The Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France, is known to attract Hollywood’s glitterati each year during the Cannes Film Festival, and plays host to power players and biz gurus during the Cannes Lions ad fest.
It’s always been a prime spot to perch for people watching, and now has a chic new update.
New speakeasy Martinez Bar just opened in March and has been drawing crowds.
“It pays tribute to the hotel’s Art Deco DNA and the décor is chic and warm, with a creative cocktail menu that features carefully selected spirits,” general manager Michel Cottray tells us.
The spot offers live music with DJ sets, mixing rare vinyl and sharing plates.
While reservations need to be made for the hotel restaurant, walk-ins are welcome at the new bar.
But arrive to the Cote D’Azur chic, natch.
“Bring a smart attitude and dress code, of course!” Cottray says.
The hotel has hosted past legends including Rita Hayworth, Charlie Chaplin, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Sean Connery — and continues to pull in A-list names. Bella Hadid, Heidi Klum, Elle Fanning and more have been spotted there more recently during the film fest.
The posh hotel has also welcomed Will Smith, Oliver Stone, Paris Hilton and Elon Musk during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, when they’ve appeared as speakers.
“Cannes Lions is a major event — second only to the Cannes Film Festival — and the hotel is fully booked every year during this period,” Cottray says.
The spot has hosted plenty of parties during the International Festival of Creativity with no expense or effort spared.
“Cannes Lions sees impressive temporary infrastructures that require several days of assembly and subsequent dismantling,” Cottray told us.
“Notably, Yahoo took over part of the hotel’s private beach and dressed it up in the brand’s colors, and last year, a football ground was set up on part of the hotel’s beach for FIFA, which brought in its famous players for friendly matches.”
The hotel, built in 1929, offers two penthouse apartments designed in collaboration with French film fest icons Isabelle Huppert and Thierry Frémaux, that interconnect to be among the largest in Europe.
Cottray tells us, “Cinematic influences are woven throughout the hotel,” including the décor of its La Palme d’Or restaurant which was recently awarded a Michelin star.
“During Cannes Lions in particular, there’s a festive atmosphere in front of the hotel that goes on until the early hours of the morning,” Cottray says.
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