Eating, drinking and dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Côte D'azur (east).
Restaurants
Zebra Square
On the top floor of the Grimaldi Forum facing the sea, this swanky bar and restaurant with sunny terrace, soft seats and a sea view is great for pre-dinner drinks or late-night glam.
Avenue Princesse Grace, 10, Monte Carlo
(+377 99 99 25 50)
La Bastide de Saint-Antoine
This country-house restaurant serves excellent French cuisine, on a terrace under the trees - check out the ‘cigar cave’.
Avenue Henri-Dunant, Grasse
(+33 (0)4 93 70 94 94)
Tetou
Since 1920 Tetou has been the destination for anyone after proper bouillabaisse on the Côte d'Azur. According to the beachside restaurant’s website, they treat the traditional fish stew ‘like precious gems’. Can’t be bad.
Avenue des Frères Roustan, Golfe Juan
(+33 (0)4 9363 7116)
Le Moulin de Mougins
On the Riviera, 5km from Cannes, Le Moulin is a mixture of traditional and contemporary decor which includes silver Baroque chandeliers and a sculpture garden. Plenty of A-listers have given this place the thumbs-up.
Notre Dame de Vie, Mougins
(+33(0)4 93 75 78 24)
Le Mesclun
This restaurant is great for fresh fish, caught every morning and grilled to perfection. The dessert menu is also impressive.
Rue St-Antoine, Cannes
(+33 (0)4 93 99 45 19)
Restaurant La Palme d’Or
Dress up for lunch or dinner at this two Michelin-starred, film-festival-related restaurant, overlooking the Baie de Cannes.
Martinez Hotel, La Croisette, 73, Cannes
(+33 (0)4 92 98 74 14)
Cafés
Café de Paris
No trip to Monaco is complete without at least a drink at the café next to the casino, across the street from the Hôtel de Paris. It’s not just a tourist trap either; there are still some local regulars.
Place du Casino, Monaco
(+377 92 16 20 00)
Caffe Roma
One of Cannes’ best known and most popular café terraces is always packed, come summer or winter (when it’s heated). Order an ice cream and do a bit of celebrity-spotting.
Square Mérimée, 1, Cannes
(+33 (0)4 93 38 05 04)
Bars and clubs
Jimmy’z
Jimmy'z has seen every celebrity and sports star you’d care to mention pass through its doors at some point. One look at the prices of champagne and cocktails tells you all you need to know – that models and millionaires are Jimmy’z target customers.
Avenue Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo
(+377 9216 20 00)
Le Bâoli
Spot celebrities among the well-heeled crowd while indulging in some quality cocktail-sipping and lounging on the beachside veranda with palm trees and candle-lit tables.
Port Pierre Canto, Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes
(+33 (0)4 93 43 03 43)
Les Caves du Roy
One of the coast’s most glamorous nightspots, which is saying something. Looking the part is all-important.
Byblos hotel, Avenue Paul Signac, St Tropez
(+33 (0)4 94 56 68 00)