Occupying a discreet series of buildings in the most privileged location in Nice, Hôtel La Pérouse is one of the French Riviera’s accommodation gems.  Although less famous than some of its counterparts in the city, Hôtel La Pérouse is a favourite place to stay for people in the know who eschew glitzy ostentation in favour of subtle elegance.  The outstanding views, amiable staff, and satisfying dining experiences add to a thoroughly enjoyable surprise package.  Located on Quai Rauba Capeu on a promontory between Nice’s Old Port and the world-famous Promenade des Anglais, Hôtel La Pérouse is perfectly positioned to enjoy the best of Nice in every respect.  That includes Provençal hospitality; from the warm welcome to the reticent farewell, friendly employees look after guests with astute expertise.

Due to its amalgamation of historical buildings, the 53 rooms and suites at Hôtel La Pérouse, a member of Small Luxury Hotels Of The World, vary significantly in size and configuration.  Rooms with private balconies and patios facing the Mediterranean are highly coveted, though even among these, there are guest favourites.  Corner rooms have splendid views running the entire length of the Promenade des Anglais. At the same time, Room 612 is the most private, a junior-suite studio at the highest point of the hotel accessible only via the rooftop terrace.  It has its private sitting areas outdoors with sweeping views of the sea.

Given the loveliness of the Mediterranean climate, culinary experiences at Hôtel La Pérouse may be enjoyed indoors and outdoors throughout the year. In the evening, pre-dinner drinks while watching the city’s lights are an agreeable prelude to dinner in Le Patio, the hotel’s restaurant, where various French and international dishes are available. The entire hotel underwent a substantial renovation in 2023, updating decor and facilities in a quintessentially French Mediterranean style.

Stepping outside the hotel, the very Instagrammable I Love Nice sign greets travellers as the first step in exploring the city.  The charming pedestrian streets of the city’s Old Town are only a few minutes’ walk away from Hôtel La Pérouse.  The Vieille Ville, as Nice’s Old Town is known in French, retains the air of a village true to its Provençal roots, most noticeably in the Old Town, where street signs are written in both French and Provençal.  The Vieille Ville is undoubtedly the most charming part of the city; meandering along its narrow lanes, the visitor finds shops for tourists, yes, but also shops for locals who live in what is essentially still a residential neighbourhood.  Butchers, bakers, ravioli shops, and hardware stores keep the ice cream vendors and souvenir shops company.  Also in the Old Town is the Palais Lascaris, a former aristocratic home now an impressive museum of musical instruments.

The Old Port district is adjacent to the Old Town, around the bend of the promontory to the east.  This formerly seedy part of the city has undergone a remarkable gentrification that has seen ramshackle shopfronts turned into delightful cafés, art galleries, and retail outlets, all facing the port itself, where it is possible to observe seagoing vessels from dinghies to cruise ships, with more than a few megayachts in between.  In this regard, Hôtel La Pérouse makes an excellent choice of accommodation for cruise passengers departing from or arriving in Nice as it is within walking distance of the port.  The monster ships with thousands of passengers do not dock in the port; small, exclusive vessels such as Sea Cloud easily fit in among the boats and ships.

 

 

 

Written by Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

 

 

 

 

 

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