Restaurants in Centre-ville (Cannes)

Caveau 30

Despite a name that is evocative of the 1930s, this restaurant offers tasty local seafood such as , Saint-Pierre oven-baked fish and none seafood dishes such as escalope de veau aux artichauts (escalope of veal with artichokes), duck breast and steak. Recently renovated, the restaurant has a nostalgic, pre-1960s décor and an excellent wine list.

Legend Café

Decorated in wood and stone, this place has just the kind of warm atmosphere you'd expect to find in a Mexican tavern. You can sit out on the large covered terrace, which seats 100, and sip on a cactus cocktail (a house specialty) or give your taste buds a treat by ordering some fajitas. Set menus are reasonably priced and are available for EURO 7.50-21.

Chez Freddy

If you fancy Spanish cuisine then you won't have to go far. Decorated in the colors of the Spanish flag (red and gold), this restaurant is a perfect choice for food fanatics. The Spanish owner offers no less than six different types of Paella. There is also ample opportunity to try some Morue à L'aïoli Provençal (vegetables with garlic sauce) or to choose from a large range of fish and meat dishes.

Croq'in

If you don't want a big formal meal, this unpretentious snack bar should meet your needs. It's open all day long, and you can have a breakfast, salads and paninis and hot or cold sandwiches. A wide variety of other light dishes and pastries are also available. It's also perfect for insomniacs and those stumbling home from the bar late at night.

La Piazza

Located near the old port, between Rue Maynadier and the Mairie, this Italian restaurant has an excellent reputation. It offers customers an original choice : pizza made the traditional way or from buckwheat dough. Those who prefer pasta can choose from various kinds, including spaghetti and fettuccini, accompanied by sauces such as Au Pistou (Pesto), Cheese, or Al Arrabiata (quite spicy). There are over twenty different pizzas and as many other dishes to choose from.

Jade

This restaurant serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine. The interiors are elegant and stylish. House specialties are Jade crêpes, steamed ravioli and roasted quail with eight fragrances. The prices are moderate and the service quite prompt.

L'Entrecote

Meat lovers will feel at home in this restuarant. Also known as The Rib Steak, it specialises in serving a variety including steaks, ribs etc.

Up Side Down

This impressive restaurant is the latest hangout for celebrities in Cannes. The decor is very trendy and the furniture is mostly teak wood. You can enjoy the delicious grills, salads, chef's specials and the famous Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The staff is well-groomed and hospitable. Up Side Down is the ideal place to relax and enjoy a cocktail.

Brasserie du Casino

This friendly and well-placed restaurant faces the Casino, Palais des Festivals and des Congrès, where the film festival takes place every year. The shops on Rue d'Antibes, the sea and the Croisette are all just a few steps away. Brasserie du Casino is a good place for an affordable drink or to grab a bite.

La Chunga

On a side street which runs perpendicular to La Croisette, right behind Brasserie 72 and across from the Martinez hotel, is a famous spot for night owls, called La Chunga. Part restaurant and part piano bar, it seats 50 and stays open all night.

Chez Astoux

Opposite the flower market (on Allées de la Liberté Charles de Gaulle), this restaurant, sporting two grinning green octopuses, serves oysters, shellfish and other seafood. Since 1920, Chez Astoux has been a hot favorite with locals and tourists. Here, freshness is guaranteed and you can eat in or take away. Try the house specialty of bourride de lotte Astoux - a heady concoction of monkfish, prawns and mussels in a thick garlic-mayonnaise sauce. This restaurant has existed for four generations.

La Maison du Porto

This bar-restaurant is situated on Square Mérimée, right by the Croisette and just across from the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, home to the annual International Film Festival. Beer, ice cream and cocktails provide quick pop-in options, while a range of local dishes will please any palate and vanquish any appetite. Past celebrity visitors have included Quentin Tarantino.