There’s something quietly enchanting about arriving at Hôtel du Couvent at 3 Rue de Roquebillière, tucked into the hill just above Nice’s old town. The city below may be buzzing with clinking glasses and Vespa engines, but up here—past the winding roads and steep cobbled paths—you’ll find stillness. This isn’t a hotel that screams for attention. It whispers, (in fact, they use a tranquil meditation sound around the establishment), like a secret you’re lucky to be in on.
If you are looking for a luxury historical Côte d’Azur hotel with charm and character in Nice, check out Hotel du Couvent. Here is our review. Spoiler – the place is definitely worth a stay, at least for a couple of days.
All photos of the Hotel du Couvent are made by Locals Insider.
A Spiritual Transformation
Originally a 17th-century Franciscan convent, the building served as a silent retreat for nuns until it was deconsecrated in the 1990s. Fast forward to the 2020s, and it was transformed into a design-led hotel by La Compagnie de Phalsbourg, with the Paris-based duo FESTEN Architecture at the helm. They didn’t erase the past—they honoured it. The project reportedly cost over €40 million, and it shows in the quiet details: preserved arches, frescoes, restored wooden staircases, and monastic symmetry softened by modern comforts.
The hotel now offers 88 rooms, many styled like monk’s cells—though these ones have high-end coffee machines, cloud-like linens, and wild lavender by the bed. My first room, in the entry-level category (approx. $850/night), overlooked the peaceful internal garden—but was unfortunately right above a ventilation unit that hummed constantly. We asked to switch, and the staff, who were lovely and professional throughout, moved us without fuss.
A Tricky Arrival (With a Tip)
Here’s the one thing I wish I’d known: don’t try to arrive blindly by car. Drivers can’t always figure out where to drop you, and I ended up walking up and around the hill for a good 17 minutes with luggage. Not ideal. Next time, I’ll ask the hotel to send one of their little electric buggies to pick us up from the bottom of the hill. They do offer it—you just have to request it.
But arriving in the quiet of the evening, walking through the gates and into candlelight and lemon trees, I already felt the city slipping away.
Calm, Character and an Amazing Garden
The garden at Hôtel du Couvent in Nice is truly the soul of the hotel. Filled with citrus trees, herbs, and vegetables, it’s where guests gather for a quiet breakfast or simply to work in peace. Even when the restaurant doesn’t open until noon, I was able to sit with my laptop under a fig tree with a carafe of water and total stillness—rare for the French Riviera.
Dining is simple and seasonal. I had artichokes with smoked white fish and a glass of champagne served by a confident sommelier who poured a little less each round (cheeky but charming). The bar closes at 11 p.m., but you won’t really mind—it fits the monastic rhythm.
Breakfast was a la carte: soft-boiled eggs, sautéed spinach, raw vegetables, cherries, fresh detox juice—elegant, healthful, and thoughtfully plated. Not buffet-style, which I appreciated.
Hôtel du Couvent Hidden Spa & Thermal Bath Beneath the Stone
The real wow moment came in the Thermae, the underground Roman-style spa. Hot and cold plunge pools, a hammam, and a stone-lined pool open to the sky. Look up, and you’ll see little balconies, old windows, and a perfect slice of blue sky. It’s quiet, magical, and feels both ancient and perfectly designed for the now.
Up in the terraced garden, there’s another long pool with city views—ideal for an evening swim when the garden empties out and the light turns golden. Most rooms don’t have balconies, but the hotel more than makes up for it with countless outdoor terraces and nooks for reading, sunbathing, or sipping something cold.
Inside the Hôtel du Couvent Room: A Monastic Cell with a Touch of Riviera Indulgence
The rooms at Hôtel du Couvent are styled to feel like modern monk’s quarters—minimalist yet full of intention. The walls are warm-toned, almost clay-like, with soft natural light filtering through thick curtains. Hand-painted frescos and classical busts give the space a sense of quiet history, while the furniture is simple, handcrafted, and built to last.
When we arrived, the room was scented with fresh lavender—not from a spray bottle, but from actual dried sprigs laid beside the bed. A bucket of freshly cut wildflowers greeted us, alongside a plump yellow lemon, picked from the very garden below. On the console, there was a traditional lemon squeezer for making your own fresh citrus cocktails or detox morning tonics — charming and unexpected.
Though designed for purity and tranquility, the room came with luxuries too: a sleek modern coffee machine, artisanal glassware, and a selection of mini-bar indulgences including small-batch whiskies and chilled champagne (not complimentary, but very well curated). There were linen robes, soft slippers, and a discreet lighting system that made evenings feel especially cozy.
Rooms don’t have balconies, but with so many open terraces and garden spots, you won’t feel the lack. Just be mindful when booking—the lower-tier rooms facing the garden may also face the ventilation system, which hums constantly and makes it hard to sleep with open windows. Ours had that issue at first, but the staff kindly helped us move to a quieter room.
Hôtel du Couvent – A Different Kind of Luxury: Intimate, Intentional, and Quiet
If you’re looking for marble lobbies and flashy uniforms, go to Le Negresco (though I’d still recommend a drink at their historic bar under the chandelier gifted by Tsar Nicholas II). But if you’re after something more soulful, where luxury means silence, citrus groves, and a pool with a view to the heavens, Hôtel du Couvent is unforgettable.
It’s a luxury historical place, Hôtel du Couvent in Côte d’Azur, that doesn’t try to impress—it invites you to slow down. I left feeling rested, inspired, and already planning when to return. Just don’t forget to book the buggy next time.
My Take on Hôtel du Couvent
Staying at Hôtel du Couvent (very instagrammable resort) feels like entering another world—a former nunnery reborn as a luxury sanctuary high above the buzz of Nice, France. The thoughtful restoration is remarkable: monastic rooms designed like elegant cells, lemon trees outside your window, the soft hush of fountains and birdsong instead of traffic. The Roman-style thermal bath, historic garden, and sky-lit spa pool create a rhythm of true calm that’s rare even on the Côte d’Azur.
It’s almost perfect—but not without a few fixes. The ventilation noise in some garden-facing rooms disrupts the otherwise peaceful experience, the restaurant menu could use a few more hearty dishes, and guests should be offered the buggy transfer option upfront at booking to avoid dragging trunks up the hill. These are small things that, once addressed, will make this already exceptional retreat even more seamless.
For travellers looking for a quiet, soulful, and design-rich alternative to the flashy Riviera hotels, Hôtel du Couvent is an extraordinary find. And yes—I’m already planning to return.
