Hôtel du Couvent

A Sanctuary of Timeless Design and Discreet Luxury in the Heart of the Côte d’Azur - In the quiet heights of Nice’s Old Town, where the Mediterranean breeze carries scents of rosemary and citrus through stone alleyways, a historic convent has been transformed into one of the most compelling new design hotels in Europe. Welcome to Hôtel du Couvent — a luxury design retreat that speaks in whispers, not shouts. A place where monastic calm, textural architecture, and eco-conscious luxury meet under the Riviera sun.

The Art of Restoration: A Sacred Space, Reimagined

Originally constructed in 1604 as a Franciscan convent, Hôtel du Couvent’s rebirth is more a resurrection than a renovation. Overseen by the Perseus hospitality group, the sensitive transformation was led by two acclaimed studios: Studio Mumbai, known for spiritual modernism, and Festen Architecture, masters of quiet sophistication.

Each of the 88 rooms and 18 suites maintains a dialogue between raw heritage and warm minimalism. Expect arched ceilings, weathered plaster walls, antique terracotta tiles, and carefully selected vintage furniture — all bathed in soft Mediterranean light. The atmosphere evokes both sacred restraint and sensual tactility.

Garden Terraces and a View to Eternity

Set across 2.5 hectares of terraced gardens, the hotel is a botanical haven sculpted by landscape designers Tom Stuart-Smith and James Basson. Olive groves, medicinal herbs, wildflowers, and lemon trees sprawl across cascading levels, offering guests secluded paths and cinematic views over the rooftops of Nice and the Baie des Anges.

The outdoor pool — long, slate-colored, minimalist — appears to hover above the city, perfectly still, mirroring the sky. It's not just a place to swim, but to float between centuries.

Roman Baths, Rituals, and Holistic Wellbeing

Below ground, a Roman-inspired spa offers a sanctuary of calm. The sequence of caldarium, tepidarium, frigidarium, and salt baths is more than a wellness menu — it’s a meditative journey. Treatments are enhanced by custom-blended herbal oils sourced from the hotel’s gardens, and consultations with the resident herbalist, Gregory Unrein, are available for bespoke infusions and teas.

Daily yoga, animal flow classes, and a serene herbal pharmacy round out the slow wellness philosophy that defines the property.

Cuisine Rooted in the Land

The culinary program at Hôtel du Couvent is guided by simplicity, locality, and seasonality. Three onsite restaurants — Le Réfectoire, Bistrot des Serruriers, and the seasonal Guinguette — offer variations on Mediterranean cuisine elevated by ingredients sourced from the hotel’s own organic farm in the Var valley.

Dishes like raw amberjack with wild fennel, housemade focaccia, and potager salads are accompanied by natural wines and biodynamic spirits, served in spaces that retain the aura of the convent’s communal past.

Sustainable Design with a Soul

While Hôtel du Couvent is visually stunning, it is ethically grounded. The project is committed to zero plastic, upcycled textiles, natural materials, and deep ties to the local community. Even staff uniforms are crafted from repurposed materials.

The hotel’s mission extends outward: weekly public markets, open-air cinema, artisanal workshops, and community events invite guests to engage with local life. It’s luxury that participates, rather than isolates.

The New Soul of the French Riviera

Far from the cliché of Riviera excess, Hôtel du Couvent offers a quiet, contemplative vision of luxury. It’s a place where architecture, ecology, and slow travel converge — a design sanctuary for the modern pilgrim. Whether you come for the spa, the food, or the feeling of stepping back into time (with Wi-Fi, of course), you will leave changed. Restored, perhaps, in your own way.

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