A line from the coffee book Hôtel Martinez gifted me following a recent stay epitomises this iconic hotel’s position within one of Europe’s most glamourous towns and its famous festival. ‘Cannes isn’t a festival, it’s a bomb, declared Robert Mitchum (the American actor) who was often seen at the hotel. He could not have known how right he was; a spark a spark was all it took – or rather an explosion.’
A place put on the map by the affluent British back in the early 1800s who fell in love with the sunshine, warm waters and promise of sophisticated days ahead of them along the French Riviera, the opening of Hôtel Martinez in February 1929 (ironically on a snowy day) was the birth of a masterpiece that is today a central part of Cannes’ desirable promenade. An illustrious blue, white and gold luxurious hotel that embodies the white sand and blue sea in an Art Deco style, to this day the Hôtel Martinez proudly showcases this original palate and style.
Rooms and suites
With bay windows looking out on the ocean and inviting us to dive into the sea beyond was our Junior King Sea View Suite. Mirroring the building’s exterior, this suite on the fifth floor was a brightly lit space, beckoning the sunshine into a space washed with white and hues of light blue. At 45 square metres, we drank wine whilst looking out at the superyachts and speed boats casting their way across the water. Featuring nuances of the property’s Art Deco persona it included a king bed, sofa, deep bathtub and rain shower which framed the gorgeous sea views.
Last year Hôtel Martinez expanded its accommodation portfolio by welcoming 16 Oasis suites. Resplendent in white, these new suites situated in the centre of the property are tucked quietly from the chaos of Cannes outside. With each looking out onto the gardens of the ‘L’Oasis du Martinez’, the lush botanical garden is moments away which is home to the hotel’s pool and leads onto the new spa.
The most exciting to note, of course, are the Penthouse Apartments which cast across the top floor of the proud hotel. With unparalleled views of the bay, these film star favourites are said to be some of the largest in Europe. Evoking the golden age of Art Deco which the hotel celebrates, interior designer Pierre Yves Rochon and his team have finished these opulent spaces with a design concept that touches on tradition and innovation.
Two interconnected spaces totalling 1,250 sqm have been named by two icons of cinema and underwent a €150 million refurbishment. The first is coined the Isabelle Huppert penthouse, named after a women once ranked by The New York Times as second on its list of ‘the greatest actors of the 21st century’. The second is Thierry Frémaux, fittingly the director of the Cannes Film Festival.
Food and drink
Championing the charisma of Cannes is the hotel’s beach club and restaurant. Inviting guests to saunter past the supercars and across the road to its private sandy escape, the nautical chic restaurant which sits alongside the sumptuous sun lounges is La Plage du Martinez. Welcoming in May last year new head chef Jean Imbert to coincide with the 76th Cannes Film Festival, the restaurant’s menu underwent a makeover.
With glasses of the region’s signature drink in hand (ice cold rosé) we tucked into a late lunch from the reinvented menu that highlights traditional French favourites and a mix of sharing plates inspired by the Mediterranean with fresh, seasonal products from local producers. This included the zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta which I paired alongside a plate of tuna tartare.
A year on from taking on his role at the culinary helm, chef Imbert has most recently also reimagined the La Palme d’Or restaurant, transforming the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant with an extensive renovation and redesign to resemble a vintage boat featuring lacquered wood. Re-launching as a gourmet seafood restaurant in May 2024, to mark the occasion the hotel (which has a special relationship with the Cannes Film Festival as the host of the annual Jury Dinner) opened its plush doors to host the festival’s esteemed judges.
To celebrate, Imbert and his culinary team created a bespoke all-pink menu dedicated to Greta Gerwig, themed following her hit Barbie release with dishes such as ‘Barbie Tuna’ with hibiscus and barbajuan and ‘Greta’s Souffle’ with strawberry and raspberry.
Spa and wellness
Hidden within the hotel is the new spa, L’Oasis du Martinez – Spa by Carita which was completed as the cherry on top of the multi-million-pound refurbishment. The first flagship Carita spa outside of Paris, I visited the 600 square metre spa for a heavenly facial in one of the seven treatment rooms.
With a heritage that challenges that of the Martinez, founded in 1945 by sisters Maria and Rosy Carita, the Carita brand are experts in ultra-premium skincare and have been professionals of exceptional beauty over 75 years. Signature treatments are fittingly luxurious for this iconic French hotel and include Rejuvenic Gold regenerating treatment using 24k Biotech Gold.
Moments from L’Oasis du Martinez, home to the hotel’s provençal garden and pool, Martinez’s Spa by Carita also boasts two double salons for private treatments, bespoke areas for hairdressing, a barber shop, a tearoom, a quiet room and a hammam, extending the peaceful areas of the hotel.
To do
Hôtel Martinez may be centred in the beating heart of this exciting French town with sport cars and celebrities passing through as quickly as the wine flows, but since opening its ‘L’Oasis’ within the back of the building, it offers as much calm as chaos. Lounge by the pool and among the gardens where we swam quiet lengths, or choose to embrace the character of Cannes by donning your largest sunnies and heading to the beach club for a swim, sunbathe and to be seen. Moments from the hotel are designer stores, brasseries, (many more beach clubs) and a little further beyond the charming old town filled with family-run restaurants.
In a nutshell
Part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hôtel Martinez is symbiotic of Cannes’ glamourous heritage. Celebrating its original Art Deco character whilst reinventing its restaurants, public spaces and spa; this rather smart historic hotspot has entered an exciting new era. No doubt it will continue in its journey as valued attribute of the annual festival and for lassie-affair afternoons on the rivieria.
Factbox
Address: 73 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Phone: +33 4 93 90 12 34
Website: hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/france/hotel-martinez
