I compiled a new list of some of my favorite places, both old and new that I love in the South of France. Some are my secret hiding places...

This is our guide to experiencing the Riviera the way we return to it every year—through art, fragrance, beautiful hotels, long lunches, hidden gardens, and unforgettable views.

Museums Worth Planning Your Trip Around

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Perhaps the most beautiful villa on the Riviera. Built by Béatrice de Rothschild during the Belle Époque, the pale pink palace overlooks both sides of Cap Ferrat and is surrounded by nine extraordinary themed gardens. Don't miss the Rose Garden.

Villa Kérylos

Inspired by an ancient Greek noble residence, Villa Kérylos transports visitors thousands of years back in time with marble columns, mosaic floors, handcrafted details and breathtaking sea views.

Fondation Maeght

One of Europe's great modern art museums featuring Miró, Giacometti, Calder, Braque and Chagall in extraordinary sculpture gardens.

Musée Matisse

Nestled among olive groves in Cimiez, this museum explores Henri Matisse's life and work on the Riviera.

Musée Marc Chagall

A peaceful museum housing one of the world's finest collections of Chagall's biblical works.

Musée Picasso

Located inside Château Grimaldi overlooking the sea in Antibes, where Picasso once worked.

Additional Museums

Musée Jean Cocteau in Menton and Villa E-1027, Eileen Gray's architectural masterpiece, are also well worth visiting.

A Garden Every Beauty Lover Should Visit

International Perfume Museum Gardens (Jardins du Musée International de la Parfumerie), Mouans-Sartoux

Just outside Grasse, these peaceful gardens are one of the Riviera’s hidden gems. Wander through fields of centifolia roses, jasmine, tuberose, lavender, and orange blossoms while learning about the flowers that have supplied the world’s greatest perfume houses for centuries. It’s a beautiful, sensory experience—especially from May through early summer when many of the iconic blooms are in season. 

Where We Eat

Gigi Ramatuelle

A Saint-Tropez institution overlooking Pampelonne Beach, Gigi captures the glamour of the French Riviera with a relaxed, sun-drenched atmosphere. Come for long Mediterranean lunches, fresh seafood, beautiful cocktails, and one of the liveliest beach scenes on the Côte d’Azur. Reserve well in advance during summer.

La Petite Maison, Nice

La Petite Maison is one of the Riviera’s most iconic restaurants and a favorite among locals, celebrities, and visitors alike. Located in the heart of Nice, it serves refined Niçoise and Mediterranean cuisine using exceptional local ingredients. Don’t miss the burrata with tomatoes, zucchini flowers, sea bass, or the famous cheesecake if it’s available. It’s the perfect choice for an elegant lunch or dinner after exploring Old Nice.

Rossana à La Spiaggia, Èze

A relaxed beachfront restaurant and beach club with homemade pasta and one of the prettiest stretches of coastline between Monaco and Nice. Get the pasta and the sardines.

Gucci x La Rose des Vents, Monaco

One of this summer’s most beautiful Riviera experiences, Gucci’s takeover of La Rose des Vents Monte-Carlo pays homage to the House’s iconic Flora motif, originally created in 1966 for Princess Grace of Monaco. Red-and-ivory parasols, botanical-print loungers, embroidered towels, and floral table settings transform the beach club into a living Gucci garden overlooking the Mediterranean. Reserve a waterfront table for lunch or spend the afternoon on a sunbed—it’s one of the most stylish places to experience Monaco this season.

Jondal at La Réserve à la Plage, Ramatuelle

The celebrated Ibiza restaurant Jondal, created by chef Rafa Zafra, has brought its signature seafood philosophy to the French Riviera with a summer residency at La Réserve à la Plage on Pampelonne Beach. Expect impeccably sourced Mediterranean fish, delicate crudos, grilled langoustines, and understated luxury served directly on the sand. It’s one of the most coveted lunch reservations of the season, where long afternoons effortlessly stretch into sunset.

Zéphyr, Monaco

Located in Mareterra, offering elegant Greek-inspired cuisine and sunset cocktails. 

Petit Loup Coffee, Èze Village

Exceptional espresso and specialty coffee tucked into the medieval village.

