Review of Hôtel Martinez - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Standing proudly on La Croisette, Cannes’ acclaimed stretch of beach, the Hôtel Martinez is just a 45-minute drive away from Nice-Cote d’Azur International Airport whilst Cannes Train Station and Cannes Bus Station are but a brisk ten-minute walk. Transfers can also be made by boat, limousine or helicopter on request and for drivers, there is valet parking or Rotonde Parking in the Hôtel’s forecourt for a premium fee. For those who like to scoot, the Hôtel also has a clutch of electric kick-scooters for speeding around town.

The evening is perfect for perfecting the “stroll down La Croisette” at sundown and for window-shopping along the 1.6-kilometre avenue of the luxury boutiques and Hôtels whilst the medieval Le Suquet, (the Old Town) of Cannes and the Castre viewpoint is around a nine-minute drive by car or a 25-minute walk from the property. Whilst in the Old Town, walking through its steep cobbled streets, take a peek at Eglise Notre-Dame d’Espérance, the oldest church in the area and the Old Port of Cannes by Suquet’s Hill where fishermen still pull in with their catch and you can take a glass or two of wine to watch the sun go down in one of the trendy bars in the area. 

Across the Bay, take a 15-minute boat ride to the Lérins Islands – Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat. There are actually four islands within this group but these two are the only ones inhabited with the Ile de Saint-Honorat bearing the name of the founder of the monastery of Lérins which was founded around 410. Interestingly, the cell of the “Man with the Iron Mask” can be found in the Fort of St Marguerite, now renamed the Musée de la Mer. In fact, the iron mask was a misnomer - the unnamed prisoner occasionally wore a black velvet mask which was misinterpreted by Voltaire as an iron mask. It is also always worth checking out the markets to see how the locals live so the open air Forville Market is the ideal snack location for tourists. 

Known of its festivals as well as its glamour, Cannes hosts the Cannes Film Festival every May when the celebrated and the great descend on the town. During the summer months, enjoy the Fireworks Festival which takes place in July and August. Finally, there is also the Cannes Yachting Festival every September for picking up a luxury trifle or two, if the mood permits.

The vintage glamour of the 1920s has been revisited at the Hôtel Martinez with a light coastal ambiance of blues and golds and white lacquer furnishings enlivening the spacious guest rooms and suites under the talented hands of designer Pierre-Yves Rochon with his 2019 top to toe contemporary refurbishment.

Amenities include individually controlled heat and air-conditioning; LED television with screen mirroring function; minibar; tea and coffee making facilities; personal safe; iron and ironing boards. Bathrooms are dressed in marble with luxury toiletries, bathrobes, slippers and hair dryers.

Entry level rooms offer 28 square metre of living space on the lower floors of the property with the King Bed or Twin Bed rooms overlooking the city of Cannes. The next level up are the Deluxe Twins and King rooms which are a little bigger at 31 square metres and the Premium King and Twin rooms at 38 square metres of space to include a sitting and work desk area. For families, the Family Room offers plenty of space combining a Junior Suite King with a Premium City View to offer 83 square metres of living space, ideal for up to five people. The premium rooms are of course those with a view of the sea. Similarly sized at 38 square metres of space, the Premium Sea View King and Twin rooms overlook the Bay of Cannes.

Ratcheting up the luxury, the suites range from the Junior Suites right up to the penthouses on the Hôtel’s top floor. There are three Junior Suites ranging from the entry level Junior Suite King at 45 square metres to the Junior Suite Sea View King with that ocean view and the Junior Suite with Terrace coming in at 50 square metres of indoor space and 30 square metres of private terrace. The next size up is the Executive Suite City View at 60 square metres with a separate living and sleeping area. The Suzanne Martinez Suite resplendent in deep marine blues against a neutral colour palette, also has a private terrace and at 80 square metres of space, and is plenty big enough to spread out whilst the sister suite – the stunning Emmanuel Martinez Suite, named for the first owner– comes in at a whopping 140 square metres of internal space and an expansive 60 square metre private terrace, surrounded by tubbed foliage, outdoor dining and a relaxing area with sun loungers looking out at a partial ocean view.

The top accommodation options however are the Suite des Oliviers and the Penthouse Apartments. The Suite des Oliviers is set on one of the lower floors with an enormous 250 square metre outdoor terrace overlooking the ocean and over 130 square metres of space indoors, allowing you a private space right near the action. Light, bright and delicate in tones of pale yellow and white, this suite is perfect for al fresco living.

