The Best Bistros, Bars and Restaurants in Cannes for Riviera Dining

In Cannes, the city of the world's most famous film festival, dining is as much about spectacle as flavour. Celebrities slip into Michelin-starred temples like La Palme d’Or or gather discreetly at chic bistros tucked behind the Croisette. While prices can climb steeply, especially along the seafront, there are also family-run spots that won’t break the bank. As for flavours, Cannes is famed for Provençal cooking: think bouillabaisse, vegetables cooked in fragrant herbs, delicate fish soups and platters of just-landed Mediterranean seafood.

From lively market-side kitchens to timeworn dining rooms filled with locals, bistros capture the soul of southern French dining. Here are some of the best.

Tucked just off Marché Forville, Le Bistrot Gourmand is a local favourite for its elegant plates, playful presentation and warm service. Expect Provençal staples elevated with flair: courgette flower fritters, artichokes barigoule and roasted sea bream with fennel. The wine list is compact but clever, with a strong showing from Languedoc and Provence.

• 10 Rue du Docteur Pierre Gazagnaire, 06400 Cannes
• Open for lunch daily from noon. Dinner from 7pm (except Sunday)

A family-run fixture since 1935, Aux Bons Enfants serves hearty southern French classics with a modern twist. The youngest generation of the Giorsetti family weaves subtle Moroccan and Spanish accents into Provençal recipes, creating dishes that feel both familiar and fresh. The setting is charmingly unpretentious, with wisteria-blue walls, eclectic art and rustic wooden tables you’ll want to linger at.

• 80 Rue Meynadier, 06400 Cannes
• Open for lunch from noon. Dinner from 7pm. Closed Sunday and Monday

Checked tablecloths, claret-hued walls and cosy lighting give this brasserie the feel of a grandmother’s dining room. La Brouette is beloved for its fixed-price menu — which comes with a generous pour of wine — and its simple French staples like steak and pommes frites. It’s one of the best spots in the Old Town for a convivial, unfussy meal. The all-day kitchen is a godsend for late (and very early) diners.

• 1 & 3 Rue du Pré, 06400 Cannes
• Open 8:30am-11:30pm. Closed Sunday

If you travel with your palate in mind, Cannes offers far more than sea views and sparkle. Tucked among its bustling streets are dining rooms where culinary artistry takes centre stage, perfect for gourmands seeking both creativity and craft.

Former Alain Ducasse protégé Noël Mantel runs this discreet fine-dining Cannes restaurant in the old town, close to Forville Market. His menu is refined yet accessible, with standouts like truffle risotto and John Dory with bourride sauce. Service is polished but not theatrical, while the all-French wine list will delight connoisseurs. Perfect for those who prefer intimacy to extravagance.

• 22 Rue Saint-Antoine, 06400 Cannes
• Open 7pm-10:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday

A contemporary “bistronomic” restaurant in the heart of Cannes, L’Affable offers French favourites executed with precision and flair. Highlights include cod aioli, thyme-roasted rack of lamb and the Grand Marnier soufflé, which has become a house signature. A relaxed, central address that balances comfort with creativity.

• 5 rue La Fontaine, 06400 Cannes
• Open noon-2pm, 7pm-10pm, Tuesday to Saturday

This intimate, white-tablecloth dining room excels in seasonal cuisine that fuses flavour, texture and artistry. Most visitors opt for the surprise tasting menu, which changes daily depending on what’s freshest at the market. Just steps from Rue d’Antibes, it’s the perfect springboard into Cannes nightlife after dinner.

• 5 rue Jean-Daumas, 06400 Cannes
• Open 7:30pm-11:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday

With the Mediterranean on its doorstep, Cannes is a natural haven for seafood lovers. From storied brasseries serving overflowing platters of shellfish to intimate spots grilling the freshest catch of the day, the city offers a taste of the sea in all its forms.

This legendary seafood brasserie by the port is a Cannes institution. Its Brittany oysters are outstanding, but the real stars are the heaving platters of crab, clams, prawns and langoustines. For a glimpse of the day’s catch before it reaches your plate, pop into their fish shop around the corner.

• 27 Rue Félix Faure, 06400 Cannes
• Open for lunch from noon, dinner from 7pm on Monday to Thursday. Continuous kitchen from noon Friday to Sunday

There are few better ways to showcase fresh seafood than with sushi. Mr. Nakamoto, right on La Croisette in the five-star Mondrian Cannes, blends Japanese and other Asian flavours with local Provençal ingredients, creating stylish dishes that feel both familiar and unexpected. On Friday nights, live music fills the Art Deco-inspired space, turning dinner into an experience worth lingering over.

