Where To Eat, Stay And Play On The French Riviera

The French Riviera is one of the most glamorous destinations in the world. For two weeks every May, Hollywood arrives in full force to showcase the newest films at the Cannes Film Festival—and if you are visiting, there are countless things to experience.

During the iconic festival, I have made the French Riviera my home away from home every year for more than a decade. I have had memorable experiences staying in many of the finest hotels, dining decadently at impossible-to-reserve restaurants and drinking endless bottles of Dom Pérignon until the wee hours aboard superyachts. Cannes offers up so many memories for even us lowly mortals.

The famed Croisette is where most of the action takes place and is one of France’s most famous waterfront boulevards. Many of the grandest hotels in the world line this famed road, jockeying for attention after the red-carpet premieres. There are so many options, as long as you book well in advance and are prepared to empty your wallet. Living the high life is not cheap.

Where To Stay

The prime spots for enjoying Cannes’s glamour are Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, Hôtel Martinez and the Carlton Hôtel. Still, there are so many exceptional properties lining the coast, including neighboring Antibes and the iconic Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, that the options are endless. Here are the coolest hotels to book during the Cannes Film Festival and beyond.

Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc

Since 1870, the most famous people in the world have been staying here. Everyone from Picasso to Elizabeth Taylor has made this grand dame their holiday escape, with many staying for months on end. Gourmet restaurants, a Dior Spa Eden Roc and luxurious private villa rentals add to the mix.

New for 2025, guests can check into the sister property Villa La Guettière, an intimate villa with nine bedrooms, bathrooms en suite and a stunning pool overlooking the sea. The annual amfAR Gala occurs here during the Cannes Film Festival, and celebrities are packing the halls.

The chicest way to reach Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc and its 118 rooms and suites is by sea on a private tender from your yacht, stepping from a teak speedboat deck into the retro sea pool carved from basalt rock.

Carlton Cannes

It has long been a French Riviera tradition to visit the iconic Carlton Hotel for drinks while attending the Cannes Film Festival. Legions of legendary movie stars often fill the famed lobby, where head-turning fashion is the norm as guests depart for the red carpet premieres. The hotel began welcoming guests at the first Cannes Film Festival in 1946.

This iconic seafront hotel has been born again with extensive renovations. There are two new wings, including 37 luxury apartment residences up to 5,000 feet with access to the hotel amenities. If you want to impress your friends, book the $55,000-a-night penthouse suite, which includes 5,381 square feet of interior and a 5,381-square-foot private landscaped rooftop, including a jacuzzi with a view over the Côte d’Azur.

The addition of a spectacular 215,000-square-foot landscaped garden, complete with tanning decks for sunbathing, plush cabanas and a massive infinity pool, could be the one thing that keeps people off the busy Croisette Boulevard. Of course, the hotel also includes the amazing Carlton Beach Club for direct sea access.

Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes

Opened in 1926, the Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes is located in front of the famed Croisette Beach and next to the Palais des Festivals, where the red carpets are. This year, interior designer Isabelle Stanislas revealed a new decor featuring a mix of Art Deco and modern French Riviera fabulousness. The hotel offers stunning suites, including a penthouse suite with a heated rooftop pool and 360-degree views of Cannes. The hotel boasts a heated outdoor pool and a private beach. Guests can unwind at the Diane Barrière Spa by Biologique Recherche.

Château De Théoule

This former 17th-century soap factory is now home to Château de Théoule, a new hotel featuring 34 rooms and 10 suites spread across a turreted castle, a modern Art Deco villa, and a charming fisherman’s villa. The rooms are decorated with velvet seating, linen curtains, and antique furniture.

Just 20 minutes from Cannes by car or boat, guests will appreciate the chateau’s quiet location, a private beach, and a boho-chic seaside spa. The hotel restaurant Mareluna lets guests dine on the terrace overlooking the Bay of Cannes.

Hôtel Belles Rives

Hôtel Belles Rives is perched at the water’s edge with its private dock, and has welcomed literary icons and famous guests for nearly a century. F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda moved into this villa in 1925. Formerly called the Villa Saint-Louis in a cove on the Cap d’Antibes, it was here that he wrote his masterpiece Tender is the Night.

The focus of the beachfront pier is the chic loungers, iconic striped umbrellas, and an elegant, refined atmosphere. Mediterranean cuisine is served just steps from the shore, while guests can book waterski lessons with the hotel’s dedicated Water Ski Butler. Chef Aurélien Véquaud also leads a one-star Michelin experience alongside the excellent, cozy Bar Fitzgerald.

