Hôtel Martinez Cannes: Iconic Luxury on the Côte d’Azur
Index to Genius1 Trip Reports
Opened in 1929 by the architect Charles Palermo, and substantially restored and refurbished between 2017 and 2018 by interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, Hôtel Martinez Cannes is one of the most famous hotels on the French Riviera. Occupying a prime position on Boulevard de la Croisette, the property is a 20-minute walk to the centre of town – or you could just summon your butler to get whatever you desire.
It was a sunny late October day last year as we arrived into Nice Airport and were met by our pre-booked hotel driver. I was pleasantly surprised to find our Mercedes E-Class had morphed into an S-Class at no extra cost, and amused with the Four Seasons Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat-branded water in the back (the chauffeur company obviously being shared between hotels in the region). The 40-minute drive seemed to pass reasonably quickly, although as we neared the hotel our driver was pulled over by a police officer on a motorbike for using his phone – the driver ignored the police officer in order to make it the last few metres to the hotel’s front door, whereupon the policy officer admonished him at an impressive volume as we were welcomed through the doors and into the lobby, offered help with our bags and pointed in the direction of the reception area.
The Martinez’s lobby is an art deco delight, with understated elegance very much the name of the interior design game. There’s very little bling – just tones of white and blue, with the occasion golden accent. Clever use of artwork brightens the space further, whilst original art deco display cases showcase what can be purchased at the hotel – this sounds tacky but is tastefully done. There’s a concierge desk here too, right by the entrance doors.
The reception area, located in an alcove to the rear of the lobby, bucks the colour trend with lush green foliage, complementary green accents and walnut wood panelling. Complimentary tea, coffee and infused water is offered here as guests check in, all of which is a seated affair. There are a couple of private check-in rooms for high profile guests in need of privacy. Despite us arriving after the published check-in time of 15:00, our suite wasn’t ready for 30 minutes, and so we were offered two drinks vouchers for use in the bar.
The Martinez’s central staircase is most impressive, with smartly furnished lift lobbies on each floor.
30 minutes later, we were escorted up to the fifth floor where final housekeeping checks were being completed on our Junior Suite Sea View, a two-category upgrade from our booked Premium Sea View room. This gorgeously light-filled suite was a generous 45 square metres, and whilst to call it a suite might be a little ambitious on the part of Hyatt, it was certainly a delightful space to relax in. A small L-shaped lobby gave way to the bedroom featuring a chaise-longue, armchair, ottoman and expansive desk with built-in minibar and display shelving above – the latter home to several tasteful ceramic pieces. The king-size bed was surrounded by mirrors, reflecting the oodles of natural light flooding in from the juliet balcony, itself offering uninterrupted views across the Mediterranean.
Being a recently refurbished property, power and USB sockets were plentiful, and the air conditioning was notably quiet. The stocked minibar included a Nespresso coffee machine, and whilst at first glance it looked like there were no china cups, thankfully these were available in the cupboard above, along with a kettle. A walk-in wardrobe off the hall provided more than enough storage space for our three-night needs. Linens are changed every three days by default, which whilst inevitably good for the environment is optically quite stingy. Our tea and coffee was not replenished on the first morning of our stay, although I’m sure would’ve been topped up on request had we needed it. Turndown service is proactively offered, although without chocolates.
Double doors off the hall (slightly chipped in places) opened to reveal a large bathroom, with a bath located closest to the bedroom offering sea views with the fish-covered panel retracted. There was no standalone shower, which for a hotel at this price point is quite disappointing. Some suites of the same category offer a walk-in shower in lieu of a bath, which I guess would have avoided the significant flooding that took place every time we used our shower – which was presumably due to the shower screen not extending beyond the halfway point, and the rainshower’s head being located exactly in the centre of the bath. It baffles me how these issues are not foreseen by interior designers. A separate room off the bathroom was home to the toilet with a slightly wobbly seat – it would have been handy to have a shelf here. Amenities in small bottles were by perfumery Fragonard, based in nearby Grasse.
We returned from our first evening’s walk around Cannes to find a welcome gift of Tattinger champagne, marshmallows and mineral water, together with a handwritten welcome note. I’m not sure whether this is offered to all guests, Hyatt elite status members (of which I am not one) or Virtuoso rate bookers (of which I was one for this stay) – regardless, it was a nice surprise.
