Cannes Food Guide: Unique Eating Experiences

From Michelin-star restaurants to family-run bistros, Cannes boasts many wonderful places to dine. And, beyond the traditional wine-tasting and crêpe-eating that you’d expect from the French Riviera, the city (and its surrounding countryside) also offers some more unique opportunities: take part in a chocolate workshop; have dinner in a chef’s home; or learn how to cook a three-course meal with local ingredients.

Eat socca, the local chickpea pancake

Socca is a local delicacy, more commonly found down the road in Nice or on the Italian Riviera. It’s made from flour, olive oil and water, which are mixed together in a batter and cooked in a flat copper pan, much like a crêpe. Legend has it that locals poured the batter on the heads of the invading Turkish army in the 16th century when they ran out of ammunition. Similar dishes can be found along the Italian Riviera, in India and in Gibraltar, where it is the national dish. Hunt some down at the Marché Forville, where it has been sold from carts since the 1920s; it’s the French Riviera’s version of fast food.

1. Join a cooking class at La Serviette Blanche

Market, Restaurant, French

JCTP0068-French Food-Cannes-France-Fenn--47

La Serviette Blanche is the leading culinary business in Cannes, and has won lots of awards (it was a 2017 Luxury Travel Guides winner). Tour the local market with the restaurant’s chef, Eliane, then learn how to cook in a hands-on class located in a luxury apartment in the centre of town. Menus range from tapas to French appetisers and Mediterranean cuisine. La Serviette Blanche also offers a chance to eat at a private chef’s table, where guests can enjoy an apéritif, followed by a three-course menu paired with wine. It’s a great way to enjoy top-quality food in an intimate atmosphere without having to lift a finger.

3. Buy unique chocolate creations at Jean-Patrice Paci's chocolate creations

Candy Store, French

Jean-Patrice Paci’s store is a chocolate lover’s dream. Paci makes extraordinary and unusual chocolate delights, such as cheese made from chocolate that looks so much like the real thing, you’ll try to pair it with bread. The shop has two outlets – one in Nice and one in Cannes. It’s not to be missed for the novelty value, but also because these chocolate creations make unique presents that you can’t find anywhere else.

4. Learn how to make chocolate delights at Entre Mes Chocolats

Pastry Shop, French

Just a 40-minute drive out of Cannes, you can learn everything there is to know about chocolate in the small town of Vence. Chef Patrice Arbona’s passion for chocolate shines through and he has been teaching chocolate workshops since 2010. Arbona also runs Easter classes where you can make Easter eggs in different shapes and sizes. Alternatively, he can teach you how to create pralines and pâtes d’amandes (almond delights). If you’re lucky, you may also get the chance to try a blind taste test of different chocolate flavours, hot chocolate and chocolate ice cream. Check out the Facebook page for up-to-date times and opening hours.

5. Notes de Cuisine

Patisserie, French

La Colle-sur-Loup is about a 40-minute drive from Cannes and is well worth the journey for the cookery courses organised by Notes de Cuisine that take place here. In small groups of up to eight people, you will learn how to cook a three-course meal with local ingredients, then enjoy eating it in beautiful surroundings, drinking delicious paired wine. It’s a good option whether you are a beginner or an accomplished chef who just wants to brush up on new recipes. Notes de Cuisine use local ingredients from the region and can also cater for hen parties, birthdays or other special events.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.