Villefranche sur mer, French Riviera, Frankreich<\/p>\n
getty<\/p>\n
With its breathtaking landscape and world-renowned cuisine, the French Riviera is one of the most beautiful settings for a meal. Summer is especially inviting, with everything from beachside restaurants to verdant garden eateries to choose from. With a few more warm months ahead, there\u2019s still plenty of time to enjoy a meal alfresco. Here are some of the best places to eat in the South of France.<\/p>\n
1. Chateau de la Messardi\u00e8re – <\/strong>La Table de La Messardi\u00e8re Grand Buffet<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Arriving at Chateau de la Messardi\u00e8re feels like a fairytale \u2014 spanning 25 acres of land, this 19th century former palace in St. Tropez is now a 117-room property with 360-degree views of the Mediterranean. With this aristocratic history, it only makes sense that their lunch and buffet dinner would be a sumptuous experience. Choose from a vast variety of salads, cheeses, cold meats and a towering seafood bar to start. For mains, there\u2019s a wide selection of meats and delicious sides, and if you guessed that there\u2019s a gigantic dessert spread, you are correct. Enjoy your bountiful dinner on their panoramic terrace and make sure to leave a little time before or after your meal to explore the exquisite grounds of the property.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Lucia Cannes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Beachfront on the famous Croisette boulevard, Lucia Cannes is a colorful Mediterranean dining destination that\u2019s open year-round but especially enticing in the summer. You can spend an entire day here; arrive in the morning to lay beneath one of their beautiful printed umbrellas with occasional dips in the ocean, then once you feel hungry for lunch, settle into one of their tables to enjoy bites like tomato tonnato, truffle pinsa and entrecote panzanella. There are many great cocktails to choose from here, for example their cilantro margarita or Curious Monkey which is made with gin, lemon foam and basil. Open until 10 pm, Lucia Cannes can also be a sunset and dinner spot, with its sunny ambiance making it a fun spot to end the day.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Gigi Rigolatto Ramatuelle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Gigi is fashioned to feel like a beach house where you can choose your own adventure whether that means eating delicious Italian cuisine, laying poolside, or getting a treatment in one of their wellness cabins. On a sunny day it\u2019s an idyllic place to enjoy lunch in Ramatuelle with your toes in the sand, while enjoying live music. Start your meal with a summer staple like the melon and prosciutto then move on to their exquisitely presented linguine vongole as your main. Finish things with frozen fruit, an affogato or one of their signature frozen cocktails to cool off before you take a dip in the ocean or pool.<\/p>\n 4. Chateau Saint Martin – <\/strong>Le Saint-Martin<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n This hilltop chateau stuns with its lush gardens and outstanding views of the ocean; walking the grounds here will make you feel like a royal. Once a Knights Templar Commandery, Chateau Saint Martin also has a Michelin Key restaurant, Le Saint-Martin, which delights with fine dining and a spectacular terrace. Come here on a warm evening to enjoy the sweeping views of the C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur and to immerse yourself in Chef Jean-Luc Lefran\u00e7ois\u2019s refined yet creative cuisine. Their crab appetizer is served with watermelon jelly cannelloni, avocado and citrus playing with texture and flavors while their twice-cooked pigeon main course with corn cromesquis and spiced figs is a dish as refined as its regal surrounding. If you love chocolate leave some room for their decadent \u201cintense\u201d chocolate dessert made with 80 percent dark chocolate, fresh and preserved cherries and dark cherry sorbet.<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>Jardin Tropezina Beach Club <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Jardin Tropezina Beach Club is Chateau de la Messardi\u00e8re\u2019s oceanside outpost located on the famous Pampelonne beach. As the name would imply (jardin means garden in French), this restaurant and beach club is brimming with potted plants and flowers, offering a verdant experience while you enjoy lunch or dinner. Match the bucolic vibes by ordering a few of their vegetable appetizers like their anchovy dip with radishes or their \u201cgenerous\u201d ni\u00e7oise salad which is well-suited for sharing. Their lobster pasta is a standout, as is their veal escalope cordon bleu style served with slow-cooked vegetables. At sunset your dinner is enhanced by live music as the day turns into night and you enjoy a glass of ros\u00e9 with friends admiring the C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur sky.<\/p>\n 6. <\/strong>Les Moulins de Ramatuelle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Another leafy eatery, Les Moulins de Ramatuelle charms guests with an intimate garden setting illuminated by tree lights once the sun sets. Equally enticing for date night or a group dinner, this restaurant serves southern French favorites like summer truffle fougasse or joels, small fried fish with lemon mayonnaise. Their catch of the day is ideal for a group to share, as is their confit lamb shoulder. If you arrive a little early for your dinner here, you\u2019ll have a chance to bide your time with a game of p\u00e9tanque. Or you can sip one of their craft cocktails like their Margarita Pasteque, in which tequila meets fresh watermelon, lemon juice and Cointreau.<\/p>\n 7. <\/strong>Carlton Cannes Beach Club<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What\u2019s better than a beachside meal in Cannes? A beachside meal in Cannes with caviar, of course. Come to one of the most distinguished addresses in the city, the Carlton Cannes for a sunny and luxurious lunch or dinner filled with Caviar by Maison Kasparian and other maritime delicacies like tuna carpaccio, and king crab mayonnaise. Meat lovers will enjoy their black angus entrec\u00f4te and veal Milanese, paired with refreshing sides like their watermelon, feta and mint salad. Cap off your indulgent beachside meal with a cooling scoop of ice cream or if you\u2019re in the mood for a tipple, go with their spritz tree, which serves 12 people.<\/p>\n 8. Crillon le Brave – <\/strong>La Table du Ventoux<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n While almost all of the restaurants on this list are on or near the beach, this restaurant is located in the foothills of Mont Ventoux. Take a break from oceanside bliss to explore a historic village and soak up the scenic mountain views when you eat on this breathtaking terrace. Chef Thomas Lesage shows off the best that Provence has to offer, creating colorful and tasty dishes like fresh Mediterranean catch tartare with basil pistou or lamb shoulder with ratatouille. There\u2019s also a separate vegetarian menu for plant-based eaters. With something to suit every taste and the gorgeous surrounding scenery, a meal at La Table du Ventoux is a feast for the palate and the eyes.<\/p>\n