The Cannes dining scene is divided into three categories: timeless institutions, chic newcomers and the private invitation-only dinners and parties everyone clamors to attend.
Just in case the third scenario hasn’t materialized yet, it’s imperative to have a game plan that puts you at the right tables within the storied dining rooms and booming hotspots.
Here is THR‘s look at restaurants to try, if you haven’t yet, or revisit, if you have.
Rüya in Carlton Cannes
58 Bd de la Croisette Cs 40052, 06400 Cannes, France
Rüya
Courtesy of Carlton Cannes/Elise Quiniou
A break from the typical Cannes fare, “rüya” means “dream” in Turkish, and this restaurant inside the iconic Carlton Cannes serves modern and classic dishes from the Anatolian Peninsula. It’s the only one of its kind on the Croisette, and it proudly maintains its cultural identity, representing seven regions of Turkey with exotic spices and preparations woven into each meant-to-be-shared plate, paired with a bold cocktail. Rüya has all the vibe yet feels just a little bit away from it all, even though the patio faces the Croisette. The bread oven pumps out pide and flat bread with various types of toppings, and the charcoal oven cooks proteins from King prawns to 24-hour slow-cooked Wagyu beef brisket.
Salama
10 Rue Florian, 06400 Cannes, France
Salama
Courtesy of Oreka
Not located within one of the hotels but instead a bustling part of Rue Florian, Salama, a follow-up to its popular sister in Saint Tropez, is a collision of Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine without leaving the South of France. Thanks to David Granata, of OREKA Architecture, Maghreb and the French Riviera flawlessly intertwine. There are two nightly seatings; the second comes alive with belly dancing and music as the atmosphere elevates. The menu runs from traditional Moroccan Chicken Pastilla, couscous, and tajines to skewers and brochettes, with a deeply thought-out cocktail program to complement.
Zuma
Palm Beach Cannes, Pl. Franklin Roosevelt, 06400 Cannes, France
Zuma
Courtesy Zuma
New to Cannes last year, international restaurant brand Zuma debuted along with the premiere of the reinvented Art Deco Palm Beach compound (which opened in 1929 and closed in 2019 for a remodel), filled with restaurants and private clubs on the Cap de la Croisette peninsula. This Zuma has a terrace to take advantage of a sublime Côte d’Azur view and also Cannes exclusive dishes such as the sliced otoro, served with smoked tomato dashi and oscietra caviar, and beef tartare with sancho pepper, myoga, and black truffle. There are almost two dozen Zumas worldwide, but who’s counting? With Nobu located an hour away in Monaco, this is your best bet for a taste of something familiar.
La Petite Maison
Palm Beach, Pl. Franklin Roosevelt, 06400 Cannes, France
La Petite Maison
Courtesy of La Petite Maison
Also located in Palm Beach, Côte d’Azur legend La Petite Maison Cannes offers a panoramic view from Cap d’Antibes to the Lerins Islands in addition to dishes created and presented with a little bit of eccentricity — warm prawns in olive oil, anyone? Serving brunch, lunch and dinner, the caviar flows, as do the truffles. And of course, every table comes with the “iconic” edible tomato and lemon centerpiece. It’s up to you how you use it.
La Môme
6 Rue Florian, 06400 Cannes
La Môme
Courtesy of La Môme
Cannes’ most popular restaurants either come from somewhere else or are going somewhere else. In the case of La Môme (not to be confused with Edith Piaf’s nickname), the Rue Florian original has only proved to be a springboard, as they now boast a local beach club, La Môme Plage, and a sister location in Monaco. Think of La Môme as a party that manages to keep it together enough to get to work in the morning. Decked out in the spirit of La Dolce Vita with Slim Aarons’ photographs, La Môme is known for its dedicated crudo menu and dazzling crudo towers, extensive pasta dishes and pages of other things to keep every guest happy.
La Palme d’Or inside Hôtel Martinez
73 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
La Palme d’Or
Courtesy of Boby/Remi Tessier Design
The historic La Palme d’Or at Hotel Martinez, host of the annual Cannes Jury Dinner, reopened last year after an extensive remodel. The new space, helmed by Chef Jean Imbert, just won its first Michelin star. It doesn’t shy away from its roots as designer Rémi Tessier crafts a cinematically immersive dining experience with all the touches, including a menu crafted to resemble a film script, dishes presented like storyboards, coat-check receipts look like old-fashioned movie tickets and the dessert menu designed like a call sheet. The room resembles a vintage boat with lacquered wood, chock-full of movie posters, relics and scripts with handwritten notes. The star of the show is the terrace with panoramic views of the French Riviera and, of course, the seafood and other delicacies from the Mediterranean Sea.
Fred l’Écailler
12 Pl. de l’Étang, 06400 Cannes, France
Fred l’Écailler
Courtesy of Fred l’Écailler
This unassuming seaside spot on the quieter side of Pointe Croisette could be the most important restaurant in Cannes. Celebrities flock to see proprietor Fred Garbellini (never without his red beanie) and eat what some have described as life-changing fresh seafood, shellfish, oysters and more, publicized on the daily catch board as they should be. As a result, it has also become a hotspot for hosting some of the most exclusive Cannes parties. Don’t miss an opportunity to eat here.