Where can you find a breathtaking view encompassing the Hausmannian train station, the red-brick Thiers Post Office, Nice’s rooftops stretching to the Promenade with the sea in the background, the bell towers of Notre-Dame Basilica, Castle Hill with its Bellanda Tower, Cimiez, and the Regina Palace?
The answer is from the rooftop of the newly opened Hilton Hotel at Iconic in Nice.
Where can you observe cars speeding along Mathis Avenue and trains arriving at the station, so close you could almost touch them, yet without hearing a sound, with hills as a picturesque backdrop?
The answer is from the rooms of the iconic Hilton Hotel.
On July 5, 2024, the city of Nice celebrated the grand opening of its latest luxury hotel. Following the openings of Mama Shelter, Palais Ségurane, and Hôtel du Couvent, the Hilton at Iconic welcomed its first guests. This marks the American chain’s “30th establishment in France and its first in Nice, following recent openings in Cannes and Monaco,” highlighted the group’s CEO in France.
Silence Amidst the City
What makes this hotel particularly remarkable is its status as a DoubleTree by Hilton. It boasts 105 rooms, each uniquely designed to offer a different perspective of the city, curated by the local designer Karine Journo. From cozy corridors with canvas awnings creating an Italian city vibe to a fitness center on the 5th floor, where guests can cycle while watching a parasail rise behind the dome of the Negresco, every detail is crafted for an exceptional experience. The bar, awaiting the opening of the restaurant, offers a perfect spot to enjoy the view at sunset.
The most striking feature of this hotel, however, is its unparalleled tranquility. Never before have the residents of Nice seen Mathis Avenue as a spectacle. Yet, there’s something mesmerizing about sitting by the window, watching cars pass without the hum of engines or trains arriving without a single sound. It’s a picture-perfect scene, devoid of noise, creating a soothing atmosphere.
A Dream Come True
Beside him, the mayor, Christian Estrosi, beamed with pride. Following the opening of Uniqlo and with the anticipation of business schools (starting September 2), the Pêche restaurant (opening September 20), the Metropolitan fitness center (by the end of the year), and the performance hall, this marks the second milestone in the opening of the much-debated glass giant, initially slated for 2019. “You made me suffer. I watched time pass… Tonight, we are here,” exclaimed Estrosi, appreciating the view (“from here, you see the eras blend”), the building (“one of the most beautiful architectural signatures in the world”), and the environment (“The people of Nice have embraced the pedestrian promenade”). Addressing the reservations that accompanied this choice (1), he proudly declared, “This is my Louvre Pyramid!”
- At the end of 2022, the Paris court opened a judicial investigation for “influence peddling,” “organized fraud,” “misuse of corporate assets,” and “forgery and use of forgery” related, among other things, to the Iconic project. Several searches have been conducted at the city hall, with the latest in early June.
