Hotel Aston La Scala

Rooms and decor

The 151 rooms are modern, in light brown and cream, with parquet floors, king-size or twin beds and a 43-inch Smart TV. The air-conditioning keeps up well. Standard rooms run 18–24 sq m, which is reasonable rather than roomy, and reviewers note the cour interieure (courtyard) rooms are much quieter than those facing the avenue — worth requesting when you book. The 40 sq m Suite suits a family of four. Bathrooms come with Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li toiletries.

Food and amenities

The standout is the rooftop pool on the 7th floor, with a poolside bar serving cocktails and snacks. It opens in summer only (April to September), 09:00–20:00, and has no heater — one review reckons the sunset up here beats some of the 5-star hotels on the Promenade. The gym is fully kitted out with a treadmill, dumbbells and a stationary bike. Down in the lobby, Le Spinnaker serves Mediterranean food. Breakfast is a paid extra at about $24 per person, so many people walk out to a cafe instead.

Location and getting there

You are dead-centre in the city. Place Massena — with its Sun fountain and checkerboard paving — is a 3-minute walk, Old Town is 5 minutes, and the Cours Saleya market is 7. The Promenade des Anglais beach is 400 m away, about a 5-minute walk. Tram L1 stops at Opera-Vieille Ville, a 3-minute walk, and Nice airport (NCE) is about 25 minutes on Tram L2 for around $1.60.

Things to know before booking

This is not a seafront hotel — the beach is a 5-minute walk, not right across the road like the Negresco or the Hyatt. Breakfast is not included and costs about $24 per person. Some reviews flag street noise from Avenue Felix Faure in certain rooms, which is the main reason to ask for a courtyard room. The pool is summer-only, so off-season you lose the best feature. Valet parking runs about $32 a night.

Our take

This is part of the French Coralia Hotels group, and it works best for families who want a pool on a 4-star budget, couples after a central base with a sunset bar, and anyone who would rather be near Old Town than parked on the beach. From about $157 a night — roughly 20–40% below the Promenade hotels — it is the best value among Nice 4-stars that actually have a pool. Skip it if being across the road from the sea is the whole point; the Hyatt or the AC Hotel will suit you better.