It’s official: The White Lotus season four will be set during the Cannes Film Festival, centered on two hotels on the French Riviera: Saint-Tropez’s lavish Château de La Messardière, serving as the White Lotus du Cap, and Cannes’s iconic Art Deco gem and historic celebrity magnet, Hôtel Martinez, as the White Lotus Cannes. Like many who have covered the film festival over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to stay at the latter, and the experience is truly unlike any other. As filming begins, here are eight things I hope the new season captures about staying at the Martinez during Cannes.
It’s almost impossible to get inside
The first time I arrived in Cannes to cover the festival in 2023, I remember my taxi pulling up to the Martinez and my jaw dropping. At any given moment, about a hundred people—fans, locals, curious onlookers—are gathered behind extensive barriers. Add to that the aggressive paparazzi, flocks of security guards, and an endless stream of stars, and it’s pure pandemonium.
A word to the wise: arriving in a hotel car helps. Once you’ve checked in and stepped out, it becomes much harder to get back inside if you’re not a celebrity and are returning on foot. I had to repeatedly show my room key to security and wait while they communicated over walkie-talkies before being allowed in—and even then, only through the service entrance, not the main door.
It features one of the starriest hotel lobbies in the world
Under the giant chandelier and weaving around extravagant floral arrangements, you’ll find Hollywood’s elite and beyond: Alia Bhatt, Simone Ashley, Jane Fonda, Elle Fanning, Gillian Anderson, Viola Davis, Cara Delevingne, and others filing in and out as you try to connect to the WiFi or store your suitcase. Will the next season of White Lotus be packed with cameos? Given that filming will take place here during the festival, I’d say it’s almost guaranteed.
The tiny lifts make for hilarious meet-cutes
As a historic hotel, the Martinez’s lifts are genuinely tiny, meaning you’re likely to find yourself stuffed inside like a sardine, desperately trying not to step on Angelina Jolie’s dress or make eye contact with Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman. It also means the queues for the lifts are extremely long, especially in the evenings when ballgowns significantly reduce capacity. I hope at least one awkward White Lotus meet-cute takes place inside these comically small elevators.
The stairs exist primarily for photo shoots
As I discovered after giving up on waiting for the lift to my room, no one at the Martinez uses the stairs—they are, above all, a backdrop for “I’ve arrived in Cannes” photo shoots by influencers, models, and movie stars. If you have no choice but to take the stairs, be prepared to pause at every floor, wait for shots to be taken, and dodge photographers, publicists, and assistants while apologizing repeatedly.
The balconies are for putting on a show for the paparazzi
Another popular spot for celebrity photo shoots, your balcony is not for having a smoke, sipping coffee, or stepping out bleary-eyed and half-dressed in the morning. No, this is where you go to greet your adoring public and show off your most red carpet-worthy outfit.
The breakfast buffet is supremely surreal
A big part of every season of The White Lotus is the breakfast buffet, and the Martinez’s daily spread is a standout. Naturally, you won’t find the biggest celebrities here—they’re safely tucked away in their rooms—but you might bump into Jeanne Damas at the salad bar or Ikram Abdi at the juice station.Best of all, it’s common to see seas of people in sequined cocktail dresses and six-inch heels at 8 a.m., effortlessly enjoying their avocado toast. Cannes—there’s nowhere else quite like it.
The rooftop offers some of the best views in Cannes. Taken over by Chopard, one of the film festival’s key partners, for the duration of the festival, the Martinez’s penthouse becomes a lively rooftop gathering spot. By day, it’s filled with industry insiders holding meetings, nibbling on canapés, and soaking up the sun. By afternoon, everyone rushes off to the roof’s glam suites for hair and makeup, then returns for post-premiere parties. The rosy sunsets and sweeping vistas—rolling hills and twinkling lights against the clear water—are justifiably legendary. In theory, it should be the perfect spot for a big White Lotus party.
The beach club is its crowning glory. I can picture White Lotus newcomer Helena Bonham Carter sipping many an Aperol on the striped sun loungers of the Martinez’s glamorous beach club. In the evenings, the space transforms into a glittering party venue, with the little vintage pier a popular spot for impromptu photo shoots. Is this where The White Lotus’s bodies will wash up? Stay tuned to find out.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs The Htel Martinez The White Lotus Season 4
Q Is The White Lotus Season 4 actually filmed at the Htel Martinez in Cannes
A No While Season 4 is set in and around the Cannes Film Festival the show is filmed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina Sicily The Martinez serves as the realworld inspiration and a cultural reference point
Q So whats the real connection between the hotel and the show
A The Htel Martinez is a legendary historic hotel that is the epicenter of glamour deals and parties during the actual Cannes Film Festival The show uses this iconic setting as a backdrop to explore similar themes of wealth power and chaos in the film industry
Q What is the Htel Martinez really like during the Cannes Film Festival
A It transforms into a hyperexclusive frenetic hub The lobby and famous bar are packed with Alist celebrities producers agents and journalists Security is extremely tight access is heavily restricted and the energy is a mix of highstakes business and extravagant celebration
Q Can a regular person visit or stay there during the festival
A Its very difficult and extremely expensive Most rooms and suites are booked a year in advance by studios luxury brands and VIPs Even getting a reservation at the bar or restaurant typically requires a hotel room key or a coveted festival accreditation
Q What specific aspects of festival culture might the show exaggerate or focus on
A Expect the show to amplify the behindthescenes wheeling and dealing the intense hierarchy the performative glamour and the potential for scandal and manipulation that thrives in such a highpressure closed environment
Q Whats a Martinez Suite and why is it a big deal
A The Penthouse Suite at the Martinez is one of the most famous and soughtafter accommodations in the world during the festival Rented by major studios for millions its not just a place to sleepits a power base for hosting parties screenings and dealmaking
Q How accurate is the portrayal of the festivals social hierarchy
A Very accurate