Le Negresco

The Negresco's doormen still wear the traditional costume of 18th-century footmen, which tells you most of what you need to know about the hotel's relationship with modernity. Built in 1913 by the Romanian-born hotelier Henri Negrescu, who promptly went bankrupt, the hotel has survived two world wars (it served as a hospital in both) and the changing fortunes of the Côte d'Azur with its pink dome and white façade proudly intact. The interior houses a remarkable private art collection — from medieval tapestries to Niki de Saint Phalle sculptures — that makes it feel as much like a museum as a hotel. 96 rooms on the Promenade des Anglais, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Chantecler.