Loulou Pirate, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

An iconic Riviera lunch directly on the water. Incredible fish and salads.

African Queen, Beaulieu-sur-Mer

No Riviera guide would be complete without African Queen Beaulieu-sur-Mer. An iconic institution overlooking the harbor since 1969, it perfectly captures the timeless glamour of the Côte d’Azur. Set among gleaming yachts and Mediterranean light, it’s one of our favorite places for a leisurely lunch or dinner—order the tableside Niçoise salad and truffle pizza.

Lilian Bonnefoi, Antibes

One of the Riviera's finest bakeries and pastry destinations.

GAIA, Saint-Tropez

Mediterranean dining in a glamorous garden setting.

The Lourmarin Market

No trip to Provence is complete without spending a Friday morning at Marché de Lourmarin. Widely considered one of the most beautiful markets in the Luberon, it fills the village’s shaded streets with seasonal fruits and vegetables, fragrant lavender, fresh flowers, local cheeses, olive oils, honey, artisan ceramics, linen, and Provençal specialties. Arrive early, before the crowds, then wander the boutiques before settling into a café for lunch beneath the plane trees. The market takes place every Friday morning year-round in the heart of the village.

If you’re visiting in summer: don’t miss the Tuesday evening Producers’ Market at La Fruitière Numérique. Local farmers gather with just-harvested produce, artisan cheeses, wines, flowers, olive oil, and regional specialties in a relaxed setting that celebrates the flavors of Provence. It’s one of the most authentic ways to experience the Luberon after the daytime crowds have disappeared.

Hôtel du Couvent, Nice

Hidden within the winding streets of Old Nice, Hôtel du Couvent is one of the Riviera’s most beautiful new destinations. Set within a meticulously restored 17th-century Catholic convent, the hotel honors its monastic heritage while embracing a philosophy of understated luxury. Peaceful cloisters, medicinal gardens, quiet courtyards, and thoughtfully restored historic spaces create a sanctuary that encourages you to slow down.

Even if you’re not staying overnight, it’s worth visiting for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon coffee beneath the cloisters. The culinary program celebrates seasonal Mediterranean ingredients, many sourced from the hotel’s own gardens and farm. One of the highlights is the naturally fermented sourdough bread, baked fresh each day in the hotel’s traditional bakery using ancient grains and time-honored techniques. Pair it with cultured butter, local olive oil, and seasonal vegetables for a meal that feels beautifully simple.

For beauty lovers, Hôtel du Couvent is a destination in itself. Wander the herb gardens, enjoy the tranquil wellness spaces, and experience a slower rhythm inspired by centuries of Catholic monastic life, where nature, nourishment, craftsmanship, and restoration have always been at the heart of daily living.

The Best Spas on the Côte d’Azur

If there is one thing LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault has mastered beyond luxury fashion, it’s hospitality and wellness. His hotels consistently house some of the finest spas in Europe, where treatments are elevated by exceptional therapists, impeccable service, and an unparalleled sense of tranquility. The therapists at the Dior Spa at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc are among the most skilled you’ll find anywhere, combining intuitive massage techniques with Dior’s signature face and body rituals in a breathtaking garden setting overlooking the Mediterranean. The experience is restorative in every sense and is worth planning an afternoon around. 

In Saint-Tropez, the Cheval Blanc Spa offers an equally unforgettable wellness experience. Nestled beside the sea, its serene treatment rooms, hammam, snow shower, and bespoke rituals create the perfect escape after a day on Pampelonne Beach or wandering the village. While the spa features exclusive Guerlain treatments, it shares the same uncompromising standard of service and refinement found throughout Bernard Arnault’s collection of hotels. If you’re looking to indulge in one truly exceptional spa day on the Riviera, these two should be at the top of your list. 

Don't Miss

• Sunrise walks along Cap Martin.

• The coastal path to Paloma Beach.

• The Antibes morning market.

• Golden hour in Saint-Paul-de-Vence after Fondation Maeght.

• Monaco at sunset.

• Artisan boutiques in Èze.

• An afternoon exploring Grasse and the birthplace of French perfumery.