The Riviera has plenty of grand hotels, but only one where the concierge can namedrop Grace Kelly's iconic kiss scene before the bellhop's finished with your bags. Opened in 1911 and still fronted by its two famous domes, the Carlton Cannes has changed a little since then, thanks to 750 French artisans who rebuilt it from the inside out. Behind the façade, they also added the one thing it had gone a century without: a Mediterranean garden and a pool you can swim lengths in. And La Croisette's shops, casino and film-festival red carpet are all just a stroll away.
Step through the revolving wooden doors and into the lobby where two turn-of-the-century painted domes glow overhead and marble columns dominate the scene. Murano glass chandeliers hang over the Camélia Tea Lounge, where a harpist plays most afternoons, while Bar °58 pours cocktails beneath raku ceramics from the nearby village of Mouans-Sartoux. At the Riviera Restaurant, order the Friday lobster and champagne and eat alfresco on the terrace - it's been the best seat on the Croisette for over a century.
With a striking white-on-white palette lifted with warm ivory, sunshine-yellow accents and rattan detailing, the rooms are designed to catch the changing Mediterranean light. Ask for a sea view and you'll have French windows opening onto wrought-iron balconies facing the Estérel mountains. There are also 37 new residences suitable for longer stays (one- to four-bedroom, with kitchens), with full access to the spa and pool. The true gems, however, are the Iconic Suites on the sixth and seventh floors, all named after a piece of Hollywood history. Choose from Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock or even Sean Connery...
The courtyard garden, thousands of plants deep, with an infinity pool at the centre of it.
Walk down to the Vieux Port and take the boat out to Saint-Honorat, where Cistercian monks still make wine on their private island.
May is all about the film festival, when rates multiply and the lobby becomes a trading floor. The rest of the year is calmer but it's still a big hotel on a busy boulevard.
Carlton Cannes can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made France trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended France trips featuring Carlton Cannes or get advice and suggestions from one of our France specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Carlton Cannes start from around $180, or US$180, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A refuge of Riviera chic, with palm trees blowing in the wind and a good dollop of glitz and glamour
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