A trip to Cannes is always a good idea, but visiting this glamorous little spot on the French Riviera becomes especially enticing as the days grow longer and the temperatures climb higher. Every summer, jet-setters descend upon the idyllic beach destination, located about a 45-minute drive from the Nice airport, but the unofficial start to the season is in May, coinciding with the Cannes Film Festival.
Even after the star-studded film extravaganza, with all its red carpets, parties and screenings, comes to an end, eager travelers continue to descend upon the lovely French getaway throughout the season, enticed by its picturesque beaches, charming eateries and chic boutiques. Cannes is an inherently walkable city, a draw for those who don’t want to avoid spending the majority of their vacation getting in and out of a car and sitting in hours of mind-numbing traffic. It’s more low-key than its glitzy neighbor, St. Tropez, but it isn’t lacking in heaps of that South of France glamour and allure.
Cannes isn’t a particularly large city, but it’s replete with more than its fair share of decidedly lavish accommodations. That said, for our purposes here, we’re sticking with the cream of the crop of luxury properties, narrowing it down to the six most standout spots. Below, see the most luxurious Cannes hotels to book for your next getaway to the Côte d’Azur.
The Best Hotels in Cannes
Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel
58 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
The historic Carlton Cannes reopened in 2023 following a two-year renovation and restoration led by French interior designer Tristan Auer. Now part of IHG’s Regent Hotels and Resorts, the property houses 332-rooms, in addition to 37 branded residences. Immortalized in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, the hotel has hosted countless famous faces over the years; the film’s stars, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, stayed at the property during filming, and today, the Carlton’s opulent Grace Kelly Suite is one of its most popular accommodations. Along with the Riviera and Rüya restaurants, there’s Bar 58 and Camélia Tea Lounge. And, of course, let’s not forget about the freshly revamped Carlton Beach Club, right on the Promenade de la Croisette.
The Grace Kelly Suite at the Carlton Cannes.
Richard Haughton
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
167-165 Boulevard J. F. Kennedy, 06160 Antibes, France
It’s not hyperbole to say that Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is one of the most famous hotels in the world. It is, admittedly, a touch further away from La Croisette, but well worth the drive. Hotel du Cap, located at the southern tip of Cap d’Antibes, was initially a winter writer’s retreat before it reopened as a luxury hotel in 1889. Over the years, the Oetker Collection property has welcomed everyone from Elizabeth Taylor and F. Scott Fitzgerald (the Hôtel des Étrangers in Tender Is the Night is modeled after Hotel du Cap) to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kendall Jenner. It’s also the locale of the glitzy amfAR Gala, which always takes place during the Cannes Film Festival.
Hotel du Cap comprises 108 elegantly decorated guest rooms and four private villas. There are three main restaurants, as well as three bars and lounge spots, and poolside dining. It’s not a trip to Hotel du Cap without a dipm in the iconic outdoor infinity pool, and while the photo op isn’t required, it seems to be something of a prerequisite, for better or (most likely) worse. Stroll through the sprawling gardens, try your hand at tennis on one of the clay courts and hit the spa. Don’t forget about the hotel’s custom Aquariva Super boat.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
10 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic boasts one of the best locations in Cannes, at least for the annual film festival: It is positioned right on La Croisette, facing the Palais des Festivals, offering dreamy vistas of the Mediterranean Sea. Le Majestic, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, is right in the heart of Cannes—a mere five-minute walk to Rue d’Antibes, the town’s major shopping district with all the designer stores. You can just as easily step out of the hotel and go for a stroll to see the boutiques as you can walk right down onto the beach.
The hotel first opened its doors in 1926; it comprises 349 rooms, including 92 suites. While you should explore the food and drink offerings all around Cannes, and make sure to try some true local spots, there are also worthwhile restaurants on-site. Le Majestic is home to Le Fouquet’s, with a menu similar to that of the iconic brasserie of the same name in Paris, in addition to the poolside bar La Terrasse Piscine and Ciro’s Cannes, the private beach club and restaurant. This year, an outpost of Beefbar is set to open at the property, as well. The spa is one of the few that offers Biologique Recherche treatments, including facials and massages, along with a sauna, hammam and fitness center.
You can tell a lot about a luxury hotel through its concierge—it’s a way for them to set themselves apart from the countless other five-star accommodations. At Le Majestic, that means finding a solution to any guest request, bar none. “Never say no, always say yes,” Gilles Bastoni, the chief concierge at Le Majestic, said. “You will never hear me directly say no—I turn it into a yes. Sometimes it’s challenging, but the sky is the limit—everything within the law, we will do.” That means everything from sending a helicopter to Paris to fetch an actress’s left-behind dress just in time for a film premiere, to refurnishing and decorating a suite for a lavish Halloween party with two days’ notice. “It’s a second house for a lot of guests. We want guests to feel at home here; that’s important to us,” Bastoni stated.
Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes.
PATRICK MESSINA
JW Marriott Cannes
50 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Yes, JW Marriott is technically part of a hotel chain, but it’s also one of the top properties in Cannes. It has character; this isn’t all cookie-cutter vibes. Much of the hotel pays tribute to cinema, a fitting homage considering its proximity to the annual Cannes Film Festival. The 262 rooms and suites are outfitted not just with floor-to-ceiling windows, leather accent walls, nautical blue details and marble bathrooms, but also feature black-and-white portraits of iconic film stars. Scalini serves Italian cuisine on-site, though you can also head to Palais Stéphanie Beach, situated directly in front of the hotel, for more international fare, plus sea views from the Croisette. For those who prefer to relax à la piscine, ascend to the rooftop pool, aptly dubbed Le Panorama Rooftop, to lounge.
JW Marriott.
JW Marriott
Hôtel Martinez
PR, 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
beThe Art Deco Hôtel Martinez first opened its doors in 1929, and over the years, has welcomed guests including Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Scarlett Johansson, Rihanna, Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman. Following an extensive renovation by French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the hotel, which came under the Hyatt umbrella in 2013, reopened in 2018, showing off 410 rooms and suites.
Perched on La Croisette, Hôtel Martinez boasts one of the largest private beaches in the area, which is ideal for those who prefer a bit more seclusion, as well as the two-Michelin-starred La Palme d’Or restaurant, led by chef Jean Imbert. For al fresco dining, head to Le Jardin du Martinez or La Plage du Martinez, located on the aforementioned private beach.
Hôtel Martinez.
Hôtel Martinez
Hôtel Barrière Le Gray d’Albion
38 Rue des Serbes, 06400 Cannes, France
Le Gray d’Albion is located just a street away from its sister property, Le Majestic. It’s not perched directly on the beachfront, but guests do have access to the hotel’s private beach club, Mademoiselle Gray Plage Barrière, complete with an on-site restaurant, lounge chairs and impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea. There are 200 rooms and suites, which are outfitted in a more contemporary, black-and-white color palette.
Hôtel Barrière Le Gray d’Albion.
Hôtel Barrière Le Gray d’Albion.