We took breakfast each morning in Le Sud, the Martinez’s main restaurant and bar. An extensive buffet was available in the main dining area and corridor to the bar, including a large selection of homemade patisseries (although these quickly ran out during busy times and were not replenished, a problem which the rest of the buffet sadly shared). In addition to the buffet, an extensive à la carte selection was available; I sampled an omelette and the eggs royale, both of which were good. The interior restaurant seating was spaced a little too close together for my liking, although the ambience was nice with views across to the semi-open kitchen.
Taking advantage of late October warmth, we preferred to eat outside on the terrace, in the original location of the Martinez’s swimming pool. Service was somewhat patchy at times, with orders misunderstood or simply not delivered, and tables slow to be cleared. Having said that, the ambience outside was great and the hotel does a good job in making the experience feel exclusive.
When the Martinez’s original splash pool at the front of the property was closed during the most recent refurbishment, the hotel went without a swimming pool for the best part of five years. In 2022, a sleek 20m pool in the interior courtyard on the first floor opened, which has certainly resulted in a much more residential feeling for those enjoying a swim. The gym and spa by Carita have also been relocated to this area, set in individual buildings – the former a copper box, and the latter a low glazed chalet. There’s also a bar here, open seasonally.
All four facilities – collectively known as L’Oasis du Martinez – are surrounded by beautifully landscaped and tended tropical gardens. Towel service is provided around the pool, although as we used it outside of peak times, I’m not sure whether full pool service is offered (I suspect it is). Changing rooms feature private showers and the same Fragonard amenities found in the rooms and suites.
La Plage du Martinez – that’s the beach in case you were wondering – is open seasonally, with the hotel enjoying its own pier and beachside bar.
We had a light dinner one evening in the bar of Le Sud, utilising the drinks vouchers we’d been given at check-in for a couple of cocktails, and a pizza. Echoing that at breakfast, service was on the slow side, but the ambience was once again great, even if the lighting was as dim as it gets without being off.
La Palme d’Or is the Martinez’s signature restaurant, and the only one in Cannes to hold two Michelin stars. The restaurant is located one level above Le Sud’s bar, with private staircase and lift access just off the hotel’s lobby.
Christian Sinicropi heads up the kitchen, offering a choice of tasting menus with either ‘pronounced’ or ‘subtle’ flavours. We had one of each menu, which was certainly an experience. The ceramic plates, artfully blending with the food to showcase it at its best, are designed by Sinicropi himself. Service was flawless, although I was disappointed to see Christian only come around to speak with apparently local diners at the conclusion of the meal.
A selection of amuse-bouche plates
Bread
King prawn: pronounced textures, contrasted with original marine nuances
The scallop and mimosa flower of my countryside: raw flesh, sweet taste and coral pigment, floral mimosa sparkling breeze, citrus notes, an azure delicate flavour: cold infusion of mimosa
Fish eggs mimosa: round and full-bodied, a very marked ecosystem with seaside scent
Mediterranean red mullet: mineral and rocky notes, slightly saline, progressive flavours with iodine nuances
The rabbit: harmony between softness and force, soft flesh, confit flesh, herbs and roots notes, taste and parfum of Prickly Pear: cold infusion of carrot
Trout from Notre-Dame de Valcluse: lightly cooked, smoked and peated flavours, azure freshwater romance: cold infusion of seaweed
Echo of the forest massifs from my region: dense energies, with humus notes, red earth, mushrooms, grass, musk, tangy flavours: cold infusion of lichen
Camargue rice ‘in its original way’: a pure ecosystem with notes of roasted fragrance, a nuanced texture in deep simplicity: once upon a time there was a rice field…
Cheese
The branch: chocolate and vegetal
Lemon blossom: delicate and subtle
Parting gift
When it came time to depart, a 14:00 late checkout was available on request.
Hôtel Martinez Cannes undoubtedly deserves its status as an icon of the Côte d’Azur. The recent refurbishment has breathed new life into its elegant art deco architecture, with the even more recent opening of L’Oasis du Martinez adding another dimension to the property. Whilst the design of the shower in our suite was a source of annoyance and there were a few service issues in Le Sud, this was overall an excellent stay at a very special hotel.