A French Summer: Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez

Written By Krista Nannery

Nice is nice!

Summer is upon us and hopefully you are thinking about your next international escape. The South of France is ALWAYS a good idea. The light. The color of the water. The particular way a glass of rosé looks at noon on a terrace above the sea.

This week I'm writing about three cities that define the Côte d'Azur — Nice, Canne, and Saint Tropez — each with its own personality, its own food, its own wines, and its own claim on your attention.

I've been to all three. And I'll be back in Cannes later this year for ILTM — the International Luxury Travel Market, the annual gathering that brings together the world's best luxury travel suppliers and advisors. It's how I stay current on what's opening, what's worth the price, and who's worth your trust. So if you're thinking about a South of France trip, reach out. I’ll be sure to gather fresh intelligence from the ground later this year.

NICE

Nice is a real working city — not a resort town. It has neighborhoods, markets, an old quarter of narrow ochre streets, and a cuisine rooted in simple cooking. The Promenade des Anglais is one of Europe's great seafront walks, and the light in the morning is just so beautiful.

Where to Stay (Virtuoso)

Hôtel Negresco — The grande dame of the Promenade des Anglais, open since 1913. A Belle Époque palace with a pink dome that is Nice's most recognizable landmark. Picasso, Hemingway, Coco Chanel, and the Rolling Stones have all stayed here. There is nothing quite like it on the Riviera.

Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée — An Art Deco landmark on the Promenade since 1929, when its guests included Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker. The iconic facade is preserved; everything behind it is modern and refined. It has the only heated year-round pool on the Promenade.

Anantara Plaza Nice — Nice's first luxury hotel, originally opened in 1848 as the Hôtel de France and the center of the city's social life for more than a century. The Belle Époque facade was fully renovated by David Collins Studio and reopened in 2022 under the Anantara brand. One block from the Promenade, overlooking the Jardin Albert 1er, with a rooftop bar and restaurant that has the best panoramic views in Nice. The right choice if you want historic pedigree, contemporary interiors, and a position that puts you between the beach and the Old Town.

Remember at Virtuoso hotels, I can add extra perks and amenities like complimentary breakfast, priority for upgrade, and more. Schedule a vacation consultation to talk more.

What to Eat

Socca — a chickpea flour pancake cooked on a copper disc in a wood-fired oven, eaten hot with black pepper and olive oil. The definitive street food of Nice. Go to Chez Pipo in the Port quarter, where they've been making it since 1923. Eat it standing.

Salade niçoise — anchovies, tomatoes, Niçoise olives, hard-boiled egg, olive oil. No potatoes. No cooked green beans. This is a point of genuine local pride and not a debate Nice is interested in having.

What to Drink

Bellet — a rare AOC made from grapes grown in the hills directly above Nice, one of France's smallest appellations. Almost none of it leaves the region. The white pairs beautifully with seafood; the rosé is the correct companion to socca at noon. Ask for it by name — any serious restaurant in Nice should carry at least one producer.

Cannes — pronounced can, as in tin can, not khan.

CANNES

Cannes rewards people who understand that it is, at its core, a stage. The Croisette is not a street — it's a promenade designed to be seen on. The whole city knows how to put on a show. Enjoy it!

Where to Stay (Virtuoso)

Carlton Cannes — The icon. An Art Deco palace on La Croisette since 1911, with a grand salon and staircases listed as historic monuments. Renovated in 2023 with a new Italian garden, infinity pool, and celebrity-named suites on the 7th floor. This is the hotel that Cannes is built around, emotionally speaking.

Hôtel Martinez (Unbound Collection by Hyatt) — A 1929 Art Deco property with a Michelin-starred restaurant — La Palme d'Or, reopened in 2024 under chef Jean Imbert — and a private beach. The Martinez is where the industry stays during ILTM for good reason: it is the most complete hotel in Cannes.

Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes — A palace hotel at the center of La Croisette with two private beaches. Quieter and more discreet than the Carlton; the choice for guests who prefer not to be part of the spectacle.

Where & What to Eat

La Palme d'Or at the Martinez — Jean Imbert's seafood-focused, Michelin-starred cuisine is among the most precise cooking on the Riviera right now. Book before you leave home.

