A
Sure Bet
An
Art Deco Classic by the Sea
by
André Gayot
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Art
Deco meets Neoclassicism |
When this refreshing property first
opened in 1929 as a casino, it instantly became the gambling house on the Côte d'Azur. The glamorous
and avant-garde Josephine Baker—accompanied
by her little pink pig, attended the opening —and
the English language Cannes News declared
it “probably the most luxurious building the
world has ever known.” Built by American millionaire
and railroad robber baron, Frank Jay Gould, it initially
housed a gaming room with sweeping Mediterranean views
and an art gallery displaying works by Toulouse-Lautrec
and Rodin.
Almost
three decades of abandonment, beginning in the 1970s,
could not spoil the beautiful blend of Art Déco and
neoclassical design that fronts this building, situated
on the Promenade des Anglais overlooking the Baie
des Anges. For this reason, when the Société
du Louvre (a subsidiary of the Tony Taittinger group)
partnered with the Partouche gaming group to restore
it, meticulous attention was paid to the columned
exterior and its bas reliefs of mythical horses flanked
by muses rising from the sea.
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Modern
and inviting style |
Lush
colors set moods |
While
the façade is old-fashioned and grandiose,
the interior has been completely refashioned to exude
a carefree, contemporary spirit. There’s nothing
stuffy in here. The style is sleek and modern, as
is the staff. Young and congenial, they are right
at home in this modern setting. The 188 chic and cozy
bedrooms and suites are the product of Sybille de
Margerie, the designer who crafted the new interiors
at the Hôtel
de Crillon in Paris and La Palme d’Or restaurant at L'Hôtel Martinez
in Cannes. The décor relies heavily on color
to set moods, and hues range from sensuous reds set
off with exotic saffron accents to cheerful blues
and yellows that feel inspired by the sun and sea
of the Mediterranean. Most of the rooms have large
balconies with views of the bay, hills or interior
garden. Up-to-date amenities include air-conditioning,
flat screen TVs and direct Internet and Wi-Fi access.
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Colorful
business areas |
Pool |
Considered
the heart of the hotel, the third floor features an
outdoor swimming pool that makes dramatic use of the
original façade. Enormous windows once flanked
by columns have been removed, leaving the pool open
to fresh sea breezes—you feel as if you’re
right on the beach (which is just a stone’s
throw away), but without the crowds. On this floor
you will also find Le
Padouk restaurant, serving chef Bruno Sohn’s
Mediterranean influenced cuisine, emphasizing seafood
and local produce. Like each of the public spaces
at this property, the restaurant is distinctive, with
its mahogany parquet floor with green, blue and orange
mosaic accents and a terrace landscaped with mandarin
trees and lavender plants. The restaurant is paired
with La Pingala bar, a boudoir-ish looking lounge
whose sexy colors were inspired by the silks and spice
markets of India, and whose mutenye wood bar is capped
by an over-stone of green enameled lava.
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Serene
spa |
Welcoming
le Padouk |
Naturally—given
the property’s rich history—there is a
casino, which is located adjacent to the hotel. Along
with a stylish, sea-view gaming room offering high
stakes English and French roulette, stud poker, blackjack
and more, it also houses a ballroom (the hotel is
fully equipped for meetings and conferences) and two
additional restaurants: Restaurant des Jeux Traditionnels
and Brasserie La Fregate, whose décor is an
ode to Matisse. Whether you’re soaking up rays
at the pool, dining at Padouk or tempting Lady Luck,
you will experience the graciousness of the past in
a fashionable, 21st-century setting.
 Going to France? Check our guide.
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