Cannes Film Festival: Here are the hotels where celebrities stay

One of them will even appear in season 4 of White Lotus.

This week, the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival opens on the sparkling Côte d’Azur. The French Riviera is preparing to see celebrities, directors, and cinema figures from around the world as the city hosts this prestigious international event that it has been organizing since the 1950s.

In Cannes, everything seems like it’s from a James Bond movie. The city, like the festival itself, possesses a blend of glamour, excess, and sophistication worthy of the diamonds that shimmer on the stars as they climb the famous red steps of the Palais des Festivals. As celebrities flock to attend galas and premieres of films in competition for the coveted Palme d’Or, they will also unpack their suitcases in some of Cannes’ most iconic hotels.

These establishments have been hosting Hollywood elites for decades and frequently serve as the backdrop for the festival’s emblematic evenings and events. This year, one of them will even be transformed into a set for the fourth season of White Lotus, just a few days after the festival ends. “During Cannes, anything can happen,” says Gilles Bastoni, head concierge of the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic. “This unpredictability, excitement, last-minute surprises – that’s exactly what we love about these extraordinary two weeks.” Here are the hotels where the stars will sleep, party, and soak up the sun between red carpets this May in Cannes.

Hôtel Martinez

If you see a photo this month of Bella Hadid waving from a golden wrought iron balcony or posing on a majestic blue velvet staircase on Instagram, there’s a good chance she’s at the Hôtel Martinez. Since its opening in 1929, the palace has become a must-visit for the rich, powerful, and celebrities. Its iconic facade, made up of a series of honeycomb balconies, overlooks the famous Promenade de la Croisette, the mythical boulevard along the Cannes seafront. Paparazzi and fans regularly gather outside the hotel’s entrance, sometimes even blocking access to the lobby.

The hotel also houses the famous restaurant La Palme d’Or, named in honor of the festival’s highest award. “Every year, the Cannes Film Festival brings incomparable energy to the Hôtel Martinez,” explains Michel Cottray, the hotel’s general manager, to ELLE. “Between welcoming international guests and hosting the prestigious festival jury dinner, we are proud to play such an important role in one of the biggest events in global cinema.” The ties between the hotel and the festival are so close that producer Mike White chose the establishment as one of the two filming locations for the upcoming season of White Lotus. According to Variety, this new season will take place during the Cannes Film Festival – even though filming will not start until the stars have left the Croisette.

Le Carlton Cannes

One of the oldest deluxe hotels in Cannes and an iconic address since the early days of the festival, the Carlton Cannes is the kind of timeless and glamorous institution that you can easily imagine in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. And for good reason: the hotel appears in several scenes of his 1955 film “To Catch a Thief,” starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.

Where many Croisette hotels focus on Art Deco, Le Carlton boasts Neo-Renaissance and Belle Époque architecture, faithful to the style that was in vogue when it opened in 1911. Its textured white facade and two famous domes – said to be inspired by the curves of a Belle Époque dancer and actress, almost resemble a sandcastle, making the palace one of the most recognizable buildings on the entire French Riviera.

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Close your eyes and imagine a huge seaside château, spectacular enough to inspire F. Scott Fitzgerald when he portrayed “Gausse’s Hotel des Étrangers” in his 1934 novel “Tender is the Night.” That’s the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Everything about this place is mythical: its history, interiors, and legendary parties. Long before it became the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the property was known as Villa Soleil, a retreat for writers built in 1869 by French journalist and founder of Figaro, Hippolyte de Villemessant. Hotelier Antoine Sella later purchased the estate in 1887 and transformed it into a glamorous institution on the Riviera, frequented by the Kennedys, Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and many others.

Even today, this luxury palace remains one of the essential addresses of the Cannes Film Festival. Located in Antibes, about a 30-minute drive from the Palais des Festivals, the estate sprawls over five buildings facing the Mediterranean. Most guests stay in the main majestic château in Napoleon III style, which houses over 100 suites decorated by owner Maja Oetker. In addition to hosting celebrities like Katy Perry, Jessica Chastain, or Will Smith, the hotel also serves as a backdrop for several major festival events, including the annual amfAR gala and the famous party hosted each year by Graydon Carter, which he will co-host this year with Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic.

Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic

Known simply as “Le Majestic,” this hotel is located in the heart of Cannes, right across from the Palais des Festivals. Built in 1926, the establishment was recently renovated by designer and architect Isabelle Stanislas in 2025. The redesigned rooms and suites now blend Art Deco heritage and a palette inspired by the marine world to create sophisticated interiors – perfect for hosting guests like Kristen Stewart or Dakota Johnson.

“The hotel is celebrating its 100th anniversary, while the festival is in its 79th edition. The two institutions have grown and evolved together for decades,” explains Gilles Bastoni. The concierge position at the Majestic is almost a family affair for him: his father held this position before him. “This will be my 20th Cannes Film Festival, and like every year, I am incredibly excited.” A little tip for guests staying at the hotel during the festival: pay attention to the ringtone of the telephones in the lobby. They play the main theme of Jacques Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffmann” (1881).

• Author: Megan Wahn
• This article was translated into French and adapted for Switzerland after initially being published on elledecor.com. Find all the other articles from this edition on the official website.