16 Best Restaurants in The Western Cote d'Azur, The French Riviera

At the Hôtel La Ponche’s restaurant, Michelin-starred chef Thomas Danigo (of Galanga, Paris fame) has created a menu of dishes that emphasize Provençal ingredients, including fish fresh from pêcheurs locaux. A summer lunch on the terrace is a quintessential St-Tropez experience, but, as the day fades, the scene shifts to the dining room's easy glamour. Sink into the red arm chairs, enjoy the knowledgeable service, and savor dishes like yellowtail ceviche in citrus marinade or slow-cooked veal cheek.

The Arev hotel collection has breathed new life into this old St-Tropez favorite, where you can escape the tourist crowds and enjoy dishes that celebrate fresh, local ingredients, including daily-caught seafood and herbs from the hotel’s garden. Share the sole, or try truffle ravioli. Pull up a striped stool at the bar, and order the signature Margarita—a spicy blend of Maestro Dobel Diamante Reposado, mezcal, and pineapple liqueur.

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 un verre of Dom Pérignon 2004, though.

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, as well as simple grilled meat and fish dishes, all 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 such dishes as fillet of bass roasted with smoked salt petals or roast duck breast with honey and Morello cherries.

Under the shade of a plane tree, in the heart of the vieille ville, this cute bistro is known for it's three-course "menu of the week" featuring classic duck dishes and other traditional fare like veal pot-au-feu or chestnut crème brûlée. The menu changes according to the rhythm of the seasons and showcases local produce. 

The busy terrace here often doubles as a stadium for different factions cheering on local pétanque players in Place des Lices. Service can be slow, but the setting, the food (say, black truffle and foie gras macaroni with Parmesan or seven-hour lamb confit with spices), and the piano bar with throwbacks to Piaf and Aznavour make this place memorable. It's open daily 8 am–3 am (with a well-priced €21 lunch menu) and always seems packed, so reservations are a good idea.

Sea bass, salmon, sole, sardines, monkfish, lobster, and crayfish all fill the boats that pull into the Old Port and find their way onto the menu here. Although grilled seafood (with a little thyme and perhaps a whisper of olive oil and garlic) is the order of the day, this is also a stronghold for bouillabaisse. The clientele is buffed and bronzed, but the servers tend to treat everyone like tourists. The lunch plat du jour (€21) is a bargain in this town. Otherwise, mind the check: you'll be surprised just how expensive fish per 100g can be.

Just 10 km (6 miles) west of St-Tropez and 4 km (2½ miles) south of Grimaud and the village of La Môle, 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 service, and this is your dream French restaurant experience. Choose from a three-course set menu (€45–€55), or order à la carte. 

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.

With its red-and-white-check table cloths and its warm and friendly atmosphere, this cozy, unpretentious spot offers a slice of Italy in the heart of St-Raphaël. Authentic house specialties include spaghetti and fresh octopus in white wine with parsley and lemon. Reservations are advised in summer when the dolce vita spills out onto the terrace. 

No trip to St-Tropez is complete without indulging in a tropézienne, the famous local pastry that combines airy brioche with velvety cream and is topped with crunchy sugar granules. For an elevated take on this classic, head to this family-run patisserie, where Laurent Cavazza trained at Lenôtre and offers the iconic fleur d'oranger version alongside a red berry variation.

This retro restaurant opened when luxe hotel Les Roches Rouges was transformed by French hotelier Valéry Grégo, and it has since picked up one Michelin star. The dinner-only menu is dedicated to inventive regional dishes, which head chef José Bailly bases on La Cuisine Provençale de la Tradition Populaire, a 1963 cookbook of traditional recipes by René Jouveau.

Since 1887, this café, bar, and restaurant has been a vibrant part of port life. Its famous red terrace offers a front-row seat to the glamorous comings and goings of St-Tropez, enabling you to people-watch while enjoying a coffee and a slice of the famed nougat. Peruse the dinner menu while sipping a St-Tropez spritz, with grapefruit liquor and pureed raspberries. It's open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and big nights out.

At the far southeast tip of Théoule's miniature bay, this unpretentious pizzeria serves simple Italian specialties—but, oh, what a setting. A few tables line a wooden "boathouse" porch directly over the lapping water, and at night the whole glittering necklace of Cannes reflects its luxurious glow over the bay. Good wood-oven pizzas and pastas add superfluous pleasure.