At the heart of the famous palm-fringed Promenade des Anglais stands the Hôtel West End, an establishment whose history is intrinsically linked to that of Nice and the development of tourism on the Côte d’Azur. Long before the boom we know today, this emblematic hotel witnessed the city’s evolution, welcoming a prestigious clientele from the outset.

The first steps: the Hôtel Victoria

It was in the mid-19th century that Nice realised the importance of tourism to its economy. Wealthy Englishmen, escaping the rigours of their winter, were the first to flock, soon followed by Russians and Americans. This demanding clientele, including royalty and nobility, was looking for luxury and comfort. In the mid-19th century, entrepreneur César Gilly acquired a 5,000 m² plot of land on the Baie des Anges. The following year, in 1854, the Hôtel Victoria was built. At the time, it consisted of a raised ground floor and three upper storeys.

From the Hôtel de Rome to the West End Hotel

The hotel’s destiny took a turn in 1867. After a violent fire, the hotel was completely restored and renamed the Hôtel de Rome. It was around 1885 that the hotel finally adopted its current name: the West End. Shortly afterwards, the hotel became the property of Victor Masséna Essling, grandson of the Marshal of France. With his villa next door, now the famous Musée Masséna, he undertook major works, including the addition of a fourth floor. These changes further anchored the hotel in the Belle Époque style that had just flourished in France, and which the establishment has carefully preserved.

The Hôtel West End today: between history and modernity

At the end of the 1980s, the Hôtel West End underwent a new phase of modernisation. The hotel was raised by a further two storeys, bringing the total to six. It was also at this time, in the 1990s, that the veranda housing Le Siècle restaurant was fitted out.

Today, the Hôtel West End is a 4-star hotel and a member of the 3A Hôtels la Collection hotel group. It offers 121 rooms where modern comfort blends harmoniously with the charm of yesteryear. The Hôtel West End is more than just a place to stay, it’s an integral part of Nice’s history, a place where past and present meet to offer a unique experience on the Côte d’Azur!