Hôtel Le Saint-Paul

This is an accommodation at odds with the opulence attributed to Nice. Its religious origins explain its sobriety, an austere yellow and cream building built on six levels facing the Mediterranean. In the Lazaret neighborhood, near the port, the former seminary-turned-hotel has dominated the waterfront since the 1840s. Most of the 67 rooms – some with balconies overlooking the sea, the patio or the garden – are modest in size. Their decor is uncluttered, fresh and colorful. Behind the shutters, they are a promise of tranquility and rest, far from the hustle and bustle of the Promenade des Anglais.

This three-star hotel is accessed via a central, double-flight outside staircase or an elevator, serving the south-facing terrace, reception and restaurant. There's no frills at the Saint-Paul, where parking is ample and free (a rarity in Nice), but it's an exemplary value for money. And a spiritual imprint remains through the chapel, adorned with a 20^th-century fresco above the altar.

The Deck Hotel

Here, there are no floors but "decks," the rooms could be cabins and the decor is resolutely nautical. In a building on Rue Maccarani, a five-minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais and barely more from Place Masséna, The Deck Hotel plays with nautical references to cultivate a holiday atmosphere. On the beds of the 65 suites and double or triple rooms, guests will find a jar of "honey from our bees" and a HappyCulture notebook (the brand responsible for the Honotel group's establishments).

On the second floor, the reception opens onto three rooms in Mediterranean blue and white tones. The "cold," "hot" and "natural" breakfast buffets are served here, between a pool table, foosball and green plants. In summer, an outdoor bar rounds up the casual chic of this "boat" in its city-center mooring.

Villa Saint-Hubert

A family residence. That is the image that springs to mind when discovering this Nice villa with its gray shutters, built at the turn of the 20^th century in the working-class neighborhood of La Libération, north of the Nice-Ville train station. This old hunting lodge, then boarding house and hotel, perfectly served by tramway line 1 (Borriglione stop 100 meters away), owes much to Sophie Longo's warm welcome. After a 10-year stint in the hospitality industry in the West Indies, this Nantes native fell in love with the property in 2003, tucked away in a quiet street near a boule club.

You have 87.46% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.