The two seventh floor Penthouse Apartments would not look out of place in Los Angeles – a sleek, contemporary take on Art Deco, the circular living room opens out onto a surrounding balcony overlooking the sea. Taking inspiration from the world of film, the Apartments are dedicated to actress Isabelle Huppert and Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival.  

These two-bedroom unbeatable Apartments can be combined to offer a staggering 1,250 square metres of space – one of the largest suites in Europe – with 180-degree views of the Bay of Cannes, accommodating up to eight adults.

For those who like to sunbathe on the beach, then head to the Hôtel Martinez’s private beach club – La Plage du Martinez – and rest awhile in a cabana or a sunbed on either the sand or the property’s pontoon stretching out into the Bay of Cannes. If hunger bites, fill the gap with a snack and a cocktail or two from The Restaurant & Bar. Watersports can also be easily arranged too in season. 

For serious pampering far from the madding crowd, head to the 2,800 square metre L’Oasis du Martinez for a range of wellness experiences including the sleek outdoor 20 metre heated lap pool within the gardens and the L’Oasis Spa by Carita, 600 square metres of serene spa with seven treatment rooms, two of which are spacious couple’s suites and a host of restorative treatments and massages. 

The Beauty Salon will look after those talons and the coiffure whilst L’Oasis Fitness offers 140 square metres of space dedicated to cardio and weight training with equipment by TechnoGym. Personal trainers are available on demand along with yoga and Pilates teachers and naturopathy and osteopathy sessions. L’Oasis Bar offers a range of healthy beverages to invigorate, regenerate and detoxify. 

The Kid’s Club is open for children aged from three to twelve years of age with daily themed activities during the summer season.

The glamorous Hôtel Martinez is one of the French Riviera’s grand Hôtels and an ode to Art Deco with its iconic rooftop Hôtel sign immediately visible from anywhere on La Croisette. Relatively recently enjoying a refreshment under the talented hands of master designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, today’s Hôtel exudes “Riviera Style” in shades of pale coastal blues and golds which echo the long hours of sunshine enjoyed within this part of France.  

Now part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, this gleaming white seafront property has long been a landmark of Cannes and a temporary home for the glitterati from film stars, A-listers, heads of state and royalty. Even a pet will enjoy five-star treatment here with staff on hand to create custom meals or take Fido out for a stroll whilst his owners enjoy a two Michelin gastronomic feast by Chef Christian Sinicropi or a pampering break at the spa.

The only Michelin restaurant in Cannes, the acclaimed two-starred restaurant La Palme d’Or overlooks the ocean with a balconied terrace perfect for balmy Riviera gastronomic dining from gifted chef Christian Sinicropi. With innovative cuisine created from locally procured produce, attention to detail is all with texture, taste and seasonality key and even the tableware designed by the chef and crafted by his wife, Catherine. 

The all-day dining Le Jardin du Martinez meanwhile enjoys a quiet stunning Mediterranean garden setting created by landscape designer Philippe Niez framed by palm, cork oak, grapefruit and lemon trees and accessed via louvred doors from the lobby. Expect global favourites served up with a Mediterranean flourish. 

Retro glamour is the theme at the Martinez Bar with gleaming white and gold prevalent, tied in with varnished rosewood woodwork and luxurious blue leather. Adjacent to Le Jardin, gourmet snacks courtesy of Christian Sinicropi are complemented by innovative cocktails, Champagnes or a gin and tonic to be chosen from a selection of 22 gins. There is live music on Thursday to Saturdays. 

Lunching at the beach whilst overlooking the ocean has been perfected to an artform by La Plage du Martinez with a relaxed Mediterranean vibe. Light snacks, sandwiches, salads and burgers vie with pizza and grilled fish on a varied, light menu.

The Hôtel Martinez Cannes was the first French Hôtel to obtain the Green Globe certification and has recently enjoyed its eleventh recertification. Environmental and social responsibility are two important topics addressed by the Hôtel with a continual evolving sustainability policy. The property’s initiatives include tackling food waste, water protection and the evolution to a paperless operation. Recycling efforts include cork, used soaps, pens and glasses via approved partners. 

The Hôtel supports a number of local charities and associations including Une Soupe un Sourire, SOS Gaspi and the Samu Social. Every Monday, the property also donates unsold dishes to the Resto du Coeur which distributes meals to the homeless.