ANANTARA PLAZA, NICE, FRANCE

Posted in Projects on 11 April, 2023

Described as a ‘historical jewel’ on Nice’s Boardwalk, Anantara Plaza, Nice redefines modern glamour following a two-year renovation. In search of discreet luxury and sunnier climes, Emma Kennedy visits the iconic property.

There are few things in life that beat boarding a flight in a cold wet London and disembarking just 90 minutes later in the Cote d’Azur. A short and seamless drive along the coast road, with blue skies above and a shimmering Mediterranean Sea to the right, takes me to the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel.

There was a flurry of excitement in 2019, when Thailand-based hotel group, Anantara embarked on the vast renovation of the iconic, neo-classical Nice Plaza Hotel. As part of the group’s European expansion, the acquisition of the storied hotel, dating back to 1848, marked Anantara’s debut in France. But, along with the rest of the world, work ground to a halt in 2020, and the site remained scaffolded and silent as Nice went about its restricted business.

Meanwhile, back at its London-based drawing board, David Collins Studio continued to work remotely, finalising the design concepts for the whole of the ground floor, along with the new addition of the sixth-floor rooftop restaurant, bar, and terrace.

Eventually opening its doors to curious guests in December 2022, it revealed an elegant oasis of calm, injecting some overdue glamour into Nice’s somewhat tired hotel scene.

Overlooking Le Jardin Albert 1er and the Promenade des Anglaise beyond, in keeping with the interiors that lie ahead, the entrance is smart and understated. On entering, floors of travertine marble and mosaiced natural stone, stretch ahead beneath tall arches, leading to the reception and concierge areas. Stucco plastered walls with a soft iridescent finish reminiscent of mother of pearl, offer the first hint of the inspiration behind the overall design concept. Reflecting the hotel’s iconic waterfront location, the palette is deliciously soft and neutral, punctuated throughout with strong pops of colour.

Anantara Plaza, Nice. Right: Lobby Entrance. Right: SEEN by Olivier Restaurant. Images: Ben Broomfield. Top: Les Colonnades restaurant

Arriving at the reception, soft green leather chairs sit before gently curved desks. Desktops of inlaid leather resting on bases of bleached oak are looked down upon by a tryptic of loom-woven hangings in natural hues. Two large-scale abstract paintings in muted pastels, hang at opposite sides of the cavernous space, echoing the warm Niçoise palette of sun-bleached architecture and blue-grey mountains outside.

Located directly off the reception, is Les Colonnades. Continuing in natural soft tones, the 34-cover all-day venue offers light dining to those preferring a more subdued alternative to the exuberance of the rooftop restaurant that crowns the hotel. Curved banquette seating upholstered in green mohair, is served by mirrored tables and oatmeal chairs in Pierre Frey Bouclette. Anchoring the space, a pale oval carpet is bordered by natural stone. Rectangular travertine columns, rise up to meet a cornice of white plaster discs, casting an ambient glow from its scalloped profile onto the domed ceiling above. Recessed shelving in limed oak draws the eye to a contemporary collection of gallery-worthy objets that hold your attention, and invite you to stay.

Leaving behind the neutral elegance of the ground floor—along with all sense of time—the lift goes down to the spa. Warm woods and soft lighting give way to stone floors and chinoiserie-clad walls in deep shades of charcoal. A haze of organic scents, with top notes of ginger and mimosa fill the air, inducing a trance-like state—well before any treatments have begun. The list of treatments on offer is extensive using products from a small local family-run company, CHO Nature and the Brittany-based Thalion brand. Alongside five treatment rooms, there is a sauna, hammam and the first ‘Bastien Gonzalez nail salon’ on the Cote d’Azur—which I am reliably informed, is the BEST nail salon in the world!

