14 Best Restaurants in The French Riviera, France

With soaring ceilings, lush greenery, and eclectic furnishings, Hôtel Amour and its vibey restaurant exude a chic and inviting atmosphere. Here you can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired dishes at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. Natural light floods the space during the day, and candlelight makes the ambience intimate in the evenings. In summer, dine on the rooftop by the pool to truly elevate your experience. 

A Roman family runs this restaurant, so expect delicious and hearty Italian food, including what might just be the best pasta of your life. Try the amatriciana with tomato sauce, guanciale, pecorino, and pepper to see if that's true.

Although lunch and dinner are delicious, this the place to come for a breakfast of freshly sliced country breads, mouthwatering Ö Jardin Sucré jams (say, raspberry and violet or apple-pear with hazelnut), and organic yogurts—all made in France. Sure, you can still have your flaky croissant, but here the friendly owners deliver a toaster to your table to grill the bread exactly to your liking. Throw in Alain Milliet vineyard juices and creamy café au lait, and you’ll be planning to come back before you can wipe the jam off your chin.

You won't find any "concept" cooking here, just pure French bistro fare at its finest—beef salad with anchovy dressing, butter risotto with truffles, sliced leg of lamb, and traditional pork casserole. Save room for the day's dessert, perhaps the wonderfully warm peach-and-frangipane tart. The prices here are as appealing as the menu. If you can't score a reservation, try one of the two Peixes restaurants (4 rue de l'Opéra and 5 rue Bonaparte), where chef Antoine Crespo serves delightful seafood tapas.

Part of a tiny Old Town enclave determined to resist the press of tourism, this casual tavern has tables scattered across a sunny terrace on Place Safranier. Chef Gaïatto Olivier is in charge of a refined menu that reflects his five years in the kitchen at the celebrated Eden Roc—think roasted catch of the day with chickpea stew, chorizo, mussels fennel, and coriander—but at a fraction of the price.

Specializing in salads, pizzas, and pastas—prepared on the spot from local produce—this place offers a refreshing, light alternative to all those heavy French dishes. But Attimi is as hot as the lasagna Bolognese it serves, so you'll need to reserve or eat early. A seat on the terrace next to the fountain at the end of Place Masséna lets you dine with a side order of people-watching.

The best place to grab a bite in Place Garibaldi, this café has an eclectic feel that's as appealing as the food and friendliness—and it's a fabulous location for people-watching.

This wineshop with some 300 labels and a few tables and chairs at the back is really about vins naturels—unfiltered, unsulfured wines made by small producers from hand-harvested grapes—but the often-simple food served here also happens to be excellent. Whether you choose a charcuterie or cheese plate or one of the handful of hot dishes (like spaghetti with razor clams or octopus cooked in red wine), you can expect it to be generous and fresh. No corkage fee is charged for wines off the shelf, a rarity for a wine bar. Reservations are advised for Friday and Saturday night.

Perched on the cobbled steps that meander up through the vielle ville, this cozy, husband-and-wife-run restaurant serves some of the best Vietnamese cuisine on the Côte D'Azur. Kick things off with nems (spring rolls) and dumplings, followed, perhaps, by the duck with pineapple or a shrimp dish. Reservations aren't accepted so come early to get a seat. 

For a budget-friendly, home-style taste of the Riviera, head to this charming spot with shaded outdoor dining beside the Jardin Exotique.

All that perfume sniffing can build an appetite and this is just the place to refuel on cheeses, olives, charcuteries, tapenades, and chutneys. It's open daily, and you could spend hours lingering over a half bottle of wine and sampling the delicious regional selections that are part of a shared platter (three to four people) for only €30.

For nonstop dining from dawn till dusk, head to this quayside spot. Start the day basking in that fabled, glorious sunshine with the continental breakfast (€12)—you can even feed the fish by the dock with leftover baguette—or kick back with an Aperol spritz and one of seven variations on moules-frites (mussels and French fries) at lunch or dinner. There's a good kids menu (€10), too.

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. 

Enjoy selections from a Californian-inspired menu, featuring generous, shareable plates at reasonable prices, in a vibrant setting. If you need a sweet pick me up, opt for Les gourmands de Rosana, minidesserts, and an espresso. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, not always easy to find in France, are available here as well.