The 6 Best 5 Star Hotels in Nice, France - She is Lost Around the World

If you’re looking for 5 star hotels in Nice, there are some very different options depending on what kind of luxury stay you want. You can stay in one of the city’s famous historic Riviera hotels, go for something modern and polished, or choose a smaller property with much more character.

I’ve picked six of the best 5-star options in Nice, from more accessible luxury stays to the big-name hotels that are an experience in themselves. For me, the interesting part is that they don’t all offer the same version of luxury, so I’d choose based on the kind of trip you want rather than simply booking the most expensive one.

5 Star Hotels in Nice: Quick Picks

Best for	Hotel
Best overall	Hotel Le Negresco
Best modern option	Boscolo Nice Hotel & Spa
Best for the Promenade	Hotel Palais de la Mediterranee
Best central luxury stay	Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel
Best for a unique stay	Hôtel du Couvent
Best contemporary option	Maison Albar – Le Victoria

The 6 Best 5 Star Hotels in Nice

Boscolo Nice Hotel & Spa

Boscolo is one of the options I’d look at first if I wanted a 5-star hotel in Nice without immediately going completely insane with the budget. You get the luxury facilities you’d expect, including a spa and indoor pool, but it still works well if your plan is to spend most of your day exploring Nice rather than sitting around the hotel.

I also like that it feels more modern than some of the grand old Riviera hotels. If you want luxury but don’t particularly care about staying somewhere dripping in history, this would be one of my picks.

Best for: A modern 5-star stay, spa facilities, and a more reasonable luxury option

Book the hotel: Boscolo Nice Hotel & Spa

Hotel Palais de la Mediterranee, in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt

This is the one I’d look at if being on the Promenade des Anglais actually matters to you. You’re right by the sea, which is a pretty big advantage in Nice, especially if you’re coming here for that classic French Riviera atmosphere.

The building also has that unmistakable Riviera look rather than feeling like a generic luxury hotel that could be anywhere in Europe. If I were choosing between spending more money on the hotel itself or paying for a great location, this is the type of property where I think the location is actually worth paying for.

Best for: Staying on the Promenade des Anglais, sea views, and classic Riviera atmosphere

Book the hotel: Hotel Palais de la Méditerranée

Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel – A Leading Hotel of the World

The Anantara is a really good middle ground if you want luxury without sacrificing a convenient location. It’s close to the Promenade and the center, so you can actually use Nice as a city rather than feeling like you need transportation every time you leave the hotel.

I also prefer the look and character of this kind of historic property over a completely generic modern luxury building. If you want your hotel to feel like part of the destination rather than just somewhere expensive to sleep, this is a strong option.

Best for: Central location, historic architecture, and a proper luxury-hotel feel

Book the hotel: Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel

Maison Albar – Le Victoria

Maison Albar is the one I’d consider if you want something more contemporary and polished. It doesn’t have quite the same old-school Riviera personality as Le Negresco, but that can actually be a positive if grand historic hotels aren’t really your thing.

The location is another big reason I’d consider it. You’re close to the main parts of central Nice, so you can spend your day exploring and still come back to a genuinely luxurious hotel.

Best for: Contemporary luxury, stylish interiors, and staying in central Nice

Book the hotel: Maison Albar – Le Victoria

Hôtel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice

This is probably the one that interests me most if you want something that actually feels different. Hôtel du Couvent is in Vieux Nice and occupies a former convent, so you get a completely different atmosphere from the big luxury hotels along the Promenade.

And that’s exactly why I’d pick it. You’re not booking this just because it has five stars. You’re booking it because the building, location, and atmosphere are part of the experience.

If I were spending a few nights in Nice and wanted somewhere memorable rather than simply “luxury hotel with nice facilities,” this would be very high on my list.

Best for: Vieux Nice, character, history, and a more unique luxury stay

Book the hotel: Hôtel du Couvent

Hotel Le Negresco

And then there’s Le Negresco, which is basically the hotel everyone thinks of when they picture old-school luxury in Nice.

It’s been standing on the Promenade des Anglais for more than a century and is one of those hotels where the history and personality are impossible to separate from the property itself. This isn’t minimalist luxury, and it isn’t trying to be. It’s extravagant, eccentric, historic, and very French Riviera.

Personally, this is the one I’d choose for the experience. There are newer and more modern 5-star hotels in Nice, but there’s something about staying at an iconic hotel that has been part of the city for generations.

Best for: The iconic Nice experience, history, old-school glamour, and a hotel that actually feels special

Book the hotel: Hotel Le Negresco

How to Choose Between the 5 Star Hotels in Nice

The easiest way to choose is to stop looking at the five-star rating for a second and decide what kind of Nice experience you actually want.

If you want to wake up next to the Mediterranean and spend your time around the Promenade, I’d look at Palais de la Méditerranée or Le Negresco. If you want to be immersed in the Old Town and stay somewhere with much more personality, Hôtel du Couvent is the obvious choice for me.

For something more modern, Boscolo or Maison Albar make more sense. And if you want the middle ground between historic character, luxury, and a convenient central location, I’d look at Anantara.

5 Star Hotels in Nice: Final Thoughts

There are plenty of expensive hotels in Nice, but expensive doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting the experience you actually want.

For me, Le Negresco is the standout if you’re going to spend serious money and want the hotel itself to be part of your Riviera experience. Hôtel du Couvent would be my pick for something more intimate and unusual, while Boscolo makes more sense if you want 5-star facilities without necessarily needing the most famous address in the city.

And if the main reason you’re booking a 5-star hotel is simply to be close to the Mediterranean, I’d prioritize location on the Promenade over paying extra for a hotel you’re barely going to see during the day.