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Hôtel du Couvent
- Where:
- Why:Weekend in the South of France
- When:October 2026
- Who:Philippe and I
"An urban resort in the heart of Old Nice"
Housed in the Couvent de la Visitation dating to 1604, Hotelier Valéry Grégo worked in partnership with the city of Nice to rehabilitate the abandoned structure into an urban resort in the heart of the Old Town. Enlisting the who’s who of architecture and design, Studio Mumbai and Studio Méditerranée handled the restoration, while Paris-based Festen Architecture crafted the interiors. Consisting of three structures (the Convent and two adjoining new builds that mimic the historic architecture), the property now hosts 88 guest rooms and suites, an on-site bakery, herbal shop, expansive library, Le 1604 restaurant, a courtyard bar, La Guingette outdoor lunch spot amidst the terraced gardens, the neighborhood Le Bistro des Serruriers, an outdoor lap pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, a cultural center for private events and the subterranean Roman Baths with an indoor pool, spa, sauna and thermal baths. Inside the property, you easily forget you’re in the middle of France’s fifth largest city. Enjoy all of Nice’s offerings at your doorstep or escape the outside world and remain in solitude at your private convent for the weekend.
Highs & Lows
Important Bits
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Type
Luxury Hotel in the heart of Old Nice, that feels as though its an off-the-grid resort
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Vibe
The ruins of a 17th-century historic convent reimagined into a contemporary resort
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Location
Tucked off a side street in Old Nice, the hotel is an entire compound within its gates. From within, you'd never know you're in the heart of France's fifth largest city.
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Rooms
88 rooms and suites
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Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience
Having joined Marriott’s Luxury Collection, guests can book directly via the site and enjoy all the benefits of their Bonvoy membership. We arrived early in the morning and the staff graciously welcomed us with coffee and snacks and we were able to enjoy the hotel’s amenities and pool while we waited for our room to be ready.
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Future Forward
In crafting the Hôtel du Couvent, Hotelier Valéry Grégo’s Perseus Group leased the building from the city of Nice for 93 years, acting as steward of the property for the next generation. The care and maintenance of this historic site can be felt throughout, from Festen’s minimalist and tasteful interiors and curation, to the new architectural interventions that blend into the area’s centuries old character. Case in point, as a landmarked property, the electrical wiring of each guest room was hidden within its door frame so as not to disturb the original structure. All of the hotel’s produce and food is sourced from the nearby Notre Dame farm in Touët-sur-Var, while breads and pastries are baked daily on-site at Le Boulangerie.
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Music
Peaceful ambient music and the chirping of birds
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Year Opened
2024
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Designed By
Studio Mumbai and Studio Méditerranée oversaw the meticulous decade-long renovation of this 17th-century convent and nunnery, while constructing two adjoining buildings of guest rooms that tastefully blend into the historic architecture. Paris-based Festen Architecture lent their magic to crafting the impeccable minimalist interiors that create the laidback and luxurious rustic atmosphere of the property.
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Health & Wellness
Honoring Ancient Nice’s Roman roots, the Hôtel du Couvent reinterprets modern wellness with the Roman Baths and Movement Studio, set below the new guest room’s wing. Inside, the subterranean refuge features a spa, indoor lap pool with a ceiling porthole to the outdoors, a steam sauna and thermal baths for cold plunges and warmer cool downs. The Movement Studio hosts daily workout offerings for guests, both for adults and their children. Atop the terraced gardens, the hotel also features a lap-pool with views along the Mediterranean Coastline and Promenade des Anglais.
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Food
Hôtel du Couvent features three in-house dining options: Le 1604 is located inside the original convent building and is the hotel’s main attraction serving both the hearty breakfast and delicious dinners. Helmed by Chef Endy Le Page, the experience unfolds in a gorgeous candlelit space and a menu based on locally sourced produce and delicacies. Standout menu options include a Green gnocchi garnished with the convent’s lemons, an Amberjack fish with Notre-Dame farm zucchini and almonds and Sisteron lamb with olives, swiss chard and sorel, with a heavy focus on natural wines. Le Guingette is the hotel’s open-air lunch spot open from April to October and set amongst the property’s terraced vegetable gardens. Just outside the walls of the convent is Le Bistro des Serruriers, a casual yet chic spot open daily to guests and the public for lunch and dinner. Staple menu items include deviled eggs, leeks with French dressing, local Nicoise pissaladière and eggplant caviar to a seabream filet, beef ribeye with roasted potatoes and mustard and rotating dishes of the day.
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Bar, Events & Nightlife
The convent’s original courtyard and cloister (La Cour des Orangers) dates to 1604 and is the heart and soul of the hotel. It features Le Bar, with cozy interiors and an outdoor terrace for lounging, socializing and enjoying the fresh air during ideal weather. Throughout the year, Hôtel du Couvent runs its Channels Music Residency, with live performances set amongst this historic stone cloister and also hosts a monthly Saturday local farmer’s market open to the community.
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Minibar & Retail
The in-room mini bar features a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, a selection of French and international libations and aperitifs (Pastis Henri Bardouin, Rinquinquin à la Pêche, Japanese whisky), a fresh lemon each day in the room, a Sjöstrand coffee machine and a tea kettle for brewing remedies from the onsite herbal shop.
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Accessibility
Elevators service all floors and guest rooms across Hôtel du Couvent’s original and new buildings, as well as to the Roman Baths and the garden level outdoor restaurant, La Guingette. Specially adapted, mobility-accessible rooms are available across the property. The hotel provides an electric cart service for arrival and departure and guests should call the hotel in advance to coordinate pickup from a nearby drop-off point.
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Pet Friendly
Yes, for an additional fee.
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Children
Yes
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Price
Luxuriously expensive during peak spring/summer season
- Tel.
- Website
Hôtel du Couvent
Hôtel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice, France, Rue Honoré Ugo, Nice, France
Amour Nice
Hotel & Restaurant Amour Nice, Avenue des Fleurs, Nice, France
Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret de Nice
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice, Avenue des Baumettes, Nice, France
Babel Babel
Babel Babel, Quai des États-Unis, Nice, France
In the Area
Hotel Location Hôtel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice, France, Rue Honoré Ugo, Nice, France
Hôtel du Couvent lies at the foot of Castle Hill, in the center of Old Nice and its charming medieval urban grid of narrow streets, alleys and squares. Until 1860, when Nice joined France, the city was ruled by the House of Savoy and Kingdom of Sardinia. As such, its unique 17th & 18th-century architecture is famed for its ochre, pink and yellow pastel façades and Italianate red-tile roofs.

