It’s been a while…are you still with me? I just realized this is my first post of 2025 and it’s nearing the end of March! I’ve been enjoying a nice hibernation since the holiday break and to be honest, the weather in the first couple months of the year is not exactly ideal here. Lately however, the sun has been shining and every day has been an absolute stunner. Spring has arrived and ushered in with it some wonderful travel opportunities. I most recently traveled with my husband to Cannes, a beautiful little resort town on the French Riviera. While he was there for work, I took the opportunity to do some exploring on my own and I’m happy to report that it was a great time – definitely blog worthy! While I’m sure I won’t be attending its famed film festival any time soon, Cannes has more to offer than red carpets and paparazzi. I hope you enjoy my Eat + Stay + Play guide to Cannes, French Riviera!

Before we go on, just a kind reminder that I am not a travel agent or professional tour guide. I simply enjoy sharing my love for travel and hope to inspire your next trip. For this particular guide, I had not made plans or reservations ahead of time. My finds are from a few days of exploration with an open mind and adventurous attitude. The weather made things a bit challenging as well. You can find all of my Eat + Stay + Play travel guides here.

Where to Eat in Cannes

La Pizza Cresci – After landing and checking into our hotel, I was craving a cozy place with a carafe of house wine and comfort food. This was the perfect spot. The wood-fired pizza they’ve been making here since 1960 is delicious. We shared a traditional pepperoni pizza with a large salad and of course I forgot to photograph it (I think we were hungry). We did not have a reservation and sat inside due to weather, but they have a nice large terrace on the water as well. 

Bobo Bistro – Another cozy and casual spot for lunch or dinner. They have a small terrace but a rather sizable restaurant where I was able to have lunch without a reservation. I had a great Caesar salad that was topped with a lightly battered chicken thigh – my favorite.

Café Hoche – This place has two large terraces flanking Rue Hoche and an elegant riviera vibe. If you’re into aesthetics like me, you’ll love the black and white color scheme gracing the awnings and French cafe chairs. Diners sit and sip at brass ringed tables nestled amongst bright green manicured boxwoods. Go ahead and pop the champagne here. It’s great for a slow lunch with a side of people watching. I had a warm goat cheese salad and a glass of rosé that was really good. The staff was very friendly and accommodated me without a reservation. For dinner, I think a reservation is needed.

Luigi Cannes – I joined my husband for dinner here and loved the lively atmosphere. Luigi’s is also a piano bar that transitions into a club as the night goes on. The food was delicious and is best enjoyed family style so order a few things to share. The côte de boeuf was exceptional. Reservations needed.

Le Cirque – On our last evening in Cannes I joined my husband for a work dinner here, and while the menu was prix fixe for our group it was quite good. The pappardelle (also a favorite of mine) was great! There are two levels to the restaurant with a cozy bar and terrace.

Where to Stay in Cannes

Cannes’ Promenade de la Croisette is home to some truly palatial hotels. No matter where you decide to stay, make it a point to pop into these luxurious and historic establishments. I love an art deco hotel and Hôtel Martinez (The Unbound Collection by Hyatt) is, according to Forbes, “an art deco icon.” Originally built in the 1,800’s as a palace, it opened as a hotel in 1929. Then there’s Carlton Cannes (a Regent Hotel) with its hard-to-miss grandeur. It opened in 1911 and was the central location for one of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies To Catch a Thief. My husband and I stayed at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes, another art deco gem that opened in 1926. It is home to many film stars during the Cannes Film Festival. Our room had a lovely terrace overlooking the Croisette and sea beyond. Everything was beautiful and I really enjoyed our stay.  

7 Things to See and Do in Cannes

I came to Cannes in early March with a weather forecast that was anything but French Riviera in nature. Rain and chilly air were common but we got lucky with some moments of sun. I made sure to make the most of those times and saw as much of Cannes as I could in three days.

1 – Visit the Église Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage de Cannes on a nighttime stroll to see the church’s facade illuminated in colorful lights. 

2 – Le Suquet is Cannes’ medieval old town and really enjoyable to explore. Cobblestone streets and pastel buildings transport you back in time. Allow yourself to get lost and get some steps in. Some of the streets are a bit steep but the views are very rewarding.

3 – The Musée des Explorations du Monde is at the high point of Le Suquet and has a medieval tower you can climb for a panoramic view of Cannes and its yacht-filled marina. I paid €6.50 and had the entire place to myself (a perk of getting there right when they opened). 

4 – Marché Forville is an indoor/outdoor market selling local fruits and vegetables, flowers, seafood, meat, cheese and more. It’s open six days a week (closed Mondays) and is a lively place to see the exceptional quality of produce that the south of France is known for. I always love food markets like this one and had to try some fried zucchini flowers. They were huge and so delicious – only €1 each!

5 – Take a stroll down the Boulevard de la Croisette as it curves around the coastline. Stunning blue waters and beach clubs on one side and grand hotels, shops, and former mansions on the other. Take time for a coffee or breakfast at a cafe along the water. Enjoy a crisp glass of rosé in the riviera sun. The marina is full of boats of all sizes. I saw two old fishermen hand sewing their fishing nets and felt like I had traveled back through time.

6 – Cannes is a great place to do a little shopping. Rue d’Antibes is the main shopping street where you’ll find a mix of high end brands and smaller boutiques. You’ll find more luxury brands along the Croisette too.

7 – Every time I go to France I always pop into a pharmacy. French pharmacies are a treasure trove of skincare and beauty products, with your favorite French brands at a better price than anywhere else (especially if you’re from the states). There are several pharmacies around Cannes but I found this one to be the best.

I hope to return to Cannes soon and enjoy more of it under the riviera sunshine. I’d like to go to the beach and have an aperitif on the Croisette as the sun sets, try new restaurants, and relax in ways only the Cote d’Azur can!

As always, thank you for reading! 

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xo – Erin

Eat + Stay + Play: Cannes, French Riviera appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com.

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