There aren’t many luxury and contemporary hotel options in Nice. In fact, there aren’t many contemporary hotel options in general in the South of France. The majority of the region’s hotels are old and dated, and – with the exception of Hotel Martinez in Cannes – in desperate need of a bit of TLC. So it was a very welcome discovery to find ourselves at the Radisson Blu; clean, modern, and with a rooftop swimming pool and restaurant with unrivalled views over the glistening azure waters of the Côte d’Azur.
The Hotel & Rooms
For a chain brand the offering is impressive, and it’s really hard to beat the location – the hotel sits on the Promenade des Anglais between the airport and the very heart of the city of Nice, making it ideal for a weekend break or a stopping point at the beginning or end of a Riviera Roadtrip.
Our stay began with a slightly confusing check-in as the desks are a little bumbled and feel like an airport with hoards of travellers waiting to be served. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t a boutique, and the personalised check-in service of ultra-luxury Hotel Metropole was but a distant dream. However as soon as we entered our room (we recommend the Premium sea view room, or one of the suites), the stress of the bustling lobby disappeared and we just stood on our balcony in awe of the ocean; magnificent in its tranquility.
The well-equipped room contains all you could need for a weekend stay, with a large and comfortable bed, bright modern furnishings, and the incredible view from the balcony. The only point to make with the room is that the bathrooms are a little basic – don’t expect extravagant marble and gold sinks – it’s all basic white tile and a shower over the bath here which was a little disappointing and we felt they could do with a re-fresh to fit in with the rest of the design of the hotel.
The Rooftop Pool & Food
After settling into our room we made our way up to the panoramic rooftop in time for Golden Hour, and lay by the pool catching the last fleeting rays of sunlight before it dipped behind the ocean. Radisson Blu Nice’s rooftop restaurant, Calade, was our next port of call after a quick shower and change. Adjoined to the pool area, Calade has sweeping views over the Côte d’Azur and city’s old town, and is a blissful spot to relax with a glass of chilled wine and sumptuous Mediterranean meal.
We began with a classic tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad with basil to share, before moving on to our delectable main courses; a chicken salad, and a wonderful sea bass fillet. Dessert was gelato, a simple but satisfying end to a beautifully healthy meal.
Overall Radisson Blu Nice is not an ‘ultra-luxury’ hotel, and it would be unfair to try and market it or pass it off as such. But it is contemporary and clean, it is an accessible mid-range luxury hotel, and you simply won’t find a rooftop as impressive anywhere else in the city.
Find out more about Radisson Blu Nice and book online.
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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.
