The Soniho group, five lifestyle hotels for a different Côte d’Azur experience

On the Côte d’Azur, the palaces of the Croisette and the exceptional villas of the cap are well known. Less familiar are those human-scale addresses, colourful and joyful, which focus on character rather than marble. This is exactly the territory of Soniho, a family group that operates five three-star hotels between Nice, Cannes and Fréjus, and which claims a distinct “lifestyle” signature. Its promise is summed up in a phrase the house loves to repeat: you don’t just come here to sleep, you come here to create the memory of a life moment.

As the group opens its fifth establishment, Hôtel Cyano in Fréjus, La Revue des Hôtels has reviewed the collection. Here is what sets Soniho apart in the Riviera landscape, hotel by hotel.

A family story born in Nice nearly forty years ago

The adventure began in 1989, in Nice Saint-Isidore, when Roger Nicoletti and his three sons opened their first establishment. This was quickly followed by three hotels built by the family: Le Pin in Nice in 1990, Fréjus in 1991, then La Bocca in Cannes in 1992. For nearly thirty years, these addresses were operated under the Balladins and then Kyriad brands.

The turning point came when the family decided to break away from franchises to structure their own hotel identity. This saw the birth of Soniho, and the shift towards a three-star “lifestyle” positioning. The portfolio expanded in 2003 with the acquisition of Hôtel Abrial in Cannes. Today, Etienne Nicoletti, the third generation of the family, leads the group and its stated motto: “The place for Riviera lovers”.

Five hotels, one Mediterranean signature

With five establishments and 385 rooms, Soniho relies on a DNA that is somewhat unique in the three-star world. Here, hotels are designed as genuine living spaces, open to everyone and not just passing guests. People come here as much to stay as to work, meet for a drink or share a meal. Three values recur in the house’s discourse and are reflected in the decor: conviviality, generosity and adaptability.

The result is colourful, graphic interiors, never standardised, where hand-drawn murals sit alongside terracotta and sea-green tones. Both leisure and business guests find what they are looking for, with the Mediterranean art of living as the common thread. Let’s review the addresses.

Hôtel du Pin, the Nice flagship facing the port

A true flagship for the group, Hôtel du Pin enjoys a privileged location, just a stone’s throw from the port of Nice and Place Garibaldi. This 91-room boutique hotel, available in Standard, Comfort and Prestige categories, is tailored for city breaks. Adjoining the establishment, the Foam beer bar and restaurant brings the place to life from breakfast to dinner, with an original self-service draught beer concept and a terrace for Nice after-work drinks. The address also houses the group’s largest Scool coworking and seminar space.

Hôtel Isidore, between sea and mountains in Nice West

In Nice West, Hôtel Isidore makes the most of its ideal location, between sea and mountains and in the immediate vicinity of the Allianz Riviera stadium. Its 79 rooms, from double to family, are accompanied by three meeting rooms, and the establishment will soon host its own Scool space. On the dining side, the Gigi Tavola restaurant offers Italian and gluten-free cuisine in a convivial atmosphere.

Hôtel Abrial, a stone’s throw from the Croisette in Cannes

In Cannes, Hôtel Abrial is ideally situated close to the Croisette, Rue d’Antibes, Le Suquet, the beaches, the port and the Palais des Festivals. Its 48 rooms, accommodating two to three people, cultivate a colourful and intimate atmosphere, with several enjoying South-facing balconies. A bar open daily and a terrace complete the offering.

Hôtel des Victoires, the major renovation in Cannes La Bocca

In Cannes La Bocca, just minutes from Cannes-Mandelieu airport and the Croisette, Hôtel des Victoires was entirely renovated in 2024. Its 99 rooms are accompanied by a restaurant, a bar and a terrace open daily, as well as a Scool seminar and coworking space. Today, it is one of the largest establishments in the collection.

Hôtel Cyano, the 2026 newcomer in Fréjus

The latest establishment to join the brand, Hôtel Cyano is the group’s 2026 newcomer. Located near the town centre of Fréjus, it is an excellent starting point for exploring, thirty minutes from both Cannes and Saint-Tropez. Its 68 rooms, in Comfort and Prestige categories, can accommodate one to four people, and the hotel also features a meeting room, a bar and a restaurant.

Scool, the bet on hybrid workspaces

This is perhaps what most distinguishes Soniho from other three-star groups. Under the Scool brand, the house has developed a concept of seminar and coworking spaces designed as hybrid living spaces, in line with contemporary uses. They are recognisable by their joyful visual signature, led by colourful staircases. Three formulas structure the offer: room hire for meetings, tailor-made team stays and individual coworking. A Scool can already be found at Hôtel du Pin in Nice, capable of hosting up to 55 participants, and another at Hôtel des Victoires in Cannes, for up to 60 participants. A third will open at Hôtel Isidore in Nice in autumn 2026.

What to see around Soniho hotels, from Nice to Fréjus?

The strength of a collection spread across the Riviera is that it covers three destinations with very different personalities. In Nice, the capital of the Côte d’Azur, you can stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, get lost in Old Nice, learn how to make a real Niçoise salad and board the steam-powered Train des Pignes to reach the hinterland. In Cannes, beyond the Croisette and the Festival, Le Suquet, the beaches and the crossing to the Lérins Islands, just fifteen minutes by boat, offer an immediate change of scenery. As for Fréjus, the Roman city, it charms with its arena, its marina and the red landscapes of the Estérel massif, between culture, boating and nature.

The opinion of La Revue des Hôtels

Soniho occupies a rare and precious niche on the Côte d’Azur: that of a three-star hotel with character. Where many addresses in this category look alike, the family group relies on bold decoration, spaces open to the city and a genuine collection logic, from Nice to Fréjus. The integration of Scool spaces, which transform the hotel into a place for work and meetings, further distinguishes it. For a Riviera city break or a smart business trip, without blowing the budget, it is a reliable choice to know. The opening of Hôtel Cyano in Fréjus in 2026 confirms that the house has not finished growing.