Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée

Rooms and decor

The hotel grew out of a renovation of the Palais de la Méditerranée, which opened as a Grand Casino in 1929 — an Art Deco landmark that closed in the 1970s before Hyatt turned it into a renowned 5-star in 2004. The original facade, a listed French Historic Monument, still stands on Promenade des Anglais 13–15, with a modern hotel behind it. The 187 rooms run cream and sea-navy, with parquet floors and marble bathrooms, and standard rooms come in around 30 sq m — roughly 50 percent bigger than the rooms at the Negresco. Sea View rooms face straight onto the Promenade; Sea View with Balcony adds a private terrace, and one guest summed it up as morning coffee with the sound of the waves being the best part of the trip. Suites run 50 to 95 sq m with a jacuzzi, a panoramic view of the Baie des Anges, a walk-in shower, a separate tub and Le Labo toiletries.

Food and amenities

The thing every review talks about is the rooftop pool, laid out long and parallel to the Promenade. It is heated and open year-round, running 08:00 to 20:00, with a bar around the edge and a DJ from 18:00 to 22:00 in summer — one of the most photographed spots in Nice. Spa La Mer uses Crème de la Mer with treatments from about $194, and the gym is open 24 hours. Casino Barrière Le Ruhl connects directly under the building with slots, poker and blackjack until 04:00, plus live music and a restaurant. The main dining room, Le 3e on the third floor, serves modern Mediterranean food from Chef Stéphane Marchal, with a tasting menu around $103 and a terrace over the Promenade. The bar pours signature cocktails near $19. The breakfast buffet runs $42 a head — fresh croissants, made-to-order eggs, Provence cheese and ham — and reviews call it good but pricey next to the Old Town cafés.

Location and getting there

You are in the middle of Promenade des Anglais, opposite the widest public beach in Nice. It is a 10-minute walk to Place Masséna and Old Town, and 15 minutes to Gare de Nice-Ville for coastal trains to Monaco, Cannes and Antibes. Tram L1 at the Masséna stop is an 8-minute walk. For the airport, take Tram L2 from Grand Arénas — about 25 minutes for around $2.

Things to know before booking

Breakfast is not included and costs $42 per person, and reviews flag it as overpriced. Only the higher room categories have a balcony, so a Standard Room means no sea-facing terrace — book up if that view is the point. Rooms start around $406 a night and reach roughly $1,086 for the suites, with pre-paid rates saving about 12 percent. The casino runs late and the pool bar has a DJ in summer, so this is a lively building rather than a quiet retreat.

Our take

This is the pick for couples who want a modern 5-star with a sea-facing balcony, families who want a real rooftop pool, and travelers who like having a casino downstairs or already collect World of Hyatt points. It is more contemporary than the Negresco next door, so skip it if you came to Nice for old-world Belle Époque charm.