Martinez

Many hotels less secure in their sense of historical importance trowel on the pomp and seriousness, making a show of upright and stuffy service, and encouraging the guests to dress as if for a film premiere just for an elevator ride down to the lobby bar. Not so the Hotel Martinez, Unbound Collection by Hyatt, the Art Deco queen of the Croisette since its 1929 opening. Its grand, ivory-colored facade and updated neo-Deco interiors speak for themselves — this is an impressive place in its own right, with no need for any aristocratic pretensions.

The guest rooms are elegant and contemporary, many with stunning views over the sea. Look for flat-screen televisions and tasteful Thirties-inspired furnishings in the low-key monochrome bedrooms, and 73 La Croisette products in the spacious marble bathrooms. Suites are decidedly more modernist in décor, with hardwood floors and ochre or ivory color schemes, in contrast with the sunny colors of the traditional rooms.

Most famously, though, the Martinez has divided its entire top floor into just two penthouse suites, each spanning eight thousand square feet, with two bedrooms, two baths, dining rooms, saunas, and a sprawling terrace complete with jacuzzi and enough seating for a modest after-party, with a commanding view over the Croisette and the Mediterranean.

Sadly, many of us are priced out of the penthouse market; the rest of us will have to drown our sorrows in the piano bar or the two-Michelin-starred Palme d’Or restaurant. A swimming pool and private beach are the most popular leisure venues, or head to L. Raphael Beauty Spa on the seventh floor for a suite of premium Swiss treatments.