• 45 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes
• Open for lunch noon–2:30pm, dinner 6pm–10:30pm. Bar open daily 9am-11pm. Sunday brunch noon-3pm

Run by the charismatic Fred Garbellini, this lively seafood spot sits just outside the centre and hums with Riviera energy. Order the catch of the day or let the staff keep the shellfish, oysters and crustaceans flowing. The sun-drenched terrace is the place to be.

• 7 Place de l’Étang, 06400
• Open daily for lunch from noon, dinner from 7pm

A cosy dinner-only spot just 150 metres from the Croisette, ideal for a relaxed dinner. Grilled fish and octopus are the standouts, but the menu also includes pasta, salads and meat dishes for those less inclined towards seafood.

• 10 Rue des Frères Pradignac, 06400 Cannes
• Open from 7pm Tuesday to Sunday

Not in the mood for white tablecloths and formality? Cannes is just as rich in laid-back restaurants where flavour and conviviality take priority over ceremony. Head to these casual addresses for an easygoing lunch or a relaxed dinner with friends.

This family-run trattoria in central Cannes is cherished by locals and film festival insiders alike. Home-made pastas and decadent tiramisu are served in a greenery-filled dining room by staff who treat regulars like family. No reservations – arrive early or expect a wait.

• 9 Rue du Vingt-Quatre Août, 06400 Cannes
• Open for lunch from noon, dinner from 7pm, Monday to Saturday

Founded in 1960, Cresci is Cannes’ go-to for pizza. Wood-fired pies arrive in enormous portions, generously topped with olives, anchovies and bubbling mozzarella. Perfect for late-night comfort food after a film screening or stroll along the Croisette.

• 3 Quai Saint-Pierre, 06400 Cannes
• Open daily 11am-12:30am (or later during the summer months)

Inside the stylish Mercure Cannes Mandelieu Hotel, this smart yet family-friendly spot serves generous plates of ravioli, fish and chips and gourmet burgers. In summer, dine on the terrace overlooking the hinterland, then browse the hotel's boutique for Provençal take-home treats like olive oil, herbs and mustards.

• 6 Allée des Cormorans, 06150 Cannes-la-Bocca
• Open from 7pm, Monday to Friday

Few experiences capture the Riviera lifestyle better than dining with your feet in the sand and the Mediterranean stretching before you. Check out these Cannes beach club restaurants for fine cuisine, glamour and ocean views in equal measure.

Part of the fashionable La Môme group, this Croissette lounge-club- restaurant blends Saint-Tropez glamour with Cannes chic, where a VIP clientele dive into sushi platters, lobster spaghetti and dressed-up cocktails. DJs spin at sunset, creating a scene as much about glitzy ambience as the food.

• 44 Boulevard de la Croisette
• Open daily for lunch from noon, dinner from 7:30pm

Synonymous with Cannes nightlife, Le Baoli Beach shifts seamlessly from languid daytime lounging to full-blown evening revelry on the rooftop bar. Dishes draw a hefty inspiration from Asia using Mediterranean produce: seafood sushi and sashimi, cod miso and yakitori chicken. It's the place to people-watch under palm trees as super yachts bob in the distance.

• 50 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes
• Open daily from 10am, seasonal

Right on the Croisette, CBeach has been delivering a Riviera dining experience for over a decade without the pretension of many of its neighbours. Sun loungers stretch to the water’s edge, while the restaurant serves light Mediterranean plates of freshly grilled fish and crisp salads, perfectly paired with a chilled Provençal rosé. The soundtrack is mercifully low-key and relaxed, and the views of the bay cinematic.

• 45 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes
• Open daily from 9am

The city also shines when it comes to indulgent sweet treats. Whether you prefer a cone by the beach or a warm crêpe, these dessert stops are as much a part of the Riviera experience as the sunshine itself.

This huge ice-cream parlour near Rue d’Antibes has been a local favourite for decades. Flavours veer from the classic (pistachio, chocolat noir) to the Riviera-inflected (lavender, rose, blood orange). A cup of sorbet on the terrace is a great way to end off a day at the beach and the retro décor is a delight.

• 14 Rue du Bivouac Napoléon, 06400 Cannes
• Open 11am-11pm Monday to Saturday, 1pm-11pm Sunday

Yes, it's a chain, but the Cannes branch of Amorino earns its spot thanks to its sculpted rose-shaped cones and indulgent gelato flavours. Children love the Nutella-stuffed crêpes, while adults can choose from 'grown-up' flavours such as Bourbon Vanilla and Pistachio Maward.

• 85 Rue Félix Faure, 06400 Cannes
• Open daily noon-11pm

Need to work up an appetite? Explore the iconic Nice beachfront – but first don't forget to book your accommodation for your perfect French Riviera stay!