As you approach, usually jammed in the constant traffic of the Croisette, you feel déjà vu associated with the thousands of images of it scattered in magazines, newspapers, movies, TV series, and social media.
The distinctive art deco architecture of the Hotel Martinez has dominated the beautiful Cannes beach since the late 1920s. Hollywood`s biggest stars have paraded - and been photographed - in front of it as part of the film festival. As soon as you arrive at the entrance, the expensive cars you see parked in the - just six - parking spaces give you a heads-up of what awaits you once you pass through. During our stay, talking to the hotel manager, Michel Cottray, we learned that these six sought-after spaces are charged 250 euros per day. And that there is a shoot-out over who gets to first-book them.
The bustling yet elegant lobby, decorated with white marble and blue detailing, currently hosts a Damien Hirst exhibition throughout the hotel`s public areas. At check-in, the service is polite and slightly unapproachable, like they want to show you that they have all the desire to serve you, but they`ve seen much richer and much more famous people than you, so don`t get too excited.
The rooms are newly renovated, combining the art deco aesthetic that characterises the whole hotel with modern design, and the combination works to perfection. The architects cleverly exploited every inch of space so that even the smallest and simplest rooms lacked anything except closet space. The white, yellow and pale blue palette gives the right Côte d`Azur tone, the amenities with Provence perfumes are excellent, and the views of the Croisette are breathtaking.
I loved the all-day restaurant Le Sud, particularly the small, lush garden where breakfast is served—one of the best we have tasted. It is also ideal for a casual and relaxed dinner.
An absolute must is the famous Plage Martinez, with its distinctive - and much-photographed - director`s armchairs with the names of movie stars on their backs. The sea is, of course, for us Greeks, a bit of a joke - we didn`t even take a swimsuit with us even though we were in Cannes in early September - but the sunbeds are super comfortable, and lunch is an experience I recommend if only for the gawking. And, of course, it has to be said that the sunbeds are so densely packed next to each other, and the setting, in general, is so suffocating - on all the beaches in the area, not just Martinez - that they make Nammos Mykonos at its worst look like an open-air beach.
Overall, staying at the Hotel Martinez is a stitch-up of interesting little happenings, encompassing everything that describes serious wealth with a glazed Frenchness that softens the corners. Russian oligarchs dressed from head to toe in mega brand logos mingle sweetly with wealthy Americans trying diligently to speak French with a New York accent, model dolls dressed up a little and holding mini Hermes Kellys (which are probably a prerequisite for the area since they grow everywhere) looking for sponsors with a blazé look. In the middle of it all, old French big city ladies with their little dogs are drinking their coffee and watching the events with a raised eyebrow, as stunned as we are.
At the same time, everything works like clockwork, even when things go wrong. For say, the day it rained and we all had to have our breakfast inside, so there was a queue, but nobody complained, not even the Russians with their iridescent Louis Vuitton, since the unapproachable look of the lady at the reception desk searched everyone effectively, proving that nothing is accidental in this life. At the Hotel Martinez, the show is perfectly staged, ensuring that guests have that precious sense of being part of an elite elite and that the staff can handle them comfortably.
Finally, if you find yourself in Cannes and your budget allows it, it is well worth staying at this exceptional hotel on every level, if only to get an idea of what grand air actually means in French.
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