For Those Who Are Still A Kid At Heart, The Carlton Cannes This Christmas Is For You

The garden | Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes

The hotel is famous for attracting Hollywood, invites visitors and guests to relive childhood’s magical moments from ice skating to elevated epicurean delights

I’d argue that the best hotel in Cannes, France is The Carlton Hotel, and while I’m biased, I feel I have a right to be. The staff are great and go the extra mile, the food in the hotel is phenomenal, the hotel allows guests to get away from the hustle of the city, and the property is simply stunning. As soon as you step off Boulevard de la Croisette and pass through the revolving doors, entering the hotel, you notice the grand lobby. It always seems to be bustling as Cannes is a city with festivals, conferences, and big events. For this Christmas season, the hotel isn’t slowing down with its center garden filled with holiday magic for the kid at heart- and for actual kids.

The ice skating rink will last until January 12, 2025 | Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

From the lobby there are two ways to enter the garden, either from behind reception or to the left of Bar°58. Fully lit, the garden is an enchanted place with a 1,291 square foot ice skating rink in the center. The details in the garden were imaged by the hotel, wanting to create something special for guests and visitors. Last year the skating rink was a success, so the hotel brought it back- and it’s the only hotel ice rink in the Côte d’Azur. For children, at the hotel beach club, kids can race down the sandy slopes in a sled that faces the Mediterranean Sea. And on weekends, a Gospel choir lights up the garden, singing Christmas music.

The Carlton Bubble Bar | Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

Pastries are a big part of the holiday magic at the hotel | Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

The Gourmet Chalet offers pancakes, waffles, panettone, and mulled wine. For cheese lovers not to fear, there’s fondue with a selection of cheese and sides accompanied by wines that guests can choose from. The Carlton Bubble Bar is new and includes champagnes paired with caviar and fresh oysters. The Gift Chalet near the ice rink allows visitors to take home a piece of the hotel to put under the Christmas tree.

France isn’t France without pastries, and Chef Jean-François Barbéris has a master class of sorts for children on three Wednesdays in December.

“The older children will be able to gift or indulge themselves with his famous yule log, crafted this year in the shape of a toy car: the SunBeam Alpine, which gained fame from its role in the film “To Catch a Thief,” shot at the Carlton Cannes 70 years ago.”

Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

The Gospel choir that performs on the weekends | Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

Cannes is the city of cinema, as every May it hosts the largest film festival in the world. The yule log is an ode to the hotel being in the center of the iconic film festival, as well as having an iconic Hollywood movie shot on its premises, with a popcorn flavor.

The yule log | Photo provided by the Carlton Cannes Hotel

Dinner on Christmas and New Year’s Eve

For both of these exciting night’s, Chef Laurent Bunel has made a six-course menu at the Riviera restaurant. For New Year’s Eve, guests can choose to dine at Le Grand Salon with a 7-course meal. Or, at the Riviera restaurant, or, at Bar°58 with a select menu by Chef Bunel. On the day after the holiday celebrations, the Riviera restaurant will host the famous Christmas and

New Year brunches, says the hotel.