Review of Five Seas Hotel Cannes: Luxury Hotel in French Riviera
Cannes is known for its glamour and glitz, and it certainly has no shortage of luxury hotels. With just 45 rooms and suites, however, Five Seas Hotel stands out as a true boutique luxury property that feels intimate, romantic, and thoughtfully curated.
If you are looking for a hotel that places you right in the heart of Cannes while still offering a calm and refined retreat, Five Seas Hotel is an excellent choice. Despite its central location, the atmosphere inside feels peaceful and discreet, making it easy to unwind after a day of exploring.
During our South of France trip, we spent one night at Five Seas Hotel Cannes, and in this blog post I am sharing my personal experience staying at this luxury 5-star hotel in the heart of the French Riviera.
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Five Seas Hotel Cannes by Inwood Hotels
The Five Seas Hotel is part of the Inwood Hotels group, a collection of 13 hotels across major destinations in France. The other properties are located in Paris, Bordeaux, Arcachon, Nice, and Cap d’Antibes.
Inwood hotels are known for the “Art-de-Vivre” (art of living) concept, incorporating culture, art, and French lifestyle into their properties for the guests to enjoy a unique experience.
It was my first time staying at an Inwood Hotels property, and I was impressed with the quality and level of service this hotel provided. I’m definitely hoping to return to some of their other hotels to experience them in the near future.
Location
One of the highlights of the Five Seas Hotel is its central location. The hotel is located just steps away from famous places like La Croisette, the Palais des Festivals(Palace of Festivals), the Old Port of Cannes, and the beaches.
Since we only had one day in Cannes, time was limited and having everything within walking distance made a huge difference.
From the hotel, you can easily stroll to boutique shops, seaside cafes, and some of the best restaurants in town, then return to the hotel for a quiet retreat away from the crowds.
Another major convenience is how close the hotel is to the train station. It is only a 5 minute short walk from Cannes train station to the hotel. We arrived by train from Nice, and it was a huge relief not to have to drag multiple suitcases over a long distance (if you’ve traveled with suitcases in Europe over cobblestone streets, you know how painful that is!).
This location is especially ideal if you plan to explore the French Riviera by train.
If you are coming by car, the hotel offers private parking space for guests, as well as valet parking.
Rental car tip for the French Riviera: Book with Discover Cars for the best prices. I always choose a trusted company like Hertz, Enterprise, or Sixt within the search results.
First Impressions and Design
Five Seas Hotel has a modern boutique feel with a warm and intimate atmosphere.
The lobby is sleek yet welcoming, and I never found it to be busy. Check in was a smooth process, without any lines or waiting. This is likely due to the fact that the hotel has only 45 rooms, which allows for a more personalized level of service compared to larger hotels with hundreds of guests.
We were given welcome drinks and invited to relax on a comfortable sofa in the lobby while the front desk staff took care of our hotel room keys and luggage.
Designs throughout the lobby included a lot of modern and elegant neutrals with pops of greenery, with an overall polished and refined aesthetics.
There was a standing cabinet with hotel merch such as a tote bag, slippers, and their signature room scents and toiletries. In contrast to the neutral tones of the lobby, the merch included bold reds and blacks, which we’ll later find in the room.
Somehow I think the bold accents paired paired well with the rest of the neutral decor of the hotel without clashing. Now let’s check out the room!
Rooms and Suites
As mentioned earlier, Five Seas Hotel has just 45 rooms and suites, which immediately gives it the intimate feel of a true boutique hotel.
I strongly believe that a hotel room should be more than just a place to sleep. While you will likely spend much of your day exploring Cannes, being able to return to a comfortable and thoughtfully designed space makes a huge difference. For me, relaxation is hard to achieve in a room that barely fits a suitcase, and that was absolutely not the case here.
The rooms at Five Seas Hotel are very spacious, especially by Cannes standards and even more so when compared to what I’ve experienced in many other major European cities like Paris. The most basic room category here starts at 30 m2 (323 sq ft), which is huge by European standards.
Overall the room felt elegant and welcoming from when we first set foot inside. I was especially impressed by the thoughtful details, such as the generous welcome gifts that included a bottle of the hotel’s signature room fragrance and a hand cream from their spa that smelled heavenly. There was a flat-screen TV, which my husband always appreciates.
