Le Palais de la Mediterranee in Nice, France
The Promenade des Anglais in Nice (France) near Le Palais de la Mediterranee. The white front columns of the hotel is visible on the right. 
Le Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) with white Art Deco façade as it was created in 1929. 
Le Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) - main entrance. 
Lido Plage is across Promenade Anglais in front of Le Palais de la Mediterranee. Beach access is €10; this includes the changing cabin, a mattress and a hot shower. The is also a good seafood restaurant. 
Beach area adjacent to Lido Plage across Promenade Anglais in front of Le Palais de la Mediterranee. 
Le Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) - hotel lobby. The reception desk is on the left; concierge is on the right side of the picture. 
Le Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) - hotel lobby, elevator area. The Internet room entrance is at the left far side of the lobby (not visible on the photo). 
The Pingala Bar is on the third floor of the Palais de la Mediterranee. There is live piano several evenings every week. Sofas are comfortable and lounge atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing. 
That is what you see when you enter a typical Executive Room in Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) 
Amenities include personal safe deposit box and private bar. 
Be careful with private bars at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France). An electronic system will charge you if you start touching and moving the bar content as this warning tells you: "All manipulation or consumption from the products in mini-bar will be charged automatically... We inform our guests that all items touched or removed will be charged." 
Although of acceptable size, this wardrobe does not look like walk-in and spacious as advertised by the Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) hotel. 
Executive Rooms are large: 45 sq. meters (484 sq. feet); beds are large and comfortable. Rooms have modern decor that fits the overall style of Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France). 
Executive rooms at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) have large windows with a choice between sea and city view. 
Among amenities offered in executive rooms at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) are a work space with desk, free WiFi Internet, phone and voice mail, satellite or cable plasma screen TV, individual espresso machine. |
Le Palais de la Le Palais de la Mediterranee
Address: 13 - 15 Promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice, France
Designed by architects Charles and Marcel Dalmas and built by American billionaire Frank Gould, Le Palais de la Mediterranee was open in 1929 with the price tag of $5 million and immediately became Nice architectural monument easily recognizable by the tourists all over the world. The location of the hotel on Promenade des Anglais was exclusive: few steps away from the sea with 7 km (21 thousand feet) of walking and enjoying beautiful views of the Baie des Anges. Le Palais de la Mediterranee had casino and theater where such great actors as Maurice Chevaliers, Jules Romain, Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker performed on its stage. But in spite of its exceptional location in the center of Nice on the beach of Mediterranean and its luxurious rooms and amenities, the hotel was undergoing gradual deterioration and in 1978 it was closed and the building itself was demolished leaving only facade built in Art Decor style. Time passed by, and after 26 years in 2004 Le Palais de la Mediterranee opened its doors again for the guests. A new nine-story hotel was built in a contemporary style and integrated into restored Art Decor facade. If you are a fan of this style it is definitely for you. Just looking at this facade, you can expect that interior design will follow major features relevant to the traditional Art Deco or its more recent artistic expressions appeared in 1980s. Indeed, huge hotel's reception hall with dark wood wall panels, lavish marble floors and columns are clearly reminiscent of recent reincarnations of Art Deco decorations and furnishing. The restored Art Deco Casino, conference and banquet halls, restaurants and bars - everything including 176 rooms and 12 suits in the hotel, furnished and decorated in contemporary style. Let's explore one of the rooms of the hotel. When you open the door of a typical executive room with a sea view you get into a comparatively big hall with a wall mirror, and a wardrobe (which is advertised by Palais de la Mediterranee as a walk-in closet). It is rather spacious, yet it is not what hotel tells you. And if you like dresses and like to change them frequently, it will not be enough for a substantial collection. I do not even talk about your traveling companion and his