The Best Bars in Cannes, France

Tucked away on the quiet Rue Marceau in the heart of Cannes, the tiny Le Bar à Vin is perfect for all wine-lovers, with more than 50 varieties served by the glass. Perch on a bar stool and ask for recommendations from knowledgeable, English-speaking bar staff or lounge on leather sofas beside tables made from wine barrels and share platters of delicious French cheese. There’s also a pool table and beer on tap, while drinks are some of the cheapest you’ll find anywhere in Cannes. During the summer months, they serve a delicious fruity sangria, while free bar snacks are available each evening. If you’re still hungry afterwards, pop over to Chez Xavier next door and order a stone-baked pizza. Speak to staff nicely, and they’ll even bring it to you in the bar when it’s ready.

There are countless hotel bars to choose from on La Croisette, Cannes’ prestigious seafront boulevard, but only La Cercle has its own garden with spectacular sea views. Set within Le Grand Hotel, the bar is one of the oldest in the city and still one of the cosiest, with retro armchairs, a resident pianist most nights and head barman Alexandre serving up cocktails. In the summer, choose the bar’s zingy namesake Le Cercle cocktail, with vodka, watermelon Pastèque liqueur, pineapple, orange and strawberry, then head outside to the fairy-lit garden for French Riviera views.

Just minutes from the seafront but a world away from Cannes’ typical wine bars, order a gin and tonic at this quirky English pub. With retro signs, leather booths and antique bikes and books hanging from the ceiling, it’s a relaxed drinking hole. With regular live music evenings, it’s perfect for a fun night out with friends. Popular with international visitors throughout the year, it’s renowned for its barbecued food (the chilli squid is a must-try) and has recently introduced a range of plant-based dishes ideal for vegans. “We’re also about to launch a happy hour every day between 5.30 and 8.30pm,” reveals owner Gary Gregg. “We’ll have three-for-two on all drinks and complimentary tapas.”

Dress up and bring deep pockets for an evening at the bar of Cannes’ legendary five-star Hotel Martinez, perhaps the city’s most iconic bar. A firm favourite with film stars during the festival, it’s the ideal place to get a taste of the high life year-round. The decor is elegant with gold-embossed Art Deco styling, a live jazz pianist, outstanding tapas and a terrace often frequented by visiting glitterati. The bow-tied barmen have won every award possible for their innovative cocktails, so ask them to pick a favourite or try La Coquette, with gin, Benedictine, apple juice, lemon juice and honey and spices.

An unpretentious, bustling spot near the train station, Bar Le Vin 20 is a popular after-work spot thanks to an extensive wine selection, straightforward service and busy on-street terrace. Bottles of wine line the walls, but expert sommelier Léandre Piquet is always happy to recommend a glass, favouring Burgundies and Languedocs. The bar also offers an extensive choice of Provençal wines. Rarely visited by tourists, it’s a favourite of local bar owner Gary Gregg. “This is a great little wine bar with fantastic wines by the glass,” he says.

Though it might seem odd to head to an Irish pub on the French Riviera, Morrisons is a much-loved Cannes institution for anyone who wants a reasonably priced pint in a traditional pub. Right in the heart of the city off the main shopping street of Rue d’Antibes, it attracts a large Irish crowd drawn to the cheap Guinness, live music, televised sports and ever-cheery staff. For a quieter evening, head upstairs to the second floor and discover the bookcase of Irish novels over a drink.

Part wine-shop, part bar, Eta Vallauri is an intimate neighbourhood bar tucked away behind the bustling Forville Market. With a vast selection of wine including local Provençal rosé and well-priced Champagne, it’s a great place to try before you buy, then take away a whole bottle if you find one you like. Grab a seat on the outdoor covered terrace and people-watch over a glass of Syrah and a plate of cured meat and cheese. If you visit on a Friday, there is often live music in the bar. “Most of the wine the owner Didier has chosen is from small wine producers and boutique vineyards,” local sommelier Michelle Oberg says. “Sundays between 11am and 2pm are the most animated days to go, with residents enjoying the terrace and the gorgeous wines after doing their weekly shopping at the market.”

Unique in Cannes, Charly’s Bar used to be a sheepfold but is now a hip, atmospheric venue with low cave-like ceilings, purple lighting and a great cocktail list. On the central Rue du Suquet in the city’s picturesque old town, Le Suquet, Charly’s is surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants, making it the perfect pre-dinner stop. Be careful not to fill up on the generous helpings of free bar snacks, though. Instead, check out the bar’s very own waterfall and people-watch with a cocktail in hand. Unusually for Cannes, Charly’s is also open on Sundays for week-round partying.

As the name suggests, this rooftop bar in the Radisson Blu 1835 hotel has a sweeping view over Cannes. Right on the edge of the port, the hotel overlooks both the pretty Old Town and the gleaming boats in the harbour, all the way to the Lerins Islands and the stately Esterel mountains beyond. Visit the nearby medieval Musée de la Castre first then arrive in good time to grab a seat and watch the spectacular sunset with a Provençal rosé served over ice.