Perfectly situated on the glittering curve of the Côte d’Azur is Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, a golden-hued Belle Époque mansion facing the ocean. Throw open the glass doors of the suite, lean on the balcony and take in the scent of the French Riviera, there is nowhere more charming or seductive on earth.
Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel is a seaside sanctuary, this sensual reset offers divine indulgence and it is here, in this enchanting heritage palace, that I received the best massage of my life. Julien is not a masseur; he is a master. A healer. A quiet miracle worker with hands so skilled, so attuned, they seem to channel some ancient therapeutic magic.
From the moment I lay down on the table in the Anantara Spa, the world melted away. His hands never left my body, not once. There was no fumbling for oils or rustling of towels. Just one continuous, fluid motion that stretched, soothed, and unknotted every muscle, as if he had memorised every line of tension etched into my frame and was intent on eradicating them in one swoop. It is impossible not to leave feeling utterly reborn.
This intuitive experience is emblematic of everything Anantara stands for: sublime service, style and soulful transformation. Housed in a 19th-century palace overlooking the glittering Mediterranean, the hotel exudes Riviera romance. Its 151 rooms and suites blend creamy palettes with polished brass and warm wood, some offering those charming aforementioned balconies that open out to the sapphire-blue bay, others framing the ochre rooftops of the old city.
You’re moments away from the cobbled lanes of Nice’s Vieille Ville and its chic boutiques, with Place Masséna and the famous Promenade des Anglais just a short stroll away. And yet, you may never wish to leave the hotel. Days drift easily between Technogym workouts and sun-drenched siestas on loungers at the partner beach, Ruhl Plage, a Riviera institution just minutes away.
As golden hour spills over the rooftops, ascend to the hotel’s crown jewel: SEEN by Olivier, a rooftop restaurant and bar that is purely cinematic. Perched high above the palm-lined boulevards, it’s the perfect spot for romantic alfresco dining under the stars, with the shimmering lights of the Baie des Anges as your backdrop. Expect fresh seafood, bold Mediterranean flavours, and hand-crafted cocktails, all served with a smile. Come for the views, stay for the electric atmosphere.
Conveniently located just a 20-minute drive from Nice International Airport, the hotel is an ideal base from which to explore the broader Riviera. From the superyachts in Monaco, golden sands of Cannes, the star-shaped Fort Carré of Antibes and the historic charm of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
However, for the more weary travellers among us, Nice has an abundance of magic and adventure to offer. Luckily, Anantara Plaza Nice is the perfect place to experience it all and celebrates the Nice’s grand legacy of stunning architecture, art, and wellbeing.
But for me, it all comes back to that massage. A truly transcendent experience. Julien brought my body back into harmony, my mind back into the present. At Anantara Plaza Nice, relaxation isn’t just an amenity, it’s an art form. And under the gentle sun of the French Riviera, in a place that felt like home, I found something rare: total, surrender.
@anantaraplazanicehotel
12 Av. de Verdun, 06000 Nice, France