or her chances to find a space in this wardrobe. Safe,deposit box and personal bar are in the wardrobe too. Be careful with private bars at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France). An electronic system will charge you if you start touching and moving the bar content as this warning tells you: "All manipulation or consumption from the products in mini-bar will be charged automatically... We inform our guests that all items touched or removed will be charged." Three doors in the hall lead you to the bathroom, to a separate room with a toilet and to a bedroom. Executive rooms with the sea view are large: 45 sq. meters (484 sq. feet) with the price €545 (about $815) per night in 2009. One wall of the room is a glass window which opens into the balcony and looks onto the sea and inner court with a swimming pool. The view would have been really good but two things spoil it: the first is the famous Art Decor facade: it is in front of you screening the horizon and the sea as you can see on this photo. The second problem - you are looking at one of the busiest streets in Nice. The noise from the street with the windows closed is practically non existent but when you sitting on the terrace you can hear cars and buses passing by. The room is decorated with contemporary furniture. There are a king size comfortable bed, a small table with two armchairs and a big floor mirror. Among amenities offered in executive rooms at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) are a work space with desk, free WiFi Internet, phone and voice mail, satellite or cable plasma screen TV, individual espresso machine. The room is in beige-brown colors with a touch of silver (a big floor mirror in the corner). Suits and rooms differ in color palettes used in Le Palais de la Mediterranee. There is a possibility that you get a blue or saffron room. The linen is not excellent but not bad. What is surprisingly insufficient for such a hotel is its service. You can be out for the whole day, and when you are back the room may be still not cleaned. And one more very annoying rule: if you want your towels to be replaced you have to leave them on the floor. But before doing you have to undergo a little test checking the soundness of some of your ethical judgements. There is a clearly displayed note (next to the instructions about getting clean towels) that invites you to think about environment and saving water. Now it becomes your choice whether to save water or to rub yourself with a dirty towel. Sounds a bit preposterous for a four-star hotel, doesn't it? The bathroom is of a good size in beige and brown colors with a big soaking bathtub and a separate shower, but there is no bidet. There is a heated towel rack (which must be hot all the time but was cold when we arrived and it took some time to figure it out how to switch it on). But the bathroom double vanity on brown granite counters and big wall mirror are convenient and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Quality toiletries by Annick Goutal are offered. The toilet is in a separate room which is narrow and long and with its plain walls, dark lights and persistent smell of sewage (in spite of its cleanliness) reminds more of a bad hospital facility than a hotel. The third floor in Le Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) is devoted to meals, sport and entertainment. Restaurant Le Padouk and the Pingala Bar are serving their guests with good Mediterranean cuisine. Recently restaurant started offering one more manu: Bien Etre et Zéro Complexe (Well-being and zero calories menu). Le Padouk is open every day for breakfast (07:00-10:00), lunch (12:00-15:00) and dinner (19:00-22:00). Service in restaurant is very good - quick and friendly. Food is good but do not expect any particular culinary delights - Le Padouk does not have them even if it is a French restaurant in a good French hotel. The Pingala Bar is located next to the restaurant on the third floor. The windows of Le Padouk and the Pingala Bar look on to the huge terrace with the pool and further to the sea. In good weather you can have breakfast or cocktail on the terrace and enjoy the sea view. There is live piano music in the Pingala Bar several times a week. Sofas are comfortable and lounge atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing. Le Palais de la Mediterranee offers fitness center with a pool, sauna, Turkish bath and Casino with concert hall and meeting room. It is absolutely true that Le Palais de la Mediterranee is built in a perfect location. You can enjoy all kinds of activities you can imagine: walking, eating, shopping, swimming, gambling, you name it: in the hotel itself or ten-minute walk from it. In particular, if you like to shop, visit Galeries Lafayette department store located also within short walking distance. There are plenty of designer stores on rue de France and rue Massena. 
