Le Petit Nice is based in two adjacent villas – the main one with nice modernist décor, the second with a more traditional feel. Bedrooms are comfortable and large, but social activity gravitates naturally to the large, leafy outdoor terrace where whole days, even weeks, could easily slip by between breakfast coffee and post-supper nightcaps.

The hotel has a small swimming pool and solarium. You can also scramble down for sea dip from the rocks below, where locals gather to picnic and sunbathe. Free parking in the gated grounds is a serious asset. The hotel is generously staffed and service is attentive.

Each room is named after either local calanques or personalities from the arts world, and is a different size, configuration and shape. Décor is bright and contemporary, and rooms in the main villa have bold, minimalist frescos by Marseillais artist Gérard Traquandi. All enjoy sea views; some have terraces. Bathrooms, equipped with marine-themed L’Occitane toiletries, are either open plan or normal.