A First Look At The Best New Penthouse Suite On The French Riviera

What is old is new, and the best new stay in the French Riviera is at the iconic Cannes property, the Hôtel Martinez. The hotel recently unveiled the dazzling results of a multi-million dollar refresh that includes an entirely reimagined courtyard, spa, and two extraordinary penthouse suites—some of the largest in Europe.

The Hôtel Martinez is without question one of Cannes most legendary hotel properties—since 1929 its luxurious Art Deco ambiance has played host to royalty, heads of state, and film stars from around the world. Located along the picturesque La Croisette boulevard, just blocks from the famed red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, the hotel’s nonstop Mediterranean views, two star Michelin restaurant, and luxurious rooms and suites, have long made it THE destination the French Riviera.

The two new top floor penthouse spaces are completely unique, yet both celebrate the historic link between the Hôtel Martinez and the Cannes Film Festival. French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon worked with legendary French actress Isabelle Huppert (recently ranked second by The New York Times on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century) and Thierry Frémaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival to personalize the extraordinary interiors of each apartment. Huppert’s penthouse is reflective of a feminine, golden age of cinema inspired by warm cream and beige hues while Frémaux’s spaces enjoy a masculine, more architectural feel with bold dark tones, compelling artwork, and an avant-garde energy. Each penthouse is quite distinct, but the design essence is the same—sophisticated, smart, and elegant. When combined, the two apartments comprise one of the largest penthouses in Europe—14,000 square feet to be exact.

Cinematic inspiration aside, the most dazzling aspect of each penthouse might well be the rooftop terrace. Landscaped with olive trees and other native flora, the two terraces comprise the entire rooftop of the Hotel Martinez, which makes the commanding, unobstructed views of the sea and the city yours and yours alone. They truly offer the best views in Cannes, if not the Riviera.

Delicate touches such as the glass doorknobs flecked with gold, richly textured furnishings (side chairs trimmed in flapper fringe anyone?) and dimensional embossed wallpapers, amplify the sense of warmth and individuality. Each apartment has two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, living room, study, dining room, and kitchen. A butler is also in attendance.

Down on the first floor there are even more updates—most notably, the complete reinvention of the courtyard space. Anchored by the property’s new Spa by Carita (the first flagship Carita spa outside of Paris), the sumptuous L’Oasis du Martinez features a 30,000 square foot outdoor experience with a year-round heated pool, poolside bar (serving wellness drinks and smoothies), glass-walled fitness center, and two lush distinct gardens featuring tropical and Provencal botanicals. Guests are invited to wander the wooden walkways that thread their way through a textural array of palms, tree ferns, falsias, acanthus, forget-me-nots, Italian cyprus, lavender, sage and jasmine.

The main indoor attraction at L’Oasis is the Spa by Carita. Book everything from a style blowout to a legendary Carita offering such as The Renovator, a thorough detoxifying skin treatment. There are seven therapy rooms including two double salons for private treatments, hair salon, children’s spa, tearoom, quiet room and a hammam.

The updates to Hôtel Martinez have been done at a gentle pace, leveraging the pandemic closures to make the most dramatic changes. A final phase of first floor room and terrace renovations will soon be complete. The changes are transformative, but the harmonious Art Deco elegance that defines this historic property remains intact, and the views, which need never be updated, remain unparalleled.