Where To Eat

During the film festival, it is almost impossible not to bump into a celebrity at one of the top restaurants and bars. Simply find a comfortable seat and watch the parade of famous faces pass you by. I reached out to some of my favorite industry regulars and Cannes locals, and they offered their favorites as the best of the best.

Celebrity concierge Niamh Costello with NERC Concierge offers her top picks, including:

Rüya in the Carlton Hotel—“the epitome of Riviera chic and elegance, from the food to the furniture and the discrete classical Cote D’Azur service and style.”
Medusa—“a fabulously choreographed Cabaret performance for late night dining whilst feeling like a movie star in a stunning venue.”
La Guérite—“access by boat only, whether dining on fresh Mediterranean cuisine or partying with Elton John sitting beside you. It’s a unique experience.”
La Môme Plage—“in the heart of the festival on the Croisette. Fun and light atmosphere watching who’s who of Cannes party in an exclusive venue”
Zuma—“great food, consistently fresh, excellent service and festive ambiance.”

Longtime regular and amfAR gala producer Andy Boose with AAB Productions adds his favorites: “The Bar at the Hotel du Cap… If you know, you know, and Mamo, ‘Far from the Croisette…Close to God.’” While Real estate guru Christian-Alexander Rosengart with Rosengart Real Estate Group adds his top picks in Cannes: La Petite Maison, Zuma, Nammos and La Palme.

Legendary Nikki Beach and Lucia Cannes owner Lucia Penrod says, “For a lively dinner I love Salama for Moroccan food. I’ve also been to their location in Saint-Tropez and there’s always great energy and the dishes are perfect for sharing with a group. Anna and Baoli are also great for a fun night out. Just outside of Cannes you can get amazing Italian food at Chez Mamo in Antibes, and La Cave is a cozy restaurant that has a great selection of local wine.”

Sarah Fraser, event planner with Prime Area Events, says, “I love Cannes. There isn’t anywhere else in the world like it. The Film Festival has a unique setting with wonderful films and extraordinary events. There are decades of stories—both on and off the record—now a part of the city’s identity. My favorites are all a part of the fabric of Festival and range from local watering holes to billionaire hangouts.” Her hotspots include La Petite Maison, La Mome, Mamo, and Le Grill at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, Antibes.

Il Grande Palm Beach

New this year is the stunning Il Grande Palm Beach, created to celebrate the glamour of 1960s Italy. Designed by famed Franco-Mexican architect Hugo Toro, the space pays homage to the golden age of cinema with enchanting, Felliniesque decor. Think decadent red marble floors, Murano glass chandeliers, and a chic speakeasy bar opening in July. The restaurant is part of the 23,000 square meter Palm Beach members’ club.

I spoke with Hugo Toro about what will certainly be the hottest new restaurant in Cannes. “This restaurant is a true haven of passion and mystery,” he said, “Every detail is designed to transport guests to a reimagined golden age. Nestled in Palm Beach, overlooking the sea, it offers a sultry ambiance lit by candlelight and chandeliers, where bespoke elements reign supreme, crafting a timeless and captivating atmosphere.”

Address: Palm Beach Cannes, Place Franklin Roosevelt, 06400 Cannes

Mamo Michelangelo

My favorite restaurant, Mamo Michelangelo, is in the heart of Antibes. During the festival, you are almost guaranteed to dine with a celebrity. Late-night dinners there have included guests like Rihanna, Brad Pitt, Mick Jagger and Sharon Stone. The romantic and lively dining room is in an old stone wine cellar. Here, you can eat everything from their famous truffle ravioli to the excellent lamb shoulder grilled over a wood fire or rabbit with herbs grilled over a wood fire while watching the high-energy diners pose for selfies with the legendary owner, Chef Mamo. Trust me, this place is the ultimate night out.

Address: 4 Rue des Cordiers, 06600 Antibes

Fred l’Écailler

This seaside restaurant is run by the gregarious red-hatted Fred Garbellini and serves fresh catches daily on its sunny terrace. The menu is as legendary as the surroundings, where the scene is often star-studded. Famous for its fresh shellfish and oysters, this restaurant has a maritime-themed dining room and a spacious terrace that enhances the coastal dining experience.

Address: 12, place de l’Étang, 06400 Cannes

Lucia Cannes

Lucia (named after Nikki Beach owner Lucia Penrod) is a new culinary venture by Nikki Beach Hospitality Group. It offers creative Mediterranean fare and a vibrant atmosphere on the Croisette in Cannes. The beach venue is steps away from the Carlton, Majestic, and Martinez hotels and offers a new seasonal lunch menu created by Executive Chefs Alessandro Pizza and Yvon Mbiavanga. From the moment you step through the doors of Lucia, its dynamic, energetic ambiance surrounds you. It is also rare to have such sensational cuisine served in a beach club setting, but the entrees are seriously delicious.

