A land of nightclubs, glamour, and salacious stories, yes, but the South of France also has a stockpile of world-class restaurants, from napkin-waving hotspots to Michelin-lauded institutions.
Beyond the star appeal of its reputation, the region is also one of France’s most beautiful – a characteristic that its best restaurants exploit to its maximum potential via alfresco dining and panoramic views. Stretching from Perpignan near the Spanish border to Menton, on the fringes of Italy, the SoF is also overflowing with some of the world’s best ingredients, from fresh-off-boat Mediterranean fish to berries, apples, truffles, olives, and herbs. And that’s all before we get started on the wine – in fact, you can all but guarantee that as you’re reading this, a bottle of Provence rose is being dutifully uncorked.
Ahead of your next jaunt to Europe, these are the best restaurants in the South of France (you’ll need someone in the know to score a reservation, though).
Best restaurants in the South of France
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Bagatelle, St Tropez
After that classic SoF sun-kissed-terrace-and-people-spotting atmosphere? Head to Bagatelle. The Ramatuelle outpost is a firm favorite along Pampelonne Beach, with crisp white linens, bold blue accents, and a focus on freshly caught seafood and local ingredients. Although previously an out-and-out party destination, Bagatelle has grown up somewhat in recent years, and has a more refined lunchtime sitting (fear not, though, plenty of bottles of champagne are being popped and dancing on tables in the norm come evening).
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Alain Llorca, La Colle-sur-Loup
Perched between mountain and ocean in the pretty La Colle-sur-Loup village some 11 miles from Nice, Alain Llorca occupies a restored farmhouse with some of the French Riviera’s best views. The Michelin-starred restaurant is run by the chef of the same name, who has spent his career in some of France’s best culinary institutions. Its menu leans into regional Mediterranean classics with a refined edge, and emphasizes fresh, local vegetables, herbs, and seafood.
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La Petite Maison, Cannes
Recognized by its iconic crimson awning, La Petite Maison’s Cannes Inside is a refined dining room with pressed white linens and moody lighting, while the pretty plant-laden outdoor terrace has views across the sea. The menus take in the best of the Med, with fresh pastas, grilled meats, and truffle-doused eggs. LPM, as those in the know call it, may look prim and proper, but a certain level of party mania slides in – arrive expecting napkin waving and boisterous live music. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but the lively Sunday brunch sitting has become a Cannes mainstay.
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Byblos Beach, St Tropez
Hotel Byblos guests may initially feel dismayed that their accommodation – in all its historic, wonderful beauty – is set back from the main buzz of town and not near a beach. Fear not, Byblos says – it has its own beach club right in the middle of Ramatuelle, with private shuttles regularly running to and from. Phew. Byblos Beach has all the same charm (and crucially, crowd) as the main hotel, with burnt orange finishes, and super-fresh ingredients from Byblos’s own kitchen-garden. Beyond the shaded dining area, the beach area runs right to the water’s edge, with parasols and solid-wood beds. Unlike many beach-club restaurants, Byblos caters to children via a dedicated kids’ menu (including a specially devised mocktail list).
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Zuma St Tropez
Back at Hotel Byblos, signature dining comes in the form of Zuma – a Japanese-inspired restaurant offering charcoal-cooked robata meats and fish, sushi and sashimi, and specialty wagyu. Everything is available a la carte, but for a special occasion, leave it to the chefs with the omakase tasting menu. The setting is fully outdoors, making the most of that famous South of France sunshine. While the Byblos outpost is summer-only, a year-round Zuma lives just along the coast in Cannes.
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La Chèvre d’Or, Èze
Piled high on its hill-top perch in the medieval village of Èze, La Chèvre d’Or looks down on the French Riviera below. Inside the hotel, its two-Michelin-starred restaurant has almost floor-to-ceiling windows framing the azure blues beyond. Inside, tones of gold and cream drench every surface. Chef Tom Meyer’s cuisine calls on the finest regional ingredients, and presents them creatively and sensitively. Desserts from pastry chef Florent Margaillan are a highlight.
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Mirazur, Menton
Away from the flashy glamour of much of the South of France, three-Michelin-starred Mirazur sits quietly as one of the region’s – if not the world’s – best restaurants. Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco runs the show and has a steadfast commitment to sustainability, and calls on his own meticulously tended garden, which is harvested in line with the lunar calendar. Dishes are fresh, inventive, vegetable-dominant, and never to be repeated (Colagreco has vowed to never serve the same plate twice).
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Nammos, Cannes
Occupying a prime spot on the iconic Boulevard de la Croisette, Nammos Cannes is one of Cannes’s most sought-after restaurants. The concept was first born in Mykonos and blends Greek island fun with French elegance. By day, expect a chilled-out, sea-front beach club serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes; by night, it transforms into a club hosting some of the world’s best DJs. The design mirrors the brand’s Mykonos roots – light woods, linen fabrics, and flashes of classic Greek blue.
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La Guérite, Cannes
Among the most iconic (and dare we say classiest) of SoF’s many, many, beach clubs, La Guérite is a must-visit. The restaurant is tucked into the rocky coastline of Sainte-Marguerite Island, just offshore from Cannes, and is accessible by boat from the mainland. The setting is natural and breezy, with driftwood decor, an open kitchen and panoramic sea views. The Mediterranean menu emphasizes grilled meats, fresh seafood, and garden vegetables prepared with aromatic herbs. As the afternoon fades, the energy builds – table dancing is a rite of passage.
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Baoli, Cannes
Baoli fuses fine dining with glamorous (and raucous) nightlife in a lush garden setting just off the Croisette. Tall palm trees and mood lighting set the tone, whether you’re seated indoors or on the expansive terrace. The menu draws inspiration from Asia and the Mediterranean, featuring sushi, grilled meats, and inventive small plates. As the evening progresses, the restaurant seamlessly shifts into a lounge, where music and cocktails keep the energy high late into the night.
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Matsuhisa, St Tropez
Located within the Château de La Messardière, Matsuhisa St Tropez brings Nobu-style Japanese-Peruvian cuisine to the heart of the Riviera. The setting is elegant and contemporary, with a minimalist indoor dining area that opens out onto a sleek outdoor terrace. Signature dishes like black cod miso and yellowtail sashimi reflect a fusion of precision and creativity.
