Hôtel Windsor, the Artists' Hotel with a Tropical Garden

The house

The Windsor is a stone building from 1896, the work of an architect from the Eiffel school, turned into a hotel in the early 20th century. Since 1942 it has belonged to the Redolfi family, who have raised it from a two-star guest house to a four-star hotel, a category it has held since 2012. It is on the rue Dalpozzo, a few steps from the Promenade des Anglais and the pedestrian zone.

What sets it apart is art. Since 1989, the family has invited contemporary artists to turn entire rooms into works: today there are 33 artist rooms, others with frescoes by Antoine Beaudoin and others dedicated to an artist or a work. The lobby changes with each exhibition and at the end of November the hotel hosts a contemporary art fair in its own rooms.

The rooms and the garden

No room is the same as another. They range from the Intimité, of 15 m² and with a shower, which look onto the street, to the Privilège, of 27 m², with a balcony over the garden; the Premium ones have a whirlpool bath. All have air conditioning.

The garden is the other reason to sleep here: a small tropical forest around a giant ficus, with bamboo, palm trees, fruit trees and an aviary, in the middle of the centre. It has a 10 by 4 metre swimming pool, heated from May to the end of October. In summer breakfast, at €19 as a buffet, is served in the shade of the ficus from 7:00 to 10:30, and the restaurant, with the Maître Restaurateur label, cooks Mediterranean dishes with local produce. There is a hammam, sauna, fitness room and massages by reservation.

Prices and how to get there

The hotel states that in winter, on promotion, a small room on the street can cost from €90, and that in summer the Privilège rooms can exceed €340. Booking on their website or by phone, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. It has eight parking spaces and a garage, always by reservation. From the airport, tram 2 drops you in the centre.