The French riviera is getting a new glamorous hotel

The 19th-century building has undergone a lengthy two-year renovation to become a glamorous new hotel...

After expanding across Europe over the past year, Anantara Hotels & Resorts welcomes its newest property to the South of France. Located along Nice's iconic Golden Square promenade, the luxury resort is housed in a 19th-century building that has been given a second lease of life thanks to an extensive two-year renovation. The hotel's neoclassical decor embodies that rich 175-year-old history with a Belle Epoque ambiance, neutral palette and gold accents; the aesthetic and overall design was led jointly by award-winning David Collins Studio, architect Jean-Paul Gomis and TBC studio.

Bringing its old-world elegance to the Cote d'Azur, the property was actually home to the city's first luxury hotel, the aptly named Hotel de France, which opened in 1848. Today, the building offers a total of 151 rooms, each with views of the lush gardens or sparkling sea, offering marble-clad interiors and rich wood textures. Of those accommodations, you'll find 38 suites, the largest of which is the Presidential Suite of 807 square meters on the 5th floor, overlooking the Baye des Anges from its private balcony.

The real gem of the resort is its premium rooftop restaurant, Seen by Oliver, created in partnership with chef-entrepreneur Olivier de Costa, who runs trendy restaurants in destinations such as Lisbon and Sao Paulo. Black truffles, oysters and other Mediterranean delicacies fill the menu, which you can enjoy in the closed section of the restaurant. Meanwhile, outside you'll find stunning views of the city and Baye des Anges in the distance. If you're in the mood for some bubbles and caviar - you're in France after all - opt for the hotel's Les Colonnades restaurant, inspired by the gardens of Nice, with a menu of light bites and fresh seafood. When you're ready to unwind after a delicious meal, head to the on-site spa, which offers five treatment rooms, a hammam and sauna, as well as a range of exclusive massage oils.

"The opening of Anantara Plaza Nice embodies the fusion of an iconic destination in a city reborn as a cultural hotspot and the arrival of an international brand that brings global awareness and discerning guests," explains Stephane Villar, General Manager of Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, in a press release. "As a gateway to the Mediterranean, this resort offers guests a taste of Anantara travel as the brand expands into new markets and captures the imagination of a new segment of luxury clientele."

Off-site, the hotel will also offer a selection of local adventures. You can choose a trip inspired by Coco Chanel (including a stop at her official residence in Nice) and maybe visit one of France's wineries at Chateau de Cremat, or you can enjoy a trip to the medieval village of Biot, where you'll learn everything you need to know about the art of blowing glass and create your own decor to take home.

The Nice location is just one of several new Anantara openings, including the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam last year and the Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel in Italy this month. Who knows which locale will be next?