18 Best Restaurants in The French Riviera, France

The back-to-bistro boom climaxed here when Dominique Le Stanc retired his crown at the Negresco to take over this tiny, unpretentious landmark of Provençal cuisine. For decades he has worked in a miniature open kitchen creating ultimate versions of stuffed sardines, tagliatelle with pistou, slow-simmered daubes (beef stews), and the quintessential stockfish (the local lutefisk)—but don’t worry, pizza is an option, too. There are two seatings at both lunch and dinner. You'll have to stop by in person or message on Facebook or Instagram to reserve entry to the inner sanctum as there's no phone—and note that credit cards are not accepted either.

With a handwritten menu board, wine bottles as far as the eye can see, and a low-key assemblage of chairs and tables that look like they came out of a 1970s-era attic, this is the kind of authentic French bistro people travel to Provence for. Owner Sébastien Perinetti and chef Elmahdi Mobarik source the freshest hyperlocal produce to bring you a parade of taste sensations, all seductively priced. Each selection is described by Sébastien in its entirety, perhaps a Sardinian “fregola” pasta with cuttlefish and peas from the fields of St-Isidore, with a peach soup made with white peaches from St-Martin-du-Var.

Owners Renaud and Marilène Geille, who used to run Les Viviers back in the day, pack this popular eatery by offering exceptional surroundings, fabulous food, and flawless service. The fish dishes are supreme, lightly accentuated by seasonal vegetables, and the magret carnard seems reinvented. The desserts may not seem particularly adventurous, but the delicate combination of salty and sweet will knock your socks off (if you’re wearing any). Next door is sister restaurant Le Petit Café, equally as atmospheric and delicious.

A beacon to all fish lovers since 1953, Astoux et Cie Brun deserves its reputation for impeccably fresh fruits de mer. Well-trained staffers negotiate cramped quarters to lay down heaping seafood platters, shrimp casseroles, and piles of oysters shucked to order. Open 365 days a year with nonstop service, it is noisy, cheerful, and always busy (so don't expect rapid service). Arrive early (noon for lunch, 6 pm for dinner) to get a table and avoid a line.

Facing the Cocteau chapel with an enviable view of the sea from its terrace, this modern brasserie could easily get away with being merely mediocre. Instead, it serves fresh, colorful Mediterranean dishes ranging from an addictive anchoïade—crudités with anchovy dip—to omelets. It's a favorite of English-speaking expats, and it's easy to understand why, since it brings together all the ingredients that make for a casual yet memorable meal on the French Riviera. Book online ahead to be sure of securing a coveted terrace table.

What could be more fashionable than tucking into exquisite cuisine—prepared by Michelin-starred guest chefs such as Yannick Alleno and Arnaud Donckele—in an enchanting sheltered garden designed by Peter Wirtz at the House of Dior? Meals are reasonably priced for St-Tropez, and the dessert selection is large (consider trying the much-lauded, tiny, round D’Choux pastries, which come in a variety of flavors). This magical oasis is also the perfect place to toast the sunset with a glass of Champagne; expect to pay €60 for une verre of Dom Pérignon 2004, though.

Could it be that Cannes finally has an eatery where good food and friendly service come together? Come for une verre on the terrace or a meal in one of two interior rooms, one modern and the other traditional, where the steak-house menu offers more than just grilled Argentine black Angus, Australian Wagyu, and Kobe beef—there are also fish and seasonal vegetarian dishes, as well as plenty of French and world wines.

The new owners of this St-Paul-de-Vence institution in the center of the old village have magically created a contemporary bistro, where a few seats on a second-story terrace (book in advance) overlook the street below. Choose the plat du jour, or order from an à la carte menu with everything from an organic egg to a chicken burger to a Jerusalem artichoke and shimeji-mushroom confit with smoked duck breast. Half bottles of wine are available, so sit on the terrace with une verre, and breathe in the views of the fountain square—an experience that more than compensates for occasions when service is slow or the kitchen runs out of certain dishes.

Cheerful blue-and-white-checked tablecloths, massive colorful throw cushions, and a polished wood facade give this unpretentious "blue house" on the main pedestrian street a welcoming air. You'll find straightforward fresh pasta like tagliatelle pistou and ravioli and simple grilled meat and fish dishes, accompanied by well-chosen local wines.