The bed was comfortable, dressed in high quality linens that felt exceptionally soft. So soft that my husband actually went looking for the tag to find out what brand they were!
Another detail I loved was the leather headboard of the bed which just felt super luxurious, along with the large arched windows that brought character and an interesting visual element to the room.
The bathroom featured a spacious walk in shower and refined finishes that elevated the overall experience. The sink area did feel slightly small, as it was enclosed by walls on either side. That said, based on the photos on the hotel’s website, it appears that other room categories offer spacious bathrooms with a more open sink layout.
Our room did not have a tub, but the suites of Five Seas Hotel do have tubs in addition to showers.
My only minor complaint is the carpet. I much prefer rooms with wooden floors than carpet for hygienic reasons, as I think carpet can be harder to clean. That said, the hotel provided plush, high quality slippers with their signature branding, along with soft bathrobes. After traveling to hundreds of hotels at this point, nice robes and slippers have become a necessity for me and Five Seas Hotel definitely checked the box on that front.
Everything felt carefully curated, from the lighting to the seating area, making it easy to relax after a full day of exploring.
Restaurant & Lounge Bar
Le Roof is the on site restaurant and lounge bar at Five Seas Hotel. Like the name suggests, it’s located on the 5th floor of the hotel which is the top floor and offers an exceptional view of the city.
Breakfast is served as continental breakfast in buffet style along with a la carte options inside the restaurant. The space itself is beautifully designed, with lush greenery hanging from the ceiling and stylish accent chairs placed in smart ways. We were somewhat in a rush to catch our next train so I only got to pop in and grab a pastry to go, but we did get to enjoy a nice dinner at this restaurant during our stay.
Dinner at Le Roof was a true highlight here.
The menu is modern French, curated by Chef Lori Moreau. Everything is made with local products and all of our dishes were excellent.
We had a table by the window and we could see the sun setting over Cannes, with the Cannes sign glowing in the distance over Old Town, and the old port of Cannes below it. I recommend booking a table at the Le Roof Restaurant during sunset for these panoramic views if you can!
Rooftop Pool and Terrace
One of the highlights of Five Seas Hotel is its rooftop terrace and infinity pool. While the pool isn’t big, it is beautifully designed and is heated to 28°C year-round for a comfortable dip at any time, and the views of the city are quite nice.
The roof terrace has a trendy yet relaxed atmosphere and is perfect for lounging during the day, or enjoying drinks at sunset.
Spa and Wellness
The hotel also offers a spa called Spa by Sothys and wellness area, which adds another layer to the experience.
We didn’t personally get to experience the spa given our short stay, but for anyone interested, there are four treatment rooms, two saunas and a hammam.
Who This Hotel Is Best For
Five Seas Hotel is ideal for couples, solo travelers, and anyone looking for a stylish boutique hotel in a prime location in Cannes. If you value walkability, modern design, and a calm luxury atmosphere, this hotel fits beautifully.
The hotel is available on two of my favorite credit card platforms as well, the Edit collection by Chase Sapphire and the Hotel Collection by American Express. I hold both of these cards and would gladly use my hotel credits to book this hotel if we were to return to Cannes. It is also part of the Design Hotels.
Final Thoughts
Five Seas Cannes delivers a polished luxury experience in one of the best locations in Cannes. Whether you’re dining at the panoramic restaurant Le Roof, unwinding at the Five Seas’ Sothys Spa, or simply coming home after a long day of exploring, the hotel offers a refined and welcoming retreat that makes your time in Cannes feel effortlessly special.
If you are planning a trip to Cannes and want a luxurious hotel that feels both central and serene, Five Seas Hotel is absolutely worth considering.
Disclosure: We were hosted by Five Seas Hotel for this stay, but as always, all opinions are my own.
France Guides
If you are traveling to France, check out my other guides!
- The Best 10 Day South of France Itinerary: From the French Riviera to Provence
- A Perfect Travel Guide to Nice, France
- Best Day Trips from Nice By Train
- Èze Village, France: How to Visit the Most Charming Village in the French Riviera (2025)
- Paris Guide: 18 Best Things to do in Paris
- Ultimate Guide to Menton France in the French Riviera
- Where to Stay in Provence: Capelongue Hotel Review
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