This month, Sunseeker La Napoule, document the finest places to Eat, Drink & Sleep around the French Riviera. Read on to discover these local gems in the South of France.
Eat: La Tonnelle, Ile Saint-Honorat, Lérins Islands
When a group of monks discovered the Ile Saint-Honorat in the year 400, they were so impressed, they never left. Today, this 40-hectare island off the Cannes coast is a protected sanctuary of towering pines, vineyards and dusty red roads, all of which lead to a 15th-century monastery, frozen in time. The resident Cistercian monks pray in silence, toil the fields and produce a superb, limited-edition range of red, white and rosé wines.
La Tonnelle, a vast seafood brasserie, opened in 2008 with a decked terrace right on the edge of the turquoise sea. Headed by young chef Arnaud Ronxin, it promotes local specialities such as petite friture (tiny fried fish) and Ronxin’s signature dish of lobster grilled with onions and wild rosemary. After dessert (try the organic Menton lemon sorbet doused with Lerincello liqueur), then have a wander through the forest of green oaks and cypresses.
The island is only a 15-minute ferry ride from Cannes, but the city will have never seemed so far away; the serenity and exotic beauty of Ile Saint-Honorat matched with the mystery of the monastery, make for an unforgettable lunch.
Re-opens December 21st. To reserve a table, for lunch only, telephone +33 (0) 492 99 54 08 or visit http://www.tonnelle-abbayedelerins.com.
Drink: L’Amiral Bar, Grand Hyatt Cannes Hôtel Martinez, 73, La Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Located at the heart of the exquisite Grand Hyatt Martinez Hotel is L’Amiral Bar which proudly ranks amongst the finest piano bars in Cannes.
A truly iconic drinking spot, L’Amiral has been welcoming the biggest stars and celebrities since the day it opened its doors. Taking customer loyalty to an entirely new level, those who often frequent this noble establishment have the honour of having a metal plaque installed at their favourite spot at the bar.
It is not just the famous location of the L’Amiral bar that makes this place so special, the drinks are some of the most tongue-tingling that you will find in Cannes. So much so, the mixology artists compete with originality to create truly inventive cocktails and consequently have a vast quantity of prizes and awards to their name.
Ideal for a cosy evening in winter (contrary to popular belief a Cannois winter is not that warm), the bar unveils a glorious live piano bar at night whilst the terrace can be enjoyed when the sun is shining.
L’Amiral is open daily from 9am til late. Live music is from 7pm every day except Mondays.
For more information visit: http://www.cannesmartinez.grand.hyatt.fr/en/hotel/dining/le-bar-lamiral.html
Sleep: Les Rosées, 238 Chemin du Font Neuve, 06250 Mougins, France
Mougins may be a highly picturesque Provençal village, but there’s nothing remotely twee about the sumptuous, four-suite guesthouse Les Rosées, tucked away on a country lane outside town.
Manager Kilpérick Lhobet, who grew up playing in the terraced garden of this farmhouse, has renovated the 400-year-old mas with his mother, Danièlle, a talented upholstery designer. The main house is divided into a vaulted lounge (lime-washed walls, fireplace, tapestries) and a brown-tiled country kitchen that hums with activity.
Highpoints include the honey-coloured Isadora suite (Liza Minelli once stayed here) with its pink marble bathroom; the new ‘gipsy caravan’ in the garden; and a wooden shack with pretty antique furnishings and a rustic bathroom with a deep tub.
Chez Les Rosées, Nigerian Segun Oyeleye is your gracious host, and if you book ahead, Lhobet will prepare a tasty three-course dinner (possibly featuring his grandmother’s ratatouille recipe), served on your own candlelit terrace. Breakfast is a feast of peaches, wild strawberries and home-made breads with fruit jams.
The pool is ideal for a refreshing dip during the hotter summer months and there are plenty of cozy relaxation areas around the property to catch up on your reading or boost your tan. (Weather permitting of course). Soothing spa treatments are offered in the tranquil treatment room.
Suites from €190. For reservations and enquiries please telephone +33 (0) 492 92 29 64 or visit http://www.lesrosees.com.
For more information on any of the above recommendations, why not contact a member of the Sunseeker La Napoule team, who will be glad to assist you:-
Sunseeker La Napoule | Port de Plaisance | 06250 | Mandelieu-La Napoule | France | + 33 (0) 493 93 93 67 67 | lanapoule@sunseeker.fr | http://www.sunseeker.fr
