L'Abeille - Boutique Apartments
Ultra-modern Pop-inspired design meets eco-responsible construction. Raw concrete, naked timber, saturated primary colors, and occasional honeycomb motifs. No French-Riviera pastiche — the Italianate surroundings handle that. Inside it's bold, considered, and very much of-the-moment.
Request a garden-side apartment if you're a light sleeper — the street side has active restaurants until midnight
Why It Matters
One of Nice's rare design-forward apartment-hotels with a legitimate design brief rather than a decorator's whim. The building itself is one of the first wooden-frame structures in the Port district. Each of the nine units has a distinct character and name. The private Bonaparte Gardens — 700 sqm only accessible to guests — are conceived in collaboration with Michelin-starred restaurant Jan. Michelin Guide recommended.
Nine individually designed apartments spread across three floors of an eco-conscious wooden-frame building in Nice's port district. This is not a hotel. Not a serviced apartment block either. L'Abeille sits squarely in its own category — architecture with strong ideas, fully equipped Bulthaup kitchens, B&O speakers, Carrara marble, and a private 700 sqm garden with a Napoleonic back-story. Recommended by the Michelin Guide and listed on Tablet Hotels.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
FIVE
A 2nd-floor studio with a blue color palette and excellent natural light from its signature bow-window. The elevated position brings better light than TWO, and the bow-window is a genuine architectural feature — borrowed from Anglo-Saxon tradition, it bathes the space in shifting light throughout the day. Sleeps 2.
1 bed 160x200 (Drouault signature bedding)
NINE
The top-floor apartment and the only one with a private balcony. The balcony overlooks Napoleon's garden. Mezzanine bedroom accessed by Japanese-style stairs, living room below, and a sofa bed for extra guests. Powdered pink and gold tones give it the most serene atmosphere in the building. This is the one to request first.
1 bed 160x200 (mezzanine) + sofa bed 110x200 (Drouault signature bedding)ONE
A crosspiece apartment on the 1st floor where gold, jade, and raw concrete come together. Two bedrooms face the garden side — quiet nights are guaranteed. Large bathroom with a full bathtub designed by Neve. Fits 4 guests. This is the most traditional of the nine in layout, but nothing about the design is conventional.
1 bed 160x200 + 1 bed 180x200 (Drouault signature bedding) · 53 sqm
SIX
Nicknamed 'The Alcove,' SIX is a 2nd-floor apartment sleeping 4, with the main bedroom on the garden side and a distinctive alcove sleeping space shaped to evoke a hive. A bow-window floods the living room with light. Consistently one of the most praised units in guest reviews.
1 bed 160x200 + 1 bed 180x200 (Drouault signature bedding)THREE
Nicknamed 'The Nest,' THREE is a duplex on the 1st floor with a properly unconventional second sleeping space — a cozy lower-level alcove with maximum ceiling height of 1.70m. Fine for adults who don't mind a cocoon; not for anyone claustrophobic. The main bedroom faces the Napoleon's garden. Sleeps 4.
1 bed 160x200 + 1 bed 180x200 (Drouault signature bedding) · 54 sqmTWO
An intimate studio on the 1st floor, facing Rue Bonaparte. Large for a studio, with bold materials and a walk-in shower. Perfect for two people wanting to be at the heart of the neighborhood action. Some ambient noise from the street is possible at night.
1 bed 160x200 (Drouault signature bedding)The Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The team organizes private transfers to and from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and any other destination on the Riviera. Must be arranged in advance.
A private 700 sqm garden at the heart of Nice, only accessible to L'Abeille guests. Previously the property of Count Laurenti — where legend has it a young Napoleon Bonaparte would vault fences to meet the Count's daughter in 1794. Today it's planted with organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and was conceived in collaboration with the team from Michelin-starred restaurant Jan ('Le Jardin de Jan'). Century-old lime tree on site. Free access for all guests.
The team provides curated recommendations for local organic producers, certified sustainable producers, and restaurant picks across the French Riviera. Not a formal tour — more a highly personalized concierge steer toward what's worth visiting.
Arranged on request through the L'Abeille team via their partner service (thedriversnice.com). Day trips to Monaco, Saint-Tropez, and other Riviera destinations, plus visits to local wineries for private tastings. Pricing on request.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
All three floors are accessible by elevator.
All nine apartments are individually air-conditioned and heated.
High-speed optical fibre internet throughout all apartments and common areas.
Baby cots available on request.
The team is reachable throughout your stay by phone and WhatsApp (+33 6 48 81 41 80). No physical front desk — this is a fully self-managed property with human backup available digitally.
Secure luggage storage lockers in the lobby. A bathroom with walk-in shower is available on the ground floor for guests arriving before their apartment is ready or departing after checkout.
Television is available on prior request only and subject to availability. Not a standard inclusion in the apartments — worth requesting at the time of booking if needed.
Every apartment includes a full Bulthaup designer kitchen with ceramic hob, dishwasher, fridge with freezer, Nespresso machine, and all standard cookware. This is a genuine kitchen, not a kitchenette.
All apartments have a washing machine (3kg in most units, 7kg in Apartment NINE). Washing detergent packets provided.
All apartments are strictly non-smoking. Smokers have a dedicated area in the Bonaparte Gardens.
Contactless arrival via the Simons Voss MobileKey app. Download before arrival and access your apartment at any hour without needing to meet staff. Electronic transponder keys also available.
No on-site parking. The immediate area is central Nice — public parking garages are nearby, or use the tram.
BUILD YOUR L'ABEILLE - BOUTIQUE APARTMENTS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning