That is not just because of the star quality of its past inmates but also because it is situated right in the heart of Paris in the otherwise smart and arty district of Montparnasse.
But beyond the grand hotels that line the Promenade des Anglais, Nice has been changing too, with a host of alternative artistic ventures that range from offbeat exhibition spaces to arty places to stay, while creative restaurants are opening up alongside those specialising in traditional Niçoise cooking.
"It's a blend of dance music, soul, pop, hip-hop and R&B," explained the 24-year-old doyenne of New York's fashion demi-monde and arty cognoscenti, who has worked with everyone from Debbie Harry to Chanel.
We spent a summer in Milan in an flat overlooking the Naviglio Grande canal – an arty neighbourhood quiet until after dark, when intrepid foodies descended on the local aperitivo bars and trattorias.
The bus from Santiago to Valparaíso costs £5 each way and takes 90 minutes Further information Chilean tourist board: joinchile.com Four more arty places in Latin America It's hard to find a more beautiful spot than Paraty, below: the colonial town sits between emerald-green hills and white-sand beaches.
He seems to makes no bones about being on the precious side of arty, though he can be disarming, saying of the 138-page book of his art that comes with the deluxe edition of Swanlights: "Was I that good at art when I was younger?
The Soho Boutique hotel opened last year in the arty Soho barrio, south of the old town, with doubles from €63 room-only.
As visitors shuffled between the display cases, the late actor beamed down on them from a series of arty black-and-white posters, each adorned with a pithy quotation.
Open daily from 8am Mon-Fri, 9.30am weekends Run by Guillaume Gil, who formerly worked at the swanky Hotel Plaza Athénée, this arty Left Bank pastry shop and tea room with Marimekko wallpaper pulls a stylish crowd.
In the arty Brera district, in particular, there are countless fashionable, mid-priced shoe shops doing their own version of Prada et al. There are more bargains to be had at the Viale Papiniano market next to San Agostino metro.
Although a journey from the head's office to the playground at Eleanor Palmer primary seems maze-like – leading through at least 10 dozen displays under the children's arty creations that dangle from the ceiling – the school is tiny.