This place checks all the French-bistro boxes—mouthwatering classic dishes, a chalkboard menu, and a setting on a cobblestone street—with the bonus of friendly service. The three-course €55 menu rounds off the experience, and there is a vegan option.

Years ago, former French pro soccer player Wilfrid Gohel teamed up with Eric Chaumier, president of the regional retailers union, and took over this waterfront favorite. They could have just banked on the wraparound views of the marina and château to bring in the dinner crowds, but instead they refined the menu to include grilled bass with smoked salt petals and salmon marinated with pure malt whiskey and sautéed with matcha tea velouté sauce.

Just 10 km (6 miles) west of St-Tropez and 4 km (2½ miles) south of Grimaud and the village of La Mole, this bucolic old farmhouse restaurant sits on a hillside over forests dense with cork oak and chestnuts. Whether you eat on the terrace with its views of the Massif des Maures and Gulf of St-Tropez or in the rustic dining room, the food tastes and smells of the surrounding countryside. Think crispy baked St-Marcelin cheese with honey and nuts or grilled beef tenderloin, fried potatoes, and béarnaise sauce, nicely topped off with chocolate and mango sorbet. Add the warm and friendly service, and this is your dream French restaurant experience. Choose from a three-course set menu (€45–€55), or order à la carte. 

Catering to the yachting crowd, this established portside restaurant has outdoor tables surrounding a tiny "garden" of potted palms. The focus is on fish, of course—soupe de poisson (fish soup), St-Pierre (John Dory) steamed with asparagus, and roasted whole sea bass.

The Cours Saleya's desirable terrace tables provide an excuse for many of the restaurants along this strip to get away with culinary murder, but that's not the case at Le Safari, which pays more attention than most to ingredients and presentation. Choose from traditional Niçois dishes—the fish soup served with croutons, spicy mayonnaise, and cheese is particularly good—and Italian-inspired fare such as creamy risotto. Inside the colorful dining room is where the locals eat, and some even claim the food is a notch better there. Wherever you'd like to sit, it's a good idea to make a reservation.

You'll find your bonheur (happiness) in this popular and centrally located gem of Dutch owner-chef Lodewijk Schröder. From a hearty black Angus steak to a mouthwatering chicken vol-au-vent, the selection is classic French gastronomy (so definitely not vegan or vegetarian-friendly). There are a few chic surprises for the middle of a tourist town, like the Indonesian Nasi Rames spicy rice dish. Too bad about the trucks and motorcycles roaring past.

Before you plunge into the dense tangle of streets in old St-Paul-de-Vence, stop on the ramparts under the century-old lime tree for a meal or snack at this atmospheric café, where the breezy terrace looks onto the valley and the Alps. The kitchen makes more of an effort than you might expect, turning out colorful salads (crispy goat cheese salad with figs) and pastas at lunch and more serious fare in the evening. Pop by for the Salon de Thé (daily 3–6 pm), which offers much more than Mariage Frères tea: red berry tiramisu, crepes, and coffee on a separate menu. Across the street, Le Tilleul sells freshly made, sorbet and ice cream for takeout in flavors like wild peach and almond milk with sour cherry.

From just outside the walled village, you can see this restaurant that was once a 17th-century oil mill. Owner Frédéric Rossi hired the young chef Olivier Depardieu, who did his apprenticeship at the Colombe d'Or and worked at Château Saint Martin, to create regional dishes like risotto with artichokes and langoustines or sea bass with pole-fried vegetables. This place is best for a hearty dinner rather than a light lunch, especially since the terrace doesn't get much shade.

When you've had enough of the “catch of the day" and need a good old dose of red meat—in various cuts, from rump steak to rib to sirloin XXL—this Italian restaurant in old Antibes is the place to go. The selection includes black Angus American, Australian, or Irish beef as well as veal, chicken, and foie gras, and it's all overseen by Nicolas Rondell, head chef at the Michelin-starred Pecheurs in the Cap. You can even read about where your meat was raised, as well as its breed, age, and feeding methods. If all of this is too much, you can order pasta—you know where that comes from.