During our week in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, we took several day trips to nearby destinations on the French Riviera. In addition to the amazing Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild, my two favorite places to explore were the quaint fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer and the stunning Medieval town of Èze, perched on the edge of a cliff high above the Mediterranean Sea. Initially, we had plans to visit Antibes (one of my favorite towns on the French Riviera with an exceptionally lovely Provençal market) and Saint Paul de Vence, but we were so in love with Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and our gorgeous hotel that, instead, we chose to spend more time relaxing in the sun, riding bikes, and taking long strolls along the rocky coast. It was truly perfection. Scroll down to see my favorite places to eat, visit, and explore in the French Riviera!
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RESTAURANTS:
- La Veranda: Located on the terrace of the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, this lovely al fresco restaurant is nestled amongst the gardens and has a Mediterranean-influenced menu.
- Château Eza: Perched on the edge of a cliff high above the sea, this stunning restaurant is an absolute must when visiting the French Riviera. Book reservations in advance and request a table al fresco on the terrace – it is truly one of the most dramatic dining experiences that I have ever had the opportunity to enjoy!
- La Cabane de l’Écailler: Located along the harbor in the utterly charming village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this is a lovely place for a summer meal al fresco. Keep an eye out for some truly impressive mega-yachts and their chic owners!
- Nonna: Also located along the harbor in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this casual pizzeria offers more reasonable prices and the most incredible white truffle pizza I have ever tasted – perfect with a cold glass of Rosé.
- Restaurant La Mère Germaine: A French Riviera mainstay, this lovely seafood restaurant has been open since 1938 and offers lovely harbor-side dining (literally, you could toss your olive pits into the sea) in the wonderful town of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
- L’Oursin Bleu: Another wonderful seafood restaurant on the Villefranche-sur-Mer harbor. I highly recommend the Sole Meunière.
- La Grande Cave de Villefranche: We fell in love with this charming wine bar located on one of Villefranche-sur-Mer’s beautiful little side streets. The proprietress, Leslie, has an affinity for the Jazz Age and makes French wines approachable!
TOWNS:
- Villefranche-Sur-Mer: The quintessential French seaside village, lovely Villefranche-Sur-Mer is postcard perfect. With pastel-hued buildings, a decidedly casual ambiance (unlike many areas of the French Riviera) and a beautiful harbor, I fall more and more in love with Villefranche every time I visit.
- Èze: Although arguably touristic (I can’t even imagine how busy it must get during the high season), Èze is truly and utterly one of the most stunning places in all of France. Perched on a cliff high above the Mediterranean Sea, Èze is a Medieval stone village dotted with luxury hotels, boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. Each way you turn is more charming than the last, and nearly the entire village features breathtaking views of the seaside below.
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: A charming village amongst some of the most expensive real estate in the world, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a lovely place to stop for a few hours to explore, drink wine by the sea, and walk along the coast.
Images by French Riviera Wedding Photographer Molly Carr Photography | Contax 645 | Fuji 400H scanned by Richard Photo Lab
These pics are amazing. Would love to go to this area someday.