Where? The seaside town of Nice, on the Cote d'Azur in the south of France.
Raffish or rarefied? Definitely the former. In direct contrast to the bourgeois billets you frequently find on the French Riviera, Hi Hotel is awesomely avant-garde.
Sounds seductive: Designed by Parisian furniture guru Matali Crasset, a former pupil of Philippe Starck, this four-star stopover breaks all the rules of conventional hospitality. Like a modern home, it's awash with happy hues and ambient tunes - courtesy of hip dance label Fcomm.
Tell us more The 'designer' experience starts in the lobby, where the concrete floor and simple reception area (read: a single table) provide a blank backdrop for a selection of colourful multi-combo chairs, complete with arms designed to accommodate laptops.
Flexible, then? The hotel's democratic approach means that there's no room service (although if you want to eat in your room, it can be arranged), no porters, no mini bars and no feeling of 'them and us'. Instead, staff mingle with guests.
Any famous guests? Michael Stipe from REM and Jean Paul Gaultier have both stayed at Hi since it opened last year.