Westminster Hotel & Spa, Nice

• You'll have front-row Riviera access with many rooms (and the restaurant terrace) looking straight out over the Baie des Anges.
• Opened in 1881, the Westminster has a serious pedigree, with details like Belle Époque ceilings, grand frescoes and friezes, and decorative ironwork.
• Staff receive top marks; you can expect excellent service at reception, the restaurant, and the spa.
• Mediterranean restaurant Le Duc is open throughout the afternoon, and its terrace is a lovely place to linger, as is the W Bar serving up good cocktails, sea views, and live music on some evenings.
• Spa 27 adds a wellness element with a sauna, hammam, pool, and treatment rooms, available for a fee and by appointment.
• The Westminster makes for an easy base for exploring the Côte d'Azur: a 15-20-minute walk to Old Town, seconds to the beach, and a heap of restaurants and cafés, with the train station less than a 10-minute cab ride.
• Sea-view rooms with a balcony, like the Superior and Junior suites, are worth the upgrade for those beautiful vistas.

• The Promenade des Anglais is beautiful but lively, especially in the evenings and summer months. Light sleepers may prefer higher floors or city-facing rooms for a quieter stay.
• Entry-level rooms are fairly compact, which is typical for (historic) European hotels but may feel tight if you're traveling with a lot of luggage or staying several nights.
• Design can feel mixed. While the historic architecture is stunning in public spaces, room decor is simple and leans more modern.

Authenticity

Opened in 1881 and still owned by the Schmitz-Grinda family, the Westminster Hotel & Spa is a longstanding fixture on Nice's famed seafront promenade. The building's neo-classical facade and interior details—like Belle Époque ceilings, frescoes painted by a Florentine artist, and gold-leaf ironwork along the staircases—offer glimpses of the Riviera's glamorous past. You'll also spot paintings by local artist Bensa depicting views of Nice before 1860, adding a nice cultural touch to your stay. Despite its history, and aside from the more interesting grand common spaces, rooms are a little lacking in historic details and instead are quite contemporary, save for tall ceilings and some intricate crown molding. 

Location

The hotel sits directly on the Promenade des Anglais, one of the French Riviera's most iconic seaside boulevards, with uninterrupted views of the Baie des Anges. From here, you're a short stroll to Vieux Nice (Old Town), the famous blue chairs lining the promenade, and the city's beaches just across the street. Nice-Ville train station and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport are both within easy reach (a 10-15 minute car ride), making day trips along the Côte d'Azur—think Monaco, Antibes, or Cannes—fairly straightforward. It's a convenient base for exploring the Riviera while still enjoying a front-row seat to the Mediterranean.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Westminster Hotel & Spa's 99 contemporary guestrooms range from compact city-view rooms to spacious sea-view suites with balconies overlooking the city or the Mediterranean. Decor varies from room to room, with either neutral monochrome palettes or brighter color accents, though all include modern essentials. Many rooms feature large windows framing views of the Promenade des Anglais and the Baie des Anges—one of the hotel's biggest draws. Bathrooms are finished in marble and include standard toiletries, while larger suites add bathrobes, slippers, and more space to spread out.

Amenities

Dining centers around Le Duc, the hotel's restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired cuisine made with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local producers. Guests can enjoy breakfast buffets (typically not included in the room rate), lunch, or dinner, either inside by the open kitchen or out on the terrace overlooking the sea. The W Bar provides another scenic perch for cocktails, tapas, or pastries, particularly lively on Thursday evenings with live music. For relaxation, Spa 27 spans about 4,300 square feet (400 sq m) and includes a sauna, steam room, countercurrent pool with aquabikes, fitness area, and treatment rooms (note that spa access comes with an extra fee).

Family-Friendliness

While most rooms accommodate two guests, the City View Junior suites can sleep up to three with a sofa bed (extra charge) and larger configurations, where the Sea View Junior suites suit two adults traveling with a child. The City View Suite or Sea View Suite with Balcony offers separate living spaces and room for four. The Grande Suite Cap de Nice is the most family-friendly option, sleeping up to six across multiple connected rooms. One limitation to note: the spa facilities are reserved for guests aged 16 and older.