Clockwise from top left: Exterior; Premium Sea Garden View Balcony; Presidential Bedside

Back in the lift (and reality), I am whisked up to my room, a ‘Deluxe Panorama’, on the fifth floor. Here there is a notable change of design pace, with Madrid based TBC interior design studio responsible for with the 151 rooms including eight suites. The long teal corridors are sumptuous—with a Chagall inspired carpet stretching off into the distance. Windows let in pockets of natural light, and wall lights with Thai-silk shades make up the difference. In the guest rooms, a richer, though still muted palette replaces the airy neutral tones present on the ground floors. Contemporary and elegant, while varying in size the style remains similar throughout. Earthy browns and dark grey panelling rest on dark wood floors. Accents of gold and brass pop out from rich teal furniture and design-led lighting, all grounded with bespoke patterned rugs. The bathrooms are a classic mix of dark marbles, natural stone, and frosted glass. Spacious and well lit, with generously sized showers and tubs.

The suites continue in a similar vein, but with more space. Bedrooms lead through to living rooms with dining areas, followed by kitchenettes with well-stocked bars. All in a medley of plush velvets and Thai-silks, quiet marbles and rich woods.

But the real star of the show is the south-facing balcony. Sweeping from left to right the panoramic views capture Nice and the mountains beyond right round to the paint-box-blue of the Mediterranean ahead. Famed amongst many things for its ‘300 days of sunshine’, screen-worthy sunsets are in plentiful supply in Nice. As moments in life go, sipping a signature cocktail in the rouge-tinted light, while watching the sunset is hard to beat.

Interestingly, a river flows deep underground, beneath the Anantara Plaza, Nice, restricting the depth of the excavation. Hence there is no swimming pool. Instead, the Anantara aimed high adding two more floors to the existing structure; the fifth floor, home to the Deluxe Panorama guest rooms complete with aforementioned terraces, and SEEN, the sixth-floor terrace bar and restaurant.

Rooftop Bar SEEN. Image: Ben Broomfield

Stepping out of the lift into the rooftop restaurant SEEN by Olivier, it is clear we are back in the design hands of David Collins Studio. The materiality and architectural details continue from the ground floor with pale bleached oak, integrated lighting, and organic shaped furniture set in a series of circular forms. Curved banquettes with limed oak frames are set into travertine surrounds and upholstered in Edelman leather. Overhead, a custom ‘Louvered’ chandelier by Paris-based Sophie Mallebranche hangs in the centre of the restaurant. Crafted from decorative woven mesh encased in an artisan glass drum, the chandelier is inspired by the sails of a boat. Repeating curved glass screens of textured glass, reinforce the circular floor plan, whilst encasing the seating and bar. The restaurant tables feature floral curved edge details, with tops inlaid with hand-made paper and mother of pearl finish. Bespoke dining chairs, upholstered in pastel green, compliment the linen curtains, and blend seamlessly with the soft-toned timber used throughout the hotel.

A dense installation of wisteria hangs above the interior bar. Inspired by shells, the bar is clad in a spiral relief, and hand carved in brass and white-gesso by British designer and maker Paul Swan Topen. While shying away from obvious glitz and glamour, the overall effect is exceptionally calm and confident.

Picture windows look out onto the hotel’s destination terrace bar set within its own rooftop garden with far reaching views of the sea. Inspired by dipping into an archive of images taken from the original hotel, the circular bar is wrapped in a mosaic of pink, green and black marble. Behind the bar, two illuminated, rectangular shelving units in textured glass house an array of spirits, used to create the imaginative cocktails.

Columns coated in an iridescent mosaic tile are adorned with bespoke candle lanterns. Large-scale travertine stone tiles line the floor in a checkerboard design, while custom floor and bar lamps with Capiz shell shades add a delicate, feminine layer to the architectural palette creating a soft glow of light.

The design throughout the hotel is a triumph. There is nothing ostentatious here. Aficionados of David Collins Studio will recognise the handwriting—the symmetry, the bespoke detailing, and the faultless use of colour and texture. In the wrong hands, tapping into Anantara’s Southeast Asian heritage could have gone in a very different direction. But here, under the creative expertise of the renowned studio, the restrained inclusion of the softest golds, add the merest whisper of shimmer and opulence to the sophisticated interiors. C’est magnifique!

At a glance

Owner: Minor Hotels
Keys: 151(including 8 suites)
Architect: Jean-Paul Gomis
Interior Design: David Collins Studio, TBC interior design + architecture

www.anantara.com