Fodor's Expert Review Hôtel Cardinal

24 rue Cardinale, Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 13100, France

In a graceful 18th-century house in the Quartier Mazarin, this eccentric and slightly threadbare inn is the antithesis of slick, which, coupled with the location, makes it a favorite among writers, artists, and musicians at festival time. Its large rooms are furnished gracefully enough with secondhand finds, and some rooms have original 18th-century painted door panels. If you like charm, there's novel furniture, the elegance of the structure, and the music of the bells of St-Jean-de-Malte. The hotel also has six kitchenette suites; the two across from the Musée Granet and the one on the ground floor with a private garden are the best.

PROS

  • the price for the location is excellent
  • rooms are clean and bright
  • central location

CONS

  • rooms can be noisy and hot in summer
  • bathroom decor is a throwback to the 1970s
  • some rooms have only handheld showers

QUICK FACTS

Hotel
Intimate
Central
Basic
$

HOTEL INFO

Phones: 04–42–38–32–30

HOTEL DETAILS

35 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

What’s Nearby