The Best Restaurants in Cannes, France

If you want to live like a local in Cannes, then head straight to Bar du Marin. This wallet-friendly hole in the wall is found just off Rue Rouguière. For what it lacks in appearance, it makes up for in uncomplicated traditional dishes – such as moules frites and salade niçoise. Top it off with a carafe of Côtes de Provence white or rosé for a true Cannois experience.

The creative dishes at L’Affable come with a price tag to match – but don’t expect snooty service here. It’s friendly and welcoming, and renowned French chef Jean-Paul Battaglia attracts hordes of hungry patrons to his Michelin-recommended restaurant. Menu highlights include spiced sea bream, roasted rack of lamb with thyme and large tempura prawns. Be sure to save room for the Grand Marnier soufflé – it’s a bestseller for good reason.

A refined old-town restaurant with stellar service and seasonally-inspired cuisine, Table 22 is headed up by former Alain Ducasse chef, Noël Mantel, so expect traditional Mediterranean dishes with a twist. Menu favourites include cod fillet cooked in fleur de sel with a bouillabaisse jus, and fresh porcini mushroom cannelloni. Photographs of classic film stars, such as Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock, line the walls – this is Cannes, after all.

If you fancy a change from fine French fare, Turin native Laura Merlo has been serving up the best Italian food in Cannes since 1992. After all, France’s transalpine neighbour is only an hour’s drive down the coast. Book a table on the sun-drenched terrace at this rustic trattoria for specialities from Laura’s native Piedmont – including ricotta and chard ravioli, spaghetti alla chitarra with fresh tomato, plus the creamiest burrata in town. Bellissima.

This laid-back intimate bistro prides itself on its fresh, local produce, with a menu that changes with the seasons. Delicious homemade dishes include zucchini flower fritters, veal chop with chanterelles, and – if you’re feeling extra French – frog’s legs with parsley. Regulars rave about the extensive wine list, too, comprising more than 500 varieties of grape, so prepare to get merry.

Not only is La Palme d’Or the highest accolade awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, it’s also a classic French Riviera restaurant not to be missed – if you’ve got deep enough pockets. As the only restaurant in Cannes with two Michelin stars, you know you’re in for a treat. Housed on the first floor of the glamorous Hôtel Martinez and overlooking the glitz La Croisette, bag a seat on the terrace to enjoy dazzling views of the bay, served alongside the executive chef, Christian Sinicropi’s Provençal dishes. Opt for the tasting menu to sample the highlights.

From the clientele to the surroundings – perched up high on the fifth floor of the luxury Five Seas Hotel – Le Roof is as cool as they come. Enjoy a spicy Moscow mule on the open-air pool terrace at sundown, paired with a briozza – brioche pizza with parmesan, walnuts and mushrooms – from the finger-food menu. For something more substantial, try the seared lamb chop with candied apricot and aubergine mousse. Be sure to check out the weekend brunch, too: it’s among the best in town.

Aux Bons Enfants is renowned for its faultless French flavours, and the Giorsetti family has been cooking up its divine regional dishes since 1935. Now owned by Luc Giorsetti, the restaurant doesn’t take reservations – this place doesn’t even have a phone – nor does it accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash and drop by to make a booking if you get the chance. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on his Provençal beef stew or fresh hake with vegetable tagine.

If charm, great food and service with a smile float your boat, be sure to pay a visit to L’Antidote Christophe Ferre. Housed in a former maison de maître – a white, classic-looking villa from the early 20th century – the restaurant offers romantic seating within the bloom-decked garden, as well as a glassed-in veranda. As for the menu, French dishes are given an innovative tweak. Opt for the supreme of duckling with spices for a real treat for the tastebuds.

Le Bistrot Gourmand is a bustling bistro, just steps from Cannes’ biggest food market: Marché Forville. Chef Guillaume Arragon dishes up Provençal classics, such as the fish soup, which is made with a freshly-plucked catch of the day – while the rack of Sisteron lamb with veg from the nearby market looks and tastes exquisite, too. If you’re lucky, nab a seat on the small terrace and bask in the glorious Cannes sunshine, cocktail in hand.