deco hotel on Cannes’ famous Croisette, that re-opened in May this year after extensive renovations. Like many luxury hotels in Cannes, Martinez was consistently filled with guests due to its notoriety, but the rooms were tired and lacking, and in desperate need of a refurbishment. Thankfully after years of neglect, the hotel was bought by Hyatt in 2013, and renovation plans got underway, re-opening as part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt division.
Refreshed Art Deco Design
We arrived by car to find the lobby entrance out-of-bounds, and the driveway being dug up. I looked at my guest and widened my eyes, “Well, this will be interesting…”. I did not have high hopes after arriving to a hotel that was lacking a working entrance. However, my initial thoughts were soon abolished when I entered the hotel via the new outdoor restaurant and bar (which has replaced the swimming pool). The lobby is a large and open space filled with beautiful white and gold ginger jars and temple jars that I wanted to carry out to my car every time I walked past them. It oozes modern glamour without losing the internal art deco architecture, and the cool blue accents throughout remind you of its beach-front location.
Check-in was a breeze, with a number of dedicated check-in desks each with friendly staff and plush arm-chairs to relax in whilst you swipe your card. We initially chose the elevator to get to our second floor Junior Suite, however we soon realised how satisfying it was to ascend and descend the grand sweeping staircase, and so from then on we chose to get those extra daily steps in. On opening the door to our suite both of our jaws promptly dropped, and I declared I was never leaving. The lobby design and colour-scheme of white and blues continued into the suite, and we spent most of our stay in awe of the beauty of the suite. It is without a doubt one of my favourite rooms I have ever stayed in, and one day I hope to have a bedroom that looks exactly like that suite.
A Luxurious and Contemporary Junior Suite
Leading off from the entrance-hallway was a spacious white and marble bathroom, with a large bath, separate shower, separate toilet, and his-and-hers sinks. Opposite the bathroom was a walk-in wardrobe, and at the end of the hallway was the bedroom and living area. The design of the room was relaxing and soothing, with white as the base colour, splashes of cool blue throughout, and silver as an accent.
Again the room was filled with little touches of ginger jars and beautiful pottery, and had everything you needed for an enjoyable stay. But it was the view that really sold the room, with a small balcony overlooking the Croisette and Cote d’Azur, enabling you to stand there of an evening and sip on champagne whilst staring at the sun setting over the ocean. It was truly magical, and something I won’t forget in a hurry.
Renovations Are Ongoing Until May 2019
Amenities wise the hotel no longer has a swimming pool, and the beach club is currently still being renovated. It’s due to open in May 2019, however in the meantime Martinez have a reciprocal agreement with the Carlton a short 5-minute stroll down the Croisette, where you’re able to hire a bed for the day at the Carlton’s beach club for just 20 Euros. Towels and sun-shade umbrellas are included in the price, and you’re allowed to leave your towel and belongings at your bed if you fancy a stroll along the Croisette to grab some lunch. We do recommend you take dessert at the Carlton’s beach club though, as their gelato offering is exceptionally good and surprisingly well-priced.
I have to admit we were slightly worried before visiting about Hotel Martinez’s permanent pool closure and temporary beach club closure, but we needn’t have been. The communication between Martinez and Carlton was seemless and a quick call from the concierge at Martinez ensured the staff at Carlton’s beach club were ready and waiting for us when we arrived a few minutes later.
The breakfast offering at Hotel Martinez rivaled the breakfast at Google’s offices – which is saying something – and they impressively laid out a spread of hot items, multiple fresh juices, a plethora of bread options and pastry choices, and a wide variety of fresh fruit, hams, and cheeses. You can choose to dine inside or outside at the new restaurant, and although the new restaurant has replaced the swimming pool, I have to say we actually really loved the outdoor restaurant and bar. We found we didn’t actually miss the use of a swimming pool as the beach was so enjoyable, and sitting at the bar in the evening listening to the live music and sipping on Absinthe was glorious.
A Hotel That Exceeded Expectations
We arrived at Hotel Martinez with low expectations due to the renovations being incomplete, and left wishing we could have stayed longer. It is just a really beautiful hotel with very friendly staff, and it very much feels as though it’s been given a face-lift to restore it to its glory days as one of the most luxurious hotels in Cannes. If you’re visiting Cannes, I honestly couldn’t recommend a better hotel. Just make sure you book a sea-view Junior Suite – it really was a spectacular view to wake up to each morning!
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Catherine Lux is a food and travel contributor at AGLAIA, and a luxury lifestyle blogger documenting her life on her blog, Lux Life London. With Lux Life London having a large focus on travel and food, she loves nothing more than long-haul flights, excellent restaurants, and relaxing with friends in the coolest places in town.
