Wayfarer exclusive: how Hôtel Martinez in Cannes stands out on the French Riviera
What I love most is that Hôtel Martinez has an energy unlike anywhere else. It has almost a century of history, yet it feels vibrant and contemporary.
Whether it’s watching the sunset over the Bay of Cannes from La Croisette, seeing guests gather on the terrace after a day at the Cannes Film Festival, or discovering the quieter corners such as L’Oasis, there is always a sense of occasion. It’s a hotel with an incredible heritage, but above all it is full of life.
Since opening in 1929, Hôtel Martinez has been woven into the story of the Cannes Film Festival – with which it has a very special relationship – and remains one of the Riviera’s most recognisable addresses for the international film industry.
We are ideally positioned on La Croisette, extremely close to the Palais des Festivals, and we have welcomed generations of actors, directors, producers and creatives, becoming as much a part of the Festival as the red carpet itself.
For more than 30 years, the hotel has hosted the prestigious Cannes Film Festival Jury Dinner on the eve of the Festival, bringing together jurors and leading figures from international cinema.
Hôtel Martinez has 410 rooms and cinematic influences are woven throughout the property.
Our two penthouse apartments on the seventh floor, which interconnect to be among the largest in Europe, were designed in collaboration with French cinematic icons Thierry Fremaux and Isabelle Huppert.
In the design process, both artists added personal hints of glamour to their own apartments to express their individual flair, including the selection of specific books, photos, fragrances, and even music playlists.
Meanwhile, our Oasis Suites are built with a direct view around L’Oasis du Martinez, our botanical garden area.
Soft colour palettes and woven and terracotta accents bring the outdoors in, while many of the hotel’s rooms and suites also feature private terraces with views across the city or the Bay of Cannes.
Dining has always been an important part of the Hôtel Martinez experience. Our Michelin-starred restaurant, La Palme d’Or, named after the Cannes Film Festival’s highest honour, celebrates the finest seafood and seasonal Mediterranean ingredients with locally sourced ingredients.
Menu highlights include John Dory, lobster, and bonito, with dessert options including chocolate and berry soufflés.
The Martinez Bar offers a completely different atmosphere; inspired by the glamour of the 1930s, it is a vinyl speakeasy where live music, DJ sets and carefully selected records accompany inventive cocktails and refined sharing dishes, such as ‘caviar caviar’ –
imperial golden caviar combined with aubergine dip, a Niçoise-inspired socca, and crispy langoustines.
Guests can also enjoy the relaxed Riviera flavours of Le Sud, our vibrant lobby restaurant celebrating Mediterranean cuisine.
This summer, we are also introducing La Guinguette du Martinez, a new weekly dining experience inspired by traditional French guinguettes.
Combining seasonal cuisine, live music and a warm, convivial atmosphere, it captures the spirit of the Côte d’Azur and offers guests another way to experience the hotel’s distinctive sense of place.
Our X-Factor is my constant drive to elevate the experience of every guest staying at Hôtel Martinez.
In June, we were awarded the prestigious Palace Distinction, and Hôtel Martinez is the first and only hotel in Cannes to have received this recognition.
This distinction represents the highest level of excellence in French hospitality and is awarded by the French State to hotels that demonstrate truly exceptional standards of service, hospitality, and guest experience.
Only 33 Palaces have been officially awarded this distinction throughout France, making it an extremely exclusive recognition and a testament to our entire team’s dedication and expertise.
World of Hyatt is widely recognized as one of the leading loyalty programs among international hotel brands.
For us, it is important to raise awareness of the program and ensure that our guests can fully benefit from its advantages.
Through World of Hyatt, we are able to reward our guests for their continued loyalty while offering them personalised experiences, exclusive benefits, and meaningful recognition throughout their journey with us.
Ultimately, the program helps us strengthen long-term relationships with our guests and enhance their overall experience with Hyatt and Hôtel Martinez.
I live in Cannes, a city that I am particularly fond of. One of my favorite places is at the far end of La Croisette, by the sea, in a small area known mainly to locals as Le Mouré Rouge.
Away from the crowds, it offers a peaceful atmosphere and a beautiful seaside promenade with stunning views of Fort Royal on Sainte-Marguerite Island.
In fact, I often make a detour on my bicycle in the morning before heading to work, just to enjoy this special place.
I find it incredibly inspiring and rejuvenating – a perfect moment of calm before the start of the day. There is nothing more beautiful.
Qantas’ brilliant Business Class ‘Suite’
Qantas flies to Paris direct from Perth, with flights operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft that feature the airline’s signature suite-style Business Class seats that can be reclined for take-off and landing, fantastic meals, premium Australian wines and one of the best in-flight entertainment systems in the sky.
From Paris, Qantas Frequent Flyer partner Air France has several daily flights to Nice, a 30-minute drive from Cannes, that connect well with the Qantas services from Australia.