When to Visit - Arts and Events

In May the whole world has eyes for this particular part of the south of France as Cannes plays host to its famous film festival. This is an exciting event, frequented by many celebrities from the world of cinema or beyond. However, aside from a very small allocation of tickets for French cinema organisations and local residents, there is virtually no access for members of the public to festival screenings or most official activities.

Cannes Dining

French chefs are universally acknowledged as the most influential exponents of fine cuisine in the world. Cannes is renowned as the most influential show-business city outside Beverly Hills. It therefore comes as no surprise to find the Hollywood lifestyle fused with incomparable cooking, in an enviable selection of immaculately presented restaurants.

Dishes loyal to the region are the pride of Cannes, with fresh fish and freshly cut herb salads the best example of exquisite simplicity. There is, of course, a wide availability of international cuisine, equally as tantalising as the French. However, choosing anything other than the superb local produce, at least in the first few meals, would be rather like visiting a champagne vineyard and drinking lemonade.

Cannes Tipping Advice

A service charge is usually added to restaurant bills throughout France. This information is always clearly stated somewhere in the restaurant's literature. However, as Cannes is synonymous with people who are not particularly financially challenged, it is not uncommon for diners to leave an extra gratuity. The amount must be at the discretion of the person paying the bill. However, it is important to emphasis that this is an arbitrary custom. It is recommended that taxi drivers and other service providers are given around 10% of the bill.