5 Best Restaurants in The French Riviera, France

Chef Jean Imbert celebrates his two great loves, gastronomy and cinema, at this Michelin-starred restaurant named after the highest award bestowed at the Cannes Film Festival. On the menu, which is designed like a film script, locally sourced seafood such as John Dory, spiny lobster, and scorpion fish have pride of place. A three-course seasonal tasting menu is priced at €140; five-courses is €220. The priceless memorabilia on display includes Leo's Wolf of Wall Street sunglasses, Harry Potter scripts, and Robert De Niro’s boxing shorts from Raging Bull.

Ewan and Caroline Scutcher established this waterside gem in 1989, which has since earned its place among the finest restaurants on the Riviera. In a fun and relaxed atmosphere, they offer the freshest fish and seafood on the coast—certainly the politicians, royalty, and film stars (think Leonardo DiCaprio) who dine portside here among the locals don't complain. Selection is simple, uncomplicated, and the lunch menu, which is served on market days (Thursday and Sunday between mid-June and mid-September) is a deal with wine and coffee included. Avoid traffic and ask Le Table to arrange for a water taxi when you make a reservation.

At this restaurant, a beacon to all fish lovers since 1953, well-trained staffers negotiate cramped quarters to lay down heaping seafood platters, shrimp casseroles, and piles of oysters shucked to order. It's always busy, though, so don't expect rapid service. Arrive early (noon for lunch, 6 pm for dinner) to get a table and avoid a line.

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.

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.