Hotel Martinez, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Rooms and decor

Picture a cream-colored Art Deco palace standing elegantly on Cannes's most famous beachfront boulevard, open since 1929 and the backdrop to countless photos of stars walking the red carpet — that is Hotel Martinez. It now sits under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, with roughly 410 rooms and suites finished in soft gold and cream tones, holding onto the 1920s Art Deco feel while staying comfortable and contemporary. Many rooms have private balconies that open onto the deep-blue Mediterranean and the yachts in the bay of Cannes; opening the balcony door to warm sea air and Riviera light is the kind of morning reviewers say is worth waking up for. The upper-floor suites get wider sea views and more privacy, with soft beds, marble bathrooms, and decorative details that make you feel you are staying inside one of the city's legends.

Food and amenities

What makes Martinez feel like its own little world is how complete it is — you barely need to step out. The highlight is the private Zplage beach club across La Croisette, with rows of sun loungers, white umbrellas and a beachfront restaurant where you can lie back with a drink and listen to the waves all day; it is the fullest way to soak up the Mediterranean. Inside the building, the L'Afrique dining room serves relaxed food throughout the day, paired with the hotel bar for evening cocktails. Upstairs is the Givenchy Spa, known for its skincare treatments and French-style care, with treatment rooms and quiet corners to escape the bustle of La Croisette below. Plenty of reviews praise the warm, unfussy luxury and service that lives up to the 5-star label. Closing the day on your balcony watching the sun set behind the bay of Cannes is the image many guests carry home.

Location and getting there

Location is the strongest card here. The hotel sits on La Croisette, the famous Cannes beachfront boulevard lined with palms, luxury brand boutiques and seaside cafes; step out of the lobby and you meet the sea view and the promenade that is made for an evening stroll. Walk west along the water for about 10 minutes and you reach the Palais des Festivals, the building that hosts the Cannes Film Festival and the legendary red carpet. Nearby are the old yacht harbor (Vieux Port) and the old town of Le Suquet on its hill, with fine views over the bay. Cannes train station is about a 12-minute walk or a 5-minute drive away, so you can ride the coastal Riviera line to Nice, Antibes or Monaco on a day trip with ease. If you want a trip where you wake up, walk the beachfront, shop the luxury district and soak up the French Riviera without long drives, this location is a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to weigh is price, especially during the Cannes Film Festival in May and in summer, when room rates jump several times over and you need to plan your budget carefully; for more manageable prices and a more relaxed mood, aim for the start or end of the season. The second point is the age of the building — this is a historic property open since 1929, and some reviews note that certain rooms and corners are showing the years, with some decor looking classic to the point of dated relative to a price at this level. Anyone expecting the crisp, brand-new finish of a just-built hotel may need to adjust their expectations a little. And because it sits on the lively La Croisette, rooms facing the street can pick up traffic noise and late-night buzz; if you are a light sleeper, ask for a sea-facing room, which is both prettier and quieter.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Hotel Martinez sells "a night inside a Cannes icon" with full confidence — the Art Deco building that has stood beside the red carpet for more than a century, the La Croisette beachfront location, the private Zplage beach club and the Givenchy Spa that round out the trip in one place. If the trip in your head is opening the balcony to a Mediterranean view, walking the beachfront to see the legendary red carpet, sunbathing at the beach club, then closing with a spa session and an evening cocktail, this is one of the most romantic and memorable choices going. But if you mainly value a brand-new room and value for money, the steep high-season prices and the age of some corners of the building may give you pause. Overall we give it 8.9/10, best for couples and luxury travelers who love the French Riviera and want a memory of Cannes that is hard to forget.