Jeanne Augier would go on to revolutionise the codes of the hotel industry. In striking contrast to the sombre interiors of the time, she embraced bold colours, breathing new life into the building and transforming Le Negresco into the jewel of Nice’s hotel landscape, as well as a living ambassador of the French art de vivre. Guided by her passion for art, she filled the hotel with major artworks, harmoniously blending historic furnishings with contemporary creations. To this day, Raymond Moretti’s vibrant carpets, laid over Carrara marble, remain a testament to the audacity and refinement that define the spirit of Le Negresco.

Currently, Le Negresco is owned by the endowment fund to which Jeanne Augier entrusted her entire estate. The fund is chaired by Nicole Spitz, with Lionel Servant as its Director General.

In 1931, in one of the hotel’s salons, Joséphine Baker declared her love for the French Riviera to the journalists of Le Petit-Niçois. During the inaugural Nice Jazz Festival in 1948, Louis Armstrong discovered C’est si bon, a melody he would later adapt into English, transforming it into a global success. In the 1960s and 1970s, under the visionary direction of Jeanne Augier, the hotel became one of the Riviera’s most sought-after destinations for fashion icons and stars of the silver screen. Richard Burton once left behind a diamond necklace intended for Elizabeth Taylor, while Salvador Dalí was known to stroll the corridors with his cheetah on a leash. In 1965, Paul McCartney penned the lyrics to Fool on the Hill while staying at the hotel. In the 1980s, a new generation of international celebrities made Le Negresco their own. Michael Jackson had the parquet flooring in his suite replaced so he could rehearse his dance routines in private, while Elton John filmed scenes from his I’m Still Standing video in the Salon Royal.

Le Negresco has long captivated filmmakers and their muses, from the golden age of the French New Wave, with Jeanne Moreau, Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Catherine Deneuve, to international productions like Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight. With no fewer than thirty-seven films shot on location, Le Negresco continues to be a storied destination for cinema. Today, Le Negresco continues to host prestigious festivals and private events, enduring as a landmark of culture and glamour on the French Riviera. Its history, shaped by legendary encounters and unforgettable moments, unfolds continuously, remaining faithful to the timeless spirit that defines its prestige.