Restaurants and Bars

Cannes is one of the most cosmopolitan towns you're ever likely to visit. In fact you'll be hard pressed to find a genuine native, as many a visitor to the Côte d'Azur, following the footsteps of 19th-century politician Lord Brougham, has chosen to make it his or her home. It comes as no surprise then that a culinary journey through Cannes is a voyage in itself. Discover and savor the Italian, Creole, Armenian, American, Greek and Mexican variations found here; but if you prefer rustic French fare, there's plenty to choose from whatever your appetite. Whether you yearn for the traditional gastronomic delights at the colorful local brasserie, the delicatessen counters selling fine ice creams, pastries and cakes, or the cafes and tea rooms for quenching your thirst, there is something to suit all tastes, guaranteed.

La Croisette/ La Pointe Croisette

To begin with the town's finest, Cannes has several restaurants which lay claim to this accolade: La Villa des Lys and La Palme d'Or, At this level of excellence, it is difficult to recommend one over the other, but one way of deciding is to choose which palatial hotel you'd prefer to dine in, as these renowned restaurants reside in the Majestic and the Martinez.

Amid the Neo-Etruscan decor at the Villa des Lys, young chef Bruno Oger, quite the modern-day Merlin, will enchant your taste buds. You only have to utter the magic words – braised sea bass with crushed black olive and golden fennel risotto, or leg of pork with sage and mild spices–and you'll be won over.

The internationally renowned Palme d'Or hardly needs an introduction. Masterchef Christian Willer runs the kitchens with inspired expertise, taking local products and imaginatively transforming them into the likes of cold, fresh bean soup with truffles, Saint Pierre fish with tomatoes, olives and zucchini flowers, and spicy shrimp to name but a few. Even though these ingredients are widely used in the region, they are seldom prepared with such refinement.

Poisson Grille and Comptoir de la mer offer the finest fresh seafood, Vesuvio offers excellent Italian fare, and the Restaurant Armenien is a highly original spot right in the middle of La Croisette. Farfalla has a delightful terrace where you can soak up the wonderful atmosphere, and Festival will welcome you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at all hours, but its real specialty is afternoon tea and cakes on the beautiful terrace, courtesy of its fabulous pâtissier (pastry chef).

Centre-ville (Town Center)

The luxuriously modern Hôtel Gray d'Albion also offers a first class dining experience in the Royal Gray. Michel Bigot recently took over from Jacques Chibois as chef here, to the same delicious level of success. Only the best produce is used in truly intuitive combinations of flavors. Try the warm salad of lobster with crepes sprinkled with parsley, creamy wild mushroom soup or fried escalope of foie gras. The decor exudes the atmosphere of a super-stylish brasserie.

Coquille offers first-rate seafood, and Bec Fin is a place where quality is the byword in terms of the cooking, the price and the service.

Morrison's is attractively decorated and serves some of the best beers in Cannes. This bar attracts a largely foreign clientele and the atmosphere is genuinely warm and friendly. Caffe Roma which also offers some great Italian dishes, is a delight in summer or winter–if you're lucky enough to find a seat that is. And if a cup of tea is your preferred tipple, you must try Rohr – a real classic, while the Haagen Dazs cafe will entice any Swiss chocolate lover with its pancakes, or its cookie or pecan flavored ice creams.

If you prefer the finer things in life, head for Pause Caviar, while the Comtesse du Barry offers a superb compromise between luxury and simplicity. Finally for a good wine to wash down all these delights, stop off at Nicolas before you head home to eat.

Mougins

A few kilometers from Cannes, dedicated gourmets should not miss Verge's famous restaurant, Le Moulin de Mougins, but for a more low-key food affair, the following eateries are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds.

At Chez Freddy, Spain takes pride of place, although the restaurant also prepares good Provençal dishes. Piazza offers authentic Italian cooking a little more varied than the run of the mill spaghetti and tomato sauce.

Russian dishes are the order of the day at Saint Petersbourg, or you might like to try the tasty Swiss specialties served at Canna Suisse, all at very reasonable prices.

Le Suquet

Another great choice for traditional French cuisine is the Auberge Provençale which specializes in authentic, age-old recipes. If your favorite is fish you are in luck, because like most port towns, Cannes has a very wide choice of fish and seafood restaurants. Head for the famous Mal Assis,

For those who prefer to eat in rather than out, you'll have no trouble finding some really excellent delicatessens and caterers. A firm favorite is Aux Bons Raviolis – where you can buy what is arguably the best fresh pasta in Cannes.