South of France: Summer
It is truly the place to be in the summer. From St. Tropez to Monaco, and everything in between, the Côte d’Azur is a playground for all between May and August, and you just gotta be there. The end of May is definitely the most high profile time to go because you have the Cannes Film Festival followed by the Monaco Grand Prix. So that’s when I went, and here are some highlights.
Le Plongeoir
Lunch at Le Plongeoir is another must, for all the right reasons. Great seafood, ocean views, instagrammability and vibes all are a 10/10 here. Just make sure to get a reservation well in advance!
Dinner at Nuances
Dinner at Nuances is a must, located in the up and coming trendy Port area of Nice. This restaurant will send your tastebuds on a journey, and you won’t quite know exactly what or where the journey will take you (by design). Plus, it won’t break the bank, a big plus in this area.
SEEN Rooftop
Drinks at the rooftop bar of the Anantara Nice was how we started off this trip. Reminder, my mom lives in Nice, so visiting is like going to my second home at this point. And this is a brand new rooftop in a swanky new hotel that sets the standard in Nice (which you should definitely NOT avoid). The views and drinks and service were all wonderful here.
Boat to Monaco
Rent a boat to take you from Nice to Monaco, because why not. It also like was not THAT much more expensive than an Uber given the Monaco Grand Prix was coming up, and we got to stop at some bays and go for a swim and enjoy the wonderful views!
Buddha Bar
Dinner at Buddha Bar, followed by some dancing, is a must. Get seated at around 10:30, start eating by 11:15, finish by 12, have some dessert, finish your bottle of wine, and start dancing around 1 through until the sun comes up! All is possible at Buddha Bar.
Nobu Monaco
We also went to the Nobu in the Fairmont which was good, but definitely not at the level of other Nobu’s I have been to in terms of design, service and quality.
And that’s it. There is so much more (I have blogs on St. Tropez, as well as Nice during the winter), but these are some of the highlights of my time in the South of France over the summer!
Hang out in Villefranche
Not just because that is where my mom lives (who is dope, by the way), but also because it is the most beautiful little town on the coast. I say that because of its scale, colors, and the fact that it has the most beautiful water in the area, in my humble opinion.
La Reserve Beaulieu
With a beautiful seaside pool and dramatic vistas of crashing waves, plus just absolutely stunning interior design make this a great spot to enjoy a drink.
Parc de la Colline du Chateau
Head up to the Parc de la Colline du Chateau with the elevator up the rock. You’ll be treated with great views of the city, not to mention complete with a beautiful (man made) waterfall behind you. Plus, there is a nice castle, graveyard and gardens up here to meander through as well. Worth a couple hour visit.
Saint Paul de Vence
Spend an afternoon checking out the art galleries in Saint Paul de Vence. This ancient city perched on the top of hill with 360 degree views is one of the most scenic in the area, and the art galleries that fill the cobblestone streets are just sublime.
Baoli Cannes
Dinner at Baoli in Cannes is a must. This place goes off with great music, fire shows, and fantastic food. It is one of the most seen and bee seen places on the Riviera, so do with that what you will. I absolutely loved it!
Nikki Beach Monte Carlo
Nikki Beach Monte Carlo is just a fantastic vibe, on the rooftop of the Fairmont, complete with a pool, DJ, and plenty of cabanas. The food was great, as was the music, and I’d definitely recommend hanging here for a bit.
Watch the Grand Prix (Practices)
When it comes to watching the Grand Prix, I myself am not a huge fan, so I just went to see the practices for the F2 and F3 guys, but even that in itself was absolutely incredible. I simply was not prepared for how loud it would be and how unique the experience of watching these cars whip it at ungodly speeds around the most beautiful old French buildings would be! So pay for a grandstand ticket (they literally block any and all other potential free vantage points) and enjoy the show.