DINING

The French Riviera, known in French as the Côte d'Azur, is a famously glamorous destination for elite travelers who have a proclivity for pristine beaches in a blessed climate. The glorious Mediterranean Sea with its shores home to cluster pines, palm trees, a stunning array of landscapes, colors and scents is also a mecca of fine dining establishments.

If hunting for the ultimate dining experience is on your radar when traveling, you just might consider planning a trip to the French Riviera. LVH will fashion a custom itinerary for you including these four marvelous locations known to offer tempting fine dining.

L'Opéra, St. Tropez

The rich and famous have been flocking to St. Tropez since the late 19th century. That certainly hasn’t changed and today, the beautiful peninsula is renowned for its exclusive beach clubs, luxury mega yachts and exquisite fine dining establishments. It’s easy to overindulge on creamy tarte tropézienne and local rosé wine, but then you can work off those extra calories by wandering the stunning coastal path. For the embodiment of the most delicious dinner and unique entertainment in St. Tropez, put on your finest designer styles and get ready to have a sultry night out enjoying each other and the delectable cuisine – an infusion of superb French and worldwide cuisine – at L'Opéra. With all its Port de Saint-Tropez prestige, L'Opéra is the restaurant whose cool atmosphere attracts jetsetters who not only appreciate the fine dining, but also the premier ambiance. Relax with a cocktail before dinner on an oversized leather sofa or at the streamlined bar iridescent with mirrors. The ultra-chic white and gold color palette evokes luxury without ostentation. Be prepared for different shows that change every half hour or so. L'Opéra really gets going at around 11 p.m. where a young, energetic crowd is primed for late night partying into the wee hours.

Tempting your palate: A must-try is the half-smoked salmon with caviar and avocado. If you’re fond of seafood, we recommend the caramelized black cod with miso sauce and bok choy. Meat eaters will enjoy barbecued lamb chops with Provence herbs, harissa sauce with sweet spices. Dessert must definitely be the decadent Tropézienne maison avec glace vanille – the house Tropez pie with vanilla ice cream.

The Splendor of Villa Goyave

The most magical seafront estate awaits your presence in St. Tropez. Majestic Villa Goyave is one of the most luxurious St. Tropez villas imaginable. Just steps from the Cote D'Azur coveted shore, this home shines in a marriage of ultra-chic exoticism and contemporary elegance. Seven impeccably-appointed bedrooms accommodate up to 14 guests who will enjoy unrivaled spaces both indoors and out with a gym, steam and massage rooms, cinema and an elevator. An outdoor infinity pool and lovely terrace and patio overlook spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea in all its azure glory.

Le Cap, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is an exclusive community on the French Riviera that has been a vacation hotspot for the well-heeled dating back to the late 1800s. Its nickname, peninsula of billionaires, comes from the many historic properties owned by the ultra-wealthy. The gorgeous, quaint, and exclusive coastal community, known for its yacht-filled harbor and opulent villas, is home to only about 1,600 permanent residents. In the 1950s and 60s, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was a vacation destination for elite Hollywood actors like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Gregory Peck, to name a few. It comes as no surprise that Cap Ferrat as it is affectionately known, offers a myriad of fine dining options. However, Le Cap, in the Grand Hôtel du Cap Ferrat, is the only one with a beeline of people trying to get a reservation for the delicious creations of Chef Yoric Tièche. With a coveted Michelin star, Chef Tièche puts every ounce of inventiveness into his Provençal and Mediterranean cuisine. The menu changes with the seasons, reflecting the finest ingredients from local markets with a selection of the freshest fish, seafood and meats. Enhance your dinner with a grand cru from the Grand Hôtel’s list of 600 wines, representing the top vineyards of France and beyond. In warmer weather the outdoor terrace offers shady Aleppo pines, gentle breezes and beloved sea views.

Tempting your palate: For an appetizer, or the first wave as Le Cap calls them, you might opt for the slightly cooked Mediterranean red mullet fillet with squid, tomatoes and aioli. For your entrée, we recommend either the blue lobster with cheese and Masala with restaurant-grown zucchini and fresh almonds or a saddle of lamb with marjoram, glazed eggplant and fresh goat cheese with mint. If you have room for dessert, try the cannoli chocolate soufflé.

