It was worth hopscotching across half the planet to stay in the Hotel Negresco in Nice, France. Built in 1912 (bad timing there), it is as much art museum as it is a piece of Art Deco itself. Both wings of each floor are dedicated to showcasing the art collected by owner Madame Jeanne Augier (known for telling Bill Gates he couldn’t afford to buy it, I’m guessing the hotel and/or the art).
These are just three of the collection of illustrations of all the ritziest hotels (including the Ritz) of the time. Note the young maharaja in the center print with a servant pulling his toy elephant. I loved the woman behind the RHD wheel with the enormous hat that would have blown off the second she hit the gas, and the 1920s fat cat with the trophy wife and the stogie clenched between his teeth.
There is an entire wing devoted to objet d’arts of animals, including a bunch of roosters (the hotel restaurant is named Le Chantecler). The one on the left is embroidered and the one on on the right is made of exactly 10 strokes of the artist’s brush (yes, I counted).
There is a magnificent rotunda with a Phantom-of-the-Opera worthy chandelier (made by Baccarat and weighs over two tons). There are statues both classical and contemporary around the perimeter but my two favorites were the guards, as shown right and left above.
The art is everything from classical royal portraiture (left is Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III) to a Chihuly wannabe octopus.
Exterior view. It dominates the coastline.
And the view from my balcony.
This is barely a taste of what the Negresco has to offer. I’d pay serious money for a coffee table book that includes all the art and shots of the interior with all the antique furnishings, like this hip bath that’s just sitting on a landing waiting for you to discover it. Best advice I can give you: Do not waste time on the elevator.
Why wouldn’t you take this fabulous staircase instead?
Chatter Random Saturday Cote d'Azur France Nice The Negresco Hotel