Al: thank you for the link. Have any BP readers eaten in any of these restaurants?
If so, we'd love your impressions (and every detail ;-)
Cannes vs. Nice
For those interested in Nice this season, the NYTimes Sunday Travel section has an interesting article on cuisine Nissarde...the local food of Nice and where to get it while there. It's written by the Times "in house" chef Mark Bittman. Take a look....
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/travel/04choice.html
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/travel/04choice.html
QUOTE(Karen @ Apr 17 2006, 02:44 PM) 
Which one is your preference and why? If you have other favorite destinations in the Cote d'Azur, please post them here.
What about Grasse?
I always felt that the entire Cote d'Azur is a fabulous place. One of the main differences are the beaches! Many of the beaches, like in Cannes, have very nice sandy beaches, with fine sand. And other beaches, like that in Nice, the beaches are pebble beaches (Not fine little quarter inch pebbles, but large ones, up to maybe 1 to 1 1/2 inch ones). This makes for many people hard walking and better (paying beaches have wooden walking board laid out to get around the beaches). On the other hand the fine sand sticks to you. Even when you are dry, a lots of it sticks to your skin and the only way you can get rid of it is by taking a shower.
My vote goes to Nice!
BP Chuck
QUOTE(BP Jean @ Apr 17 2006, 07:09 PM)
Nice is much more varied and interesting, with museums, Roman ruins, art galleries, the Cours Saléya open-air market, good restaurants at all price levels. Cannes is, for me, a one-time visit, although people who want a good sand beach should head there instead of to Nice, which has pebbly beaches. Both cities have famous walks by the sea, the Croisette in Cannes and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The problem with staying in Cannes is that the traffic down from the autoroute into the town can be vicious; Nice sprawls right down to the road by the Promenade, making going to and leaving from the city to visit other areas easier.
Grasse offers an excellent folk museum and the interesting perfume factory; in rose season there's a lovely garden (and show) atop the main parking garage. A walk through the older part of the town can be pleasant, but our friends who live near have cautioned us to avoid that area at night. I have to say that I don't love Grasse the way I do nearby Valbonne.
Lets face it the Riviera has so much to offer from Monaco to Saint Tropez. Valbonne is a great village to visit especially on a Friday morning when the market is buzzing and full of bargains. He can play golf at the superb Valbonne Golf Club. Meet apres chez the best chef in the South of France, Alain Parodi. Eat on the terrace under centuries old plane trees, that alone makes Valbonne worth the detour. Lou Cigalon 4-6 Boulevard Carnot 00 33 4 93 12 27 07. Stay the night at the 17th century (modernised now!) Hotel Armoiries on the site of the former monastery, place d'Arcades. 00 33 4 93 12 90 90. Check everything out on http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Bon sejour from Gourmet BUZZ
I agree with Jean that Nice, with its museums, old town and varied restaurants has more to offer than Cannes but I prefer either St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat as a hub along the sea or St.-Paul for the hills.
Cannes for me is more than a one time visit. In fact, with a car I like to make it a hub to visit the surrounding areas like Mougins with its wonderful restaurants. Cannes is also a feast of open air restaurants surrounding the old harbor. As far as traffic is concerned I think that Nice doesn't do too badly competing.
Nice is my choice if one doesn't have a car. It's really a large city and has alot to offer as has been pointed out.
I like the old town area of Grasse. Too many old towns of the Riviera have been converted totally into souvenir shops. Grasse has managed to maintain some old fashion dignity.
Nice is my choice if one doesn't have a car. It's really a large city and has alot to offer as has been pointed out.
I like the old town area of Grasse. Too many old towns of the Riviera have been converted totally into souvenir shops. Grasse has managed to maintain some old fashion dignity.
Nice is much more varied and interesting, with museums, Roman ruins, art galleries, the Cours Saléya open-air market, good restaurants at all price levels. Cannes is, for me, a one-time visit, although people who want a good sand beach should head there instead of to Nice, which has pebbly beaches. Both cities have famous walks by the sea, the Croisette in Cannes and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The problem with staying in Cannes is that the traffic down from the autoroute into the town can be vicious; Nice sprawls right down to the road by the Promenade, making going to and leaving from the city to visit other areas easier.
Grasse offers an excellent folk museum and the interesting perfume factory; in rose season there's a lovely garden (and show) atop the main parking garage. A walk through the older part of the town can be pleasant, but our friends who live near have cautioned us to avoid that area at night. I have to say that I don't love Grasse the way I do nearby Valbonne.
Grasse offers an excellent folk museum and the interesting perfume factory; in rose season there's a lovely garden (and show) atop the main parking garage. A walk through the older part of the town can be pleasant, but our friends who live near have cautioned us to avoid that area at night. I have to say that I don't love Grasse the way I do nearby Valbonne.
Which one is your preference and why? If you have other favorite destinations in the Cote d'Azur, please post them here.
What about Grasse?
What about Grasse?