The Carlton is the most famous hotel on the Croisette and one of the most recognisable buildings in France — a white Beaux-Arts wedding cake at 58 La Croisette, open since 1911. During the film festival it is the epicentre of the industry: every suite is booked a year in advance, the terrace is a stage set, and the lobby bar operates at a level of intensity normally associated with trading floors.
Outside festival season the Carlton is a grand hotel in the classic tradition, with a private beach, an excellent restaurant, and the kind of service that takes a long time to perfect. The terrace aperitif is a Cannes ritual. Even non-guests can sit at the outdoor tables facing the sea, order a glass of rosé, and watch the Croisette go by — it is one of the finest vantage points on the Riviera.