The Best Cheap Eats and Street Food in Cannes

A trip to Cannes doesnt need to involve wallet-busting meals
A trip to Cannes doesn't need to involve wallet-busting meals | © Alexandre Rotenberg / Alamy Stock Photo
Siobhan Grogan

While there’s no shortage of upscale hotel restaurants and Michelin-star eateries in Cannes, it’s more difficult to eat on a budget in this glamorous seafront city. From traditional crêpes to three-course feasts, these are the best places to find good food at reasonable prices.

Loved by over 40s

Spectacular sea views, celebrated chefs and visiting glitterati mean eating in Cannes can be quite expensive. There is no shortage of places to experience fine dining, lavish seafood dinners and gourmet French cuisine. But head away from Cannes’ famous seafront boulevard La Croisette and there are surprisingly affordable alternatives where you can eat well without deep pockets. These include excellent bakeries, neighbourhood bistros and bargain pizzerias, thanks to the Italian border being just an hour away. The city’s bustling markets are the best place to sample Riviera-style street food, including beignets de fleurs de courgettes (zucchini flower fritters), influenced by the region’s Italian history, and the popular socca – a pancake made of chickpea flour and olive oil batter, rumoured to have been created in the 16th century to pour over invading Turkish troops when the Nice army ran out of ammunition. However, it’s more likely to have been an affordable, filling dish for fishermen in the seaside towns of the Riviera, and is still the ideal cheap eat in Cannes today.

La Crêperie

Cafe, Creperie, French

La Creperie, Cannes
© Helmut Corneli / Alamy Stock Photo

Hidden down a narrow cobblestone street near the harbour, the cosy La Crêperie has been a Nice institution for over 50 years. Served as a street-food dish all over France, crêpes are a thin pancake made from flour, egg and milk and served with both savoury and sweet accompaniments. Order the standard ham and cheese crêpe for a satisfying lunch, served traditionally with cider poured from a jug. You won’t regret trying the Nutella version if you have room afterward.

Aux Bons Enfants

Bistro, French

Rue Meynadier, Cannes, France
© The Culture Trip

For traditional French food without the typical expensive Cannes price tag, Aux Bon Enfants is a popular, no-fuss stop for foodies heading to the nearby Forville Market. Established in 1935 by the grandmother of current owner Luc Giorsetti, the menu is fresh, seasonal and hearty. “Local and seasonal products are selected every morning nearby, at the Marché Forville, from local producers, butchers, fishmongers or cheesemakers,” says Giorsetti. A three-course meal costs less than €33 (£30) and includes regional favourites such as daube (a Provençal beef stew) and rockfish soup. Just remember to bring cash, as credit cards are not accepted.

La Rôtisserie Christophe

Market, French

Rotisserie chickens being spit roasted
© Stephen French / Alamy Stock Photo

If you can tear yourself away from the mountains of fresh food in the Forville Market, follow the market traders for lunch at Rôtisserie Christophe on the main market square. There are only a handful of seats, but grab one if you can, and tuck into a perfectly roasted chicken, fat Toulouse sausages or juicy roast beef, all from carefully selected local farms. Everything can be packed up to take away, too, if you’re in the mood for a picnic.

L’Assiette Provençale

Restaurant, French, Mediterranean, European

Cannes waterfront
© Picturereflex / Shutterstock

You don’t always have to forgo the sea view to eat cheaply in Cannes. Charming L’Assiette Provençale is perched on the city’s Vieux Port (Old Port) with great views over the harbour and three-course meals starting from around €26 (£23). Ask for a table on the terrace if the weather’s warm and start with the zucchini flower fritters, a dish popular all over Cannes and served here in a rich tomato sauce. Finish with a zingy lemon tart, a dish that originated in the Riviera thanks to its abundance of citrus fruits.

Sylane

Restaurant, Middle Eastern

It may not be the first dish that springs to mind when visiting France, but kebab shops are all over Cannes, popular with budget-conscious visitors and hungry partygoers. Right next to the train station, Sylane is the tastiest of all, piling kebabs with succulent meat, spicy sauces and a healthy helping of frites. Vegetarians don’t need to miss out on late-night snacking either, as the falafel wraps are filling and flavourful.

Bay Café

Cafe, French

Worth visiting just for the view across the Mediterranean Sea, the beachside spot Bay Café is ideal for those on a budget. The contemporary restaurant overlooking the water offers a three-course lunchtime menu for around €17 (£15) including dishes such as steak and seafood risotto – plus a moreish tiramisu. It’s €6 (£5) more at weekend lunchtimes, but still far cheaper than anything else in this part of Cannes. The house wine is reasonably priced, too.

Marché Forville

Market, French

JCTP0068-Marche Forville-Cannes-France-Fenn--131
© Culture Trip
Indoor market Marché Forville is the best place to eat on the move and sample Cannes’ most delicious street food. Follow your nose and indulge in a pancake-like socca. This traditional dish is made with chickpea flour and olive oil, and cooked in a cast-iron pan in a wood-fired oven. It’s best eaten steaming hot with plenty of seasoning out of a paper wrapper. Afterward, try a freshly shucked oyster or a slice of pissaladière, a pizza-like dough smothered in tomatoes, olives, anchovies, onions and herbs that originated along the coast in Nice. Avoid Mondays if you’re feeling peckish, as antiques and bric-a-brac replace the food stalls.

Le Troquet à Soupes

Cafe, Restaurant, Contemporary, French, Vegan, Vegetarian

When you’ve had your fill of steak frites, head to this charming café decorated with colourful cushions and fresh flowers in the heart of the Old Town. Unusually, the seasonal menu includes several vegan and vegetarian options like soups, salads and a vegetarian raclette (a cheese melted and served with bread, potatoes and cornichons). If you fancy something more traditional, owner Sylvie Gérant’s onion soup is irresistible, while her homemade desserts should not be missed. With two courses starting at just €13 (£12), Gérant describes Le Troquet à Soupes as “essential for all those who love home cooking at very low prices.”

La Pizzaiola Chez Xavier

Pizzeria, Restaurant, Italian

Just an hour from Italy and once part of the Roman Empire, Cannes is dominated by Italian restaurants. Open since 1972 on a quiet street in the heart of the city, La Pizzaiola is a must for authentic wood-fired pizzas, friendly staff and a laid-back atmosphere. At busy times, you may have to queue for a table, or you can join the delivery line and ask for the pizza to be delivered to Le Bar à Vin next door so you can enjoy a glass of wine while you wait.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.