The Negresco has 117 guest rooms, including 21 suites. Like the rest of the hotel, the guest rooms are characterised by a blend of old and new. Incredibly crafted period furniture stands alongside modern equipment in rooms where the decoration has been inspired by five centuries of French art, from the Louis XIII style to modern art.
The classic decor in the Superior rooms is representative of a beautiful French-style residence. With their view of the hotel's inner façade, they have the advantage of being peaceful, even though they only benefit from the sun in the afternoon. These 25m² non-smoking rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, a direct-dial telephone line, free broadband wireless Internet access, a flat-screen television with pay TV and radio, a minibar, and a safe. The bathrooms are fitted with either a shower or a bathtub, and toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are all provided. The toilets are separate.
The Exclusive rooms embody the 'Negresco Spirit', with their period furniture and their Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette style decoration with either a classic or baroque look. These guest rooms overlook Masséna Park with the sea and the Baie des Anges in the background. These 30m² rooms are equipped with individual air-conditioning, a direct-dial telephone line, free broadband wireless Internet access, a flat-screen television with pay TV and radio, a minibar, and a safe. The bathrooms are fitted with either a shower or a bathtub, and toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are all provided. The toilets are separate.
The 50m² Deluxe rooms overlook the hotel's inner courtyard, and are the best example of the 'Palace' style. Bringing together space and tranquillity, the decor combines a contemporary look with antique collector's items sourced from antiques dealers. These guest rooms include a walk-in closet and lounge area, and are equipped with air-conditioning, a direct-dial telephone line, free broadband wireless Internet access, a flat-screen television with pay TV and radio, a minibar, and a safe. The bathrooms are fitted with either a shower or a bathtub, and toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are all provided. The toilets are separate.
The Deluxe Sea View rooms measure 30m² and of course offer a view of the sea. Silk or velvet, 'bijou apartment' or 'quintessential French style', these guests rooms are sure to charm. They are equipped with air-conditioning, a direct-dial telephone line, free broadband wireless Internet access, a flat-screen television with pay TV and radio, a minibar, and a safe. The bathrooms are fitted with either a shower or a bathtub, and toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are all provided. The toilets are separate.
As for suites, the Negresco Hotel has:
- 55m² Sea View Junior Suites. With their lounge area, view, space, and southern exposure, these suites leave you wanting for nothing. They are equipped with a large walk-in closet, air-conditioning, a direct-dial telephone line, free broadband wireless Internet access, a flat-screen television with pay TV and radio, a minibar, and a safe. The bathrooms are fitted with either a shower or a bathtub, and toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are provided. The toilets are separate.
- Sea View Deluxe Suites. Some of the most famous artists have stayed in these three suites that have made the Negresco famous. The 80m² suites are filled with rich period furniture and unique artwork, such as Sèvres porcelain, a Louis XVI bed, and paintings created by the masters. With their double private lounge, spacious bedroom, and private terrace with a sea view, these suites alone are concentrated versions of the Negresco. They are equipped with a large walk-in closet, air-conditioning, a direct-dial telephone line, free broadband wireless Internet access, a flat-screen television with pay TV and radio, a minibar, and a safe. The bathrooms are fitted with either a shower or a bathtub, and toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are provided. The toilets are separate.
The Negresco Hotel also has 6 'Exceptional' suites. The Royal Suite, situated under the dome of the Negresco, is the emblem of the Palace. With its 100m² and rounded shape it enjoys a double view and a bedroom with an unobstructed view of the sea, the Côte d'Azur, and the Masséna gardens. The two bathrooms, two large closets, and the lounge make this THE exceptional suite at the hotel.
The 75m² Imperial Suite is decorated entirely in an Empire style and was inspired by Empress Josephine's rooms at the Château de Malmaison.
The Pompadour Suite is a tribute to King Louis XV's mistress with its precious wood dresser and a period 'basket' double bed finely sculpted with gilded leaves.
The 80m² Montserrat Caballé Suite houses, among other beautiful pieces, a Louis XV writing desk, two Sèvres porcelain lamps, and a Louis XVI bed adorned with two gold-plated bronzes.
Guests can also choose to stay in the 75m² Napoleon Suite or the 75m² Mistinguette Suite.
The Negresco. The hotel's unique name is renowned throughout the world. It is one of the rare luxury hotels that has become legendary and preserved the same splendour throughout the decades.
With its pink roof, its dome, and its façades that combine a neo-classic style with baroque-like ornamentation, the Negresco is immediately recognizable by any tourist taking a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. While the façades, roofing, and the Royal Lounge with its glass roof are listed as historic monuments, these features are just the tip of the incredible iceberg that is the Negresco.
A truly exceptional spot that was even listed under the French '20th Century Heritage' label on the 1st March 2001.
The Negresco was built in the 1910s at the instigation of Henri Negresco. Inaugurated with great ceremony on 4 January 1913, with no fewer than 7 crowned heads present, the palace is admired by all. And with good reason! The glass roof was designed by Edouard-Jean Niermans (and not Gustave Eiffel as many believe); the Louis XVI-style elliptical hall is spectacular; the furniture in the 450 rooms is the work of Paul Dumas; and the rotunda sparkles with light.
At the end of the 1950s, the Negresco became the property of Jeanne and Paul Augier, who transformed it into a true hotel-museum by buying nearly 6,000 works of art, like the sculpture by French sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle that stands outside the building, the many portraits of French kings (Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Napoleon III), busts, and the lift upholstered in red like the cradle of the King of Rome...
All in all, the hotel is like a display case for five centuries of French history and art. Yet this display case is a work of art in its own right. To prepare for its 100th anniversary in 2012, the Negresco closed from 4th January to 1st July 2010 to carry out major renovation works. During this period, it underwent several major modifications, with the fifth floor being turned into the entirely private 'Executive Floor' with its own lift, where the suites are even equipped with automated technology. There is even a bar and a lunch area.
The kitchens, the façade, and the glass roof were the main features to undergo a facelift during the renovation works.
Needless to say, every nook and cranny in this Palace is remarkable. The huge reception in the form of an immaculate rotunda with its delicate gilding and marble floor opens onto the Versailles Lounge and the bar, as well as the small lobby with its majestic marble staircase and the lifts before arriving at the Royal Lounge with its magnificent glass roof.
The Negresco has 9 lounges that can accommodate between 20 and 600 people. Particularly renowned among these are:
- the Royal Lounge, the former ballroom under an impressive glass roof classed as a historic monument, which is the real heart of the hotel.
- the Versailles Lounge, with its portrait of Louis XIV and its authentic 18th century decor. It also has a 90m² terrace that can accommodate up to 300 people.
- the entirely red Louis XVI lounge, With a surface area of 66m², it can hold between 20 and 50 people depending on the layout.
- the Regence Lounge with its gold leaf patterned panelling. It is adjacent to the Chantecler restaurant.
The corridors of the Negresco's five floors, like the rest of the hotel, are veritable art galleries, with a different theme on each floor: Art Deco, Napoleon 1st, Dali, etc. The only thing the five floors have in common is the carpet designed by French artist Jean-Pierre Yvaral, and the mix between antique and contemporary artworks that creates a somewhat baroque atmosphere.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
