Hotel Negresco in Nice – a symbol of luxury, history and the Cote d'Azur - SKIP

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When talking about Nice, it is hard to imagine the famous Promenade des Anglais without one of its most recognizable landmarks – the Hôtel Negresco…

Imagine a hotel where Salvador Dalí walked around with a cheetah, Paul McCartney wrote songs, Michael Jackson practiced his dance moves, and Richard Burton forgot a diamond necklace intended for Elizabeth Taylor. This is not a movie script. It is the history of one of the most famous hotels on the French Riviera – the Negresco in Nice.

With its distinctive pink dome, white façade and lavish interior, the Negresco has stood along the Mediterranean coast for more than a century as a symbol of elegance, luxury and the French Riviera.

Its story begins at the beginning of the 20th century, at a time when the French Riviera was becoming a favorite gathering place for the European elite. During the winter, aristocrats, industrialists and members of royal families came to the Côte d’Azur in search of a mild climate, sunshine and a rich social life.

Henri Negresco, a Romanian-born hotelier, saw an opportunity in this atmosphere. At the beginning of the 20th century, he wanted to create a hotel in Nice worthy of Europe’s wealthiest and most distinguished guests.

To bring his ambitious project to life, the famous Édouard-Jean Niermans was commissioned, one of the best-known architects of the Belle Époque. Niermans also designed other important landmarks of the period, including the Moulin Rouge, the Casino de Paris and the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz.

Construction began in 1911, and the hotel opened its doors in early January 1913 at 37 Promenade des Anglais.

When it opened, the Negresco represented the pinnacle of hotel luxury.

The hotel had as many as 420 rooms, and what was particularly impressive at the time was that the rooms were equipped with their own private bathrooms. At the beginning of the 20th century, having a private bathroom represented a significant technological and luxury standard.

The building was designed to follow the shape of the plot, while at its center is a large interior space covered by a glass dome.

That space would later become the famous Salon Royal. If there is one place that best represents the spirit of the Negresco, it is this magnificent hall.

At the center of the dome hangs a huge Baccarat crystal chandelier, approximately 4.6 meters high and made of no fewer than 16,800 crystals. According to the story, the chandelier was originally commissioned for Russian Tsar Nicholas II for the Kremlin.

Details like these make the Negresco feel more like a museum or palace than an ordinary hotel.

The hotel’s façade and roofs were declared historic monuments in 1975, while the famous Salon Royal, with its glass dome, received historic monument protection in 2003.

The Hotel During the First World War

Although the Negresco opened with great ambitions, its beginnings were dramatically disrupted by events that changed Europe.

Already in 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, the hotel was requisitioned and converted into a military hospital. It served this purpose throughout the war years, until 1918.

The war had a serious impact on the hotel’s business. After the war, the Negresco struggled to recover, and its founder, Henri Negresco, eventually suffered financial ruin.

After the war, the hotel changed owners and went through various phases.

But the Second World War did not spare the hotel either.

After the liberation of Nice, the Negresco was used by the American military as a rehabilitation facility for its soldiers. The requisition ended in 1947.

One of the most important moments in the hotel’s modern history came in 1957, when the Negresco was purchased by the Mesnage family. Jeanne Augier played a particularly important role, eventually transforming the hotel into a kind of temple of art and history.

Instead of allowing the Negresco to become just another luxury hotel, Jeanne Augier decided to fill it with works of art, antiques and furniture from different historical periods. Thanks to her, the Negresco became a hotel where art was not merely decoration.

That is why the Negresco features interiors inspired by different periods – from Louis XIII and Louis XVI to more modern art. Every room and suite has its own character, making a stay at the Negresco much more than just a hotel experience.

One of the hotel’s most special places is the historic bar, Le 1913, which is actually the reason I came.

Its décor has remained almost unchanged since the Negresco opened in 1913.

Having a glass of champagne at this iconic place is one of the things you simply have to do when you are in Nice, before taking a walk along the Promenade.

That is exactly what I did. But I didn’t drink champagne.

Following the example of everyone else, I ordered the house specialty: the Legend Royal Negresco. It is the signature creation of Mr. Saporta, the first head bartender of the Le Negresco hotel bar.

The cocktail consists of Kirsch, raspberry syrup, orange peel, champagne and gold leaf. I didn’t actually see those gold flakes, but the cocktail was quite enjoyable.

And that was one of the little luxuries I got to experience there. Thanks to the wooden décor, rich tapestries and silent waiters, I briefly felt like I had become part of history.

Adding to that impression was an old greyhound, and for quite some time I couldn’t figure out whether it was stuffed or alive.

Since I rarely enter through the main entrance and usually use a side entrance, this time I also came across the Versailles Bar, where various delicacies are served.

Judging by its appearance and selection, it completely lives up to its name.

Famous Guests of the Negresco

Over more than a century, countless famous personalities from the worlds of art, politics, sports and entertainment have passed through the Negresco.

Salvador Dalí – one of the Negresco’s most unusual guests. According to the hotel, Dalí would sometimes walk through its corridors with a cheetah on a leash.
Paul McCartney – during his stay at the Negresco in 1965, he worked on the lyrics for “Fool on the Hill,” one of the Beatles’ well-known songs.
Louis Armstrong – he stayed at the Negresco during the first Nice Jazz Festival in 1948. It was there that he heard the melody “C’est si bon,” which he later recorded in English and turned into an international hit.
Michael Jackson – he stayed at the hotel during the 1980s and, according to the Negresco’s official story, the flooring in his suite was replaced so that he could practice his dance routines.
Elton John – parts of his “I’m Still Standing” music video were filmed in the magnificent Salon Royal of the Negresco.
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor – their story is particularly cinematic: the hotel says that Burton once forgot a diamond necklace intended for Elizabeth Taylor at the Negresco.
The Beatles – the British band appears on the hotel’s official list of famous guests. The Negresco counts them among the most famous musical personalities to have stayed there throughout its history.
Grace Kelly – the hotel has also featured Princess Grace of Monaco among its historic photographs, and its official website lists her among the famous personalities personally welcomed by Jeanne Augier.
Charlie Chaplin – one of the greatest names in film history appears on the Negresco’s official guest list. The same list includes Cary Grant, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Kirk Douglas, Ava Gardner and Gary Cooper.
Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Belmondo – the Negresco was closely connected with French cinema and the French New Wave. The hotel specifically lists these names among the actors who became part of its cinematic history.
Winston Churchill – the British Prime Minister and one of the most famous statesmen of the 20th century is also on the Negresco’s official guest list.
Queen Elizabeth II – the Negresco also welcomed the British Queen, as well as numerous other members of royal families from Europe and around the world.
Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, Luciano Pavarotti, Céline Dion and The Rolling Stones – just some of the impressive musical stars listed by the hotel in its Guest Book.

Why Is the Negresco So Special?

There are hotels where you simply spend the night. And then there are hotels that become part of the destination itself.

The Negresco has preserved its character and turned its own history into the most important part of its identity. That is why visiting the Negresco is not simply a visit to a hotel. It is an encounter with a time that no longer exists.

And if you use a wheelchair, don’t let the steps at the main entrance put you off. There is always a side entrance used by wheelchair users and the occasional VIP. Just let the doorman know.