Negresco, another If you decide to have dinner in a good restaurant, you try Chantecler, restaurant at Negresco, another famous hotel in Nice, France. Its restaurant, is one of the best in Nice. It is expensive, but if you are in the mood and can afford it, why not? After all, Chantecler is just five minutes walk from Palais de la Mediterranee. Another suggestion if you want to find something to eat (expensive or cheap) or to have a stroll late in the evening on rue de France and rue Massena Another vibrant place. One continues another - they are located behind Palais de la Mediterranee and go parallel to the Promenade des Anglais. In addition to many stores, both offer all sorts of dining experiences. If you have missed American style cuisine, here is a steakhouse for you (8, Rue Maccaroni, 06000 Nice, France) also within very short walking distance from Palais de la Mediterranee. By the way, this restaurant is in the same building as Hotel La Petite Sirene - a three-star hotel with rates between €100 and €250 - three or four times less than in Palais de la Mediterranee. There is one more attraction located close to Le Palais de la Mediterranee - I am talking about Nice Old Town with myriad of small cafes, pizzerias, small a bit bigger than small restaurants looking at first glance like a gigantic dinner table under the tent which lasts as long as the street goes. You can find hundreds of small shops selling anything and everything, bars and restaurants. Vieux Nice is like any old town with narrow and crooked streets, very much like Venice Italy (minus canals), which lack of light and have a distinct specific smell of old buildings. To sum up: Le Palais de la Mediterranee is a very good place to stay and spend several days in Nice. It's expensive, but offers a good value for the money. I would not hesitate to stay in this hotel again or recommend it to anybody looking for a good accommodation in Nice. |
Bathroom in executive rooms at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) is spacious, with bath tab and separate shower. There is a wall heater. 
Bathroom in an executive room at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) - bath tab and bathroom vanity. Quality toiletries by Annick Goutal are offered. 
Separate toilet in an executive room at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) is nice feature but I am sure guests would appreciate just a tiny bit fancier decor than the one on the photo that reminds more a hospital facility than hotel. 
An executive room at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) as seen from the private terrace through the opened door. 
An executive room at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France), private terrace. You will find a table, a couple of chairs and a lounge. 
This photo should help you visualize the layout of the Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) hotel and its rooms with sea view.
This photo should help you visualize the layout of the Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France) hotel and its rooms with sea view. 
View down from the terrace of an executive room with sea view at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France). The swimming pool below is actually on the third floor terrace of the building and is accessible through hotel's Fitness Center. The terrace is open during the summer months for swimming, resting, eating and drinking. 
View from an executive room (sea view) at Palais de la Mediterranee (Nice, France). Rooms with sea view are significantly more expensive. The Art Deco façade of the hotel obstructs the view on the sea. But if you question the wisdom of architects Charles and Marcel Dalmas who designed the hotel, I can say that in reality it is not that bad. 
Even if you do not stay at Negresco, another famous hotel in Nice, France, you may want to try Chantecler, its restaurant, one of the best in Nice. It is expensive, but if you are in the mood and can afford, why not? After all, Chantecler is just a five minute walk from Palais de la Mediterranee. 
If you want to find a vibrant place to have a stroll late in the evening or find a place to eat (expensive or cheap), go no further that Rue de France and Rue Massena. One continues another - they are located behind Palais de la Mediterranee and go parallel to the Promenade des Anglais 
There are plenty of things to do in Nice beyond spending time on beaches. If you need to do some shopping, you can go to Galeries Lafayette - less than 10-minute walk form Palais de la Mediterranee towards Old City 
If you have missed American style cuisine, here is a steakhouse for you (8, Rue Maccarini, 06000 Nice, France) also within very short walking distance from Palais de la Mediterranee. By the way, this restaurant is in the same building as Hotel La Petite Sirene - a three-star hotel with rates between €100 and €250 - three or four times less than in Palais de la Mediterranee. 
There are plenty of designer stores around Palais de la Mediterranee. 
I cannot but mention the Old Town (Vieux Nice) - a tourist attraction and an interesting place to visit and explore. Small shops, endless cafes, bars and restaurants, narrow streets - all this is something to see and enjoy. Vieux Nice is about 15-minute walk from Palais de la Mediterranee. |