Address: Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes

Le Petite Maison

With sweeping sea views, La Petite Maison Cannes is a super posh restaurant with a contemporary design nestled in the prestigious Palm Beach area of Cannes. The sophisticated establishment offers an exquisite setting that showcases a blend of Mediterranean and French cuisines. There is a strict, elegant dress code to match the impeccable service, offering classic French cuisine.

Address: Palm Beach, Pl. Franklin Roosevelt, 06400 Cannes

La Môme

Ugo and Antoine Lecorché are the twin brother founders of the La Môme Group. Their chic and relaxed restaurant and cocktail bar offer Provençal and Mediterranean cuisine and were inspired by the Dolce Vita spirit. The space is decked out in pink and wine tones, with everything soft and silky. It features a boudoir-style atmosphere, along with a DJ providing a lively evening out.

Address: 6 Rue Florian, 06400 Cannes

Zuma

Zuma, the new Japanese restaurant, is located in the legendary Palm Beach. Completely renovated, you enter Zuma through a tunnel with a low ceiling, and before arriving at a large private dining room, all in stone and wood. Zuma Cannes is a party by the sea featuring spectacular Japanese dishes on a large terrace overlooking the sea. With energetic DJs and robata shows, this is definitely the place to be seen.

Address: Palm Beach Cannes, Place Franklin Roosevelt, 06400 Cannes

Rüya

Fronting the Carlton Cannes, Rüya was created by renowned restaurant-owner Umut Özkanca. Rüya –” dream”– in Turkish, offers a sophisticated and contemporary cuisine inspired by the Anatolian Peninsula’s colorful history, from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Guests will enjoy a menu comprising a range of Anatolian classics, revisited with a modern and fresh twist. The bar is one of my favorites and serves some of the best Turkish-inspired cocktails ever.

Address: 58, Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes

Where To Drink

While there is certainly not a shortage of great bars in Cannes, one of my favorite things to do is to grab a seat in the lobby of the Carlton with a bottle of rosé and watch the parade of famous faces pass by. Most hotspots are in the grand hotels along the Boulevard, but insiders I spoke to have added their personal favorites.

Top spots include the ultra-exclusive Hotel du Cap Bar Bellini, which is impossible to get into unless you are famous or a guest of the hotel, Fouquets Bar in the Majestic Hotel, the Carlton Hotel Tea Salon Camélia for star watching, Luigi’s Piano Bar, and the popular Nammos Beach Club. Niamh Costello adds, “The die-hard film festival movie writers, crew, and producers who’ve been going for years hang out in a dive bar called Le Petit Majestic, which is behind the Mondrian hotel.”

Where To Play

For guests attending the film festival or luxury travelers visiting the sunny Riviera, there are so many things to do away from the movies. The most popular activity during the daytime is sunbathing at one of the many beach clubs. But other special places and events will be worth your while for unique experiences that will make you the envy of your friends back home.

Lucia Penrod adds how to spend the perfect day in Cannes; “There’s so much to do in Cannes,” she says, “it’s almost impossible to pack it all into 24 hours but if I had only one day I’d start with a quick breakfast at the Carlton Hotel, a leisurely lunch at Lucia Cannes, a boat trip to the Iles de Lerins, sunset at Le Suquet, and dinner at one of my favorite spots depending on my mood. And, if you can squeeze in some shopping, then voilà, you’ve got the perfect day!”

AmfAR Gala

The Foundation for AIDS Research returns to the Cannes International Film Festival on May 22, 2025, for the 31st edition of its Gala event. Iconic rock band Duran Duran will return to the amfAR Cannes stage for the first time since 2013. The event, which raises funds for amfAR’s lifesaving biomedical research programs, will be hosted by Taraji P. Henson at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Casino Royal Palm

The Casino Royal Palm at Palm Beach Cannes reopened its doors last year and was reinvented from the ground up. It now offers a fresh, modern experience while retaining the glamour that has made it a famed destination for generations of jet-setters from around the world. With high ceilings, pastel and terracotta tones, and printed screens featuring drawings inspired by the Italian artist Israel Rubinstein, the new interior has soft lighting to make you feel like you are in the Roaring Twenties.

Ile Sainte Marguerite

The Lérins Islands, a group of four small islands located just off the coast of Cannes, is the ideal spot for a day boat trip, offering great beach clubs and sightseeing. The largest and most famous of the islands, Île Sainte-Marguerite, is best known as the setting of Alexander Dumas’ novel, The Man in the Iron Mask, who was reportedly held in the island’s prison.

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