I spent a weekend in Cannes last month and had lots of questions via Instagram about what to do and where to eat.
First recommendation is accommodation, in Hotel Casarose, about a 1o min Uber or 20 minute cycle from Cannes. I was there during the Film Festival, so hotels were at a premium in the town. I stayed a little outside as a result, but would make that choice again at any time of the year, as we were close to the sandy beaches of Mandelieu-la-Napoule and could spend the days on the beach (in theory).
In reality, the weather didn’t play ball, so a LOT of layering was needed, aka every thing in my suitcase, all at once. I shared a reel on packing tips, you can watch it here.
The main pointers are to be strict on colour palettes (cream, white, navy, khaki etc) to allow layers to blend well (always thinner fabrics closer to the skin, thicker fabrics as the layers build) and not give the appearance of wearing lots of clothes, despite the reality!
In terms of where to eat, it’s hard to go too far wrong in Cannes. Highlights are Le Cirque and La Piazza.
Drinks in La Californie across from the Cinema are a must; the cocktails are second only to the people-watching.
For an indoor / evening drink, La Belle Epoque is a great shout.
Hotel visits for bar or lobby drinks are viable outside of the Film Festival calendar (they require a lanyard for access at this time), the best being the Martinez, Mondrian and Majestic.
If you can get a reservation, Restaurant la Guerite on Il St Marguerite is incredible. Get a speedboat or ferry there (a lot of the guests have their own yachts!).
Shopping in Cannes is my favourite topic (no surprises there!) and the star in the crown of Cannes is there two Zara stores, designed and merchandised to mix well with the luxury retailers which are in strong supply. Mango is fantastic also, as are all of the luxury spots which have a larger supply of product compared to the Irish counterparts.
The real gem of shopping in France is pharmacy-grade skincare. TikTok supplies a steady stream of advice, the selection again is mind boggling, I have started with Caudalie, and am alternating between the Vinopure serum and Vinoperfect at night.
Flights from Dublin to Nice are available via Aer Lingus and Ryanair. An Uber to our hotel was €80.
Happy travels!
Laura x