Pan bagnat — a round loaf soaked in olive oil and stuffed with the components of a niçoise salad. The actual lunch of everyone who lives here. Find it in any good boulangerie in Le Suquet, Cannes's old quarter.

What to Drink

Provençal rosé — specifically from the Côtes de Provence appellation, which surrounds Cannes to the north and west. Pale, dry, and mineral, it is nothing like what gets exported. Palette, Bandol, and the hillside producers near Toulon make the best examples. Order by producer name; anything poured from an unmarked carafe on La Croisette deserves skepticism.

Saint Tropez

SAINT-TROPEZ

Saint-Tropez should not work. It’s overcrowded in summer, difficult to reach (no train, no easy airport), and expensive in crazy ways. And yet — the port at dusk, the market on Place des Lices, the walk up to the Citadel, the first morning at Pampelonne — it delivers. Go in May or September if you can.

Where to Stay (Virtuoso)

Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez — The benchmark. Thirty rooms on the water at Plage de la Bouillabaisse, a three-Michelin-star restaurant (La Vague d'Or, chef Arnaud Donckele), and a Guerlain spa. An LVMH property with the service standards that implies. For a honeymoon or a significant milestone, this is the answer.

Hôtel Byblos Saint-Tropez — Opened in 1967 as a tribute to Brigitte Bardot and has never fully separated itself from that mythology — in the best possible way. One of France's official Palace Hotels, with 90 rooms and suites, a Sisley spa, and Les Caves du Roy, the defining nightclub of Saint-Tropez for decades.

Airelles Château de la Messardière — A 19th-century château perched above the town with sweeping views across Pampelonne Bay. Built as a wedding gift, now an Airelles Palace hotel set within 13 hectares of umbrella pines. Jean-François Piège at the beach club, Cédric Grolet pastries at breakfast, Valmont spa on property. White Lotus Season 4 is filming here — it is exactly as cinematic as that implies.

A Virtuoso hotels, I can add extra perks and amenities like complimentary breakfast, priority for upgrade, and more. Plus I can arrange for private transportation, private excursions/experiences, and more. Schedule a vacation consultation to talk more.

What and Where to Eat

Tarte Tropézienne — a brioche filled with orange-blossom cream, invented here in 1955 by a Polish baker named Alexandre Micka. Brigitte Bardot named it. Buy it at the original shop on Place des Lices. It is the correct breakfast.

La Vague d'Or at Cheval Blanc — Three Michelin stars on the water. Chef Arnaud Donckele's Mediterranean cuisine is unlike anything else on the Riviera. If you can get a table, go.

Rose all day in Saint-Tropez…

What to Drink

Whispering Angel is the famous answer — Château d'Esclans is 20km north of Saint-Tropez and essentially invented the market for premium Provence rosé. On the ground, also ask for Château Minuty (M de Minuty in particular) and Domaine de Saint-Maur. They represent the full range and seriousness of what Côtes de Provence rosé can be.

Cruise the South of France

Check out these itineraries:

Ready for a French Summer?

If the South of France is on your horizon — for next summer, a milestone anniversary, or something you've simply been putting off long enough — reach out. Schedule a vacation consultation here.

About Krista

I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.

I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation for travelers considering a custom itinerary or luxury cruise.c

For travel inspiration and real-time updates, you can follow along on Instagram or connect with me on Facebook. I also share a curated list of travel products I genuinely use and recommend in my online store.

What I Offer…

  • Custom itinerary design for complex, multi-stop trips

  • VIP hotel benefits through Virtuoso and preferred partner programs (including complimentary breakfast, hotel credits, and priority for upgrades where available)

  • Luxury ocean, river, and expedition cruises with added onboard credits

  • Vetted villa rentals with concierge services worldwide

  • Private guides, small-group touring, and unique local experiences

  • Private aviation and yacht charters through trusted partners

  • Airport transfers, VIP arrival and departure services, and full ground logistics

  • Travel protection and support when plans change

I work best with travelers who want expert planning, trusted partnerships, and someone in their corner from start to finish. That’s what I am best at! Ready to talk travel? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

Krista Nannery
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