Magnifique Villa O

On an impressive incline in Cap Ferrat, there are so many reasons to gasp in awe at Villa O. Apart from being fabulously beautiful, this home provides some of the most jaw-dropping seascape views on Cap Ferrat. The home – which can accommodate up to 10 guests – includes an indoor hot tub, gym, a cinema room, library and bar. Outdoors you will find an infinity pool overlooking the ethereal blue sea, along with a patio and terrace for wonderful al fresco dining moments.

Yoshi, Monaco

Fine dining in Monaco reaches a whole new level. Restaurants here not only offer some of the best fare on the planet, but are also visually stunning. In the heart of French cuisine, a Japanese restaurant bears mentioning. Yoshi offers exceptionally subtle and innovative Japanese cuisine. With a soothing Japanese garden décor, the restaurant is in the heart of the Hôtel Métropole which is a part of the glamorous Carré d’Or. Yoshi – less than 100 meters away from the area’s luxury boutiques and the well-known Casino Square, Monte-Carlo – is distinguished by its Zen ambiance and elegantly flavorful dishes. Yoshi is the only Japanese restaurant on the Côte d'Azur to have been awarded a Michelin star. Chef Takeo Yamazaki and his team give the full measure of their talents to make this star shine. Enjoy nigiris, makis, sashimi, fish or meat cooked in teppanyaki in complete freshness, accompanied by the best sake, whiskey or Japanese green teas selected by Yoshi’s head sommelier. The restaurant opens onto a Japanese-inspired garden to diners’ delight.

Tempting your palate: Sirloin filet rolls; miso soup; sushi rolls; salmon California; sashimi, negima teppanyaki, fillet with vegetables; hand rolls and Wagyu sushi with foie gras. You could opt to try Chef Yamazaki’s Haru menu and let him choose sushi and sashimi items for you.

Many luxury travelers like to drop anchor and stay in Monaco for a while. It can be relaxing or full of adventure, but no matter which end of the spectrum you are on – whether you wish simply relax and perhaps take the luxury vehicle out for a road trip or instead want to dress in your finest, hit the casino and party until sun up, Monaco can provide it all and you can experience it from one of the finest Monaco luxury villas – Villa Paradise. With magical sea views and a white sand beach within walking distance, this ultra-contemporary home has it all. Right within the hills, Villa Paradise offers unparalleled 180-degree views over the Bay of Eze. A sensational outdoor heated pool extends from the main floor. You have an elegant outdoor space, including a rooftop terrace where you can relax with your favorite beverage and watch the stardust of a sparkling Mediterranean night sky.

La Palme d’Or, Cannes

Cannes is mostly associated with its prestigious film festival, but there is so much more to this strikingly beautiful city. Cannes has a glorious park, La Croix-des-Gardes, with more than 200 acres of lush grassland and vegetation. It also has some of the most amazing architecture, from lovely historic structures to modern opulent buildings. The city also has a healthy selection of fine dining restaurants, trendy bars and wonderful cafés, not to mention high-end Parisian pâtisseries selling homemade, state-of-the-art chocolate creations, macarons and desserts. You can find all these and then some at La Palme d’Or. The only restaurant in Cannes with two Michelin stars, La Palme d’Or offers a gastronomic journey in an exceptional setting with a view over the Bay of Cannes. Inside the Grand Hyatt Hôtel Martinez, fine dining reaches another level at La Palme d’Or. You will feel the elegance of a bygone era as you savor every bite of your meal in a grand Art Deco space. Chef Christian Sinicropi bases his menu on the principle of movement. Ingredients are embraced as being in constant flux and it is in this vein Chef Sinicropi explores new reams in cuisine. What you have at La Palme d’Or is a choice of movements among a symphony of offerings.

Tempting your palate: You can choose from the vegetal movement with three salty and one sweet offering; the movement of flavors and fragrances with subtle nuances featuring four salty and one sweet offering; the movement of flavors and fragrances with pronounced nuances with four salty and one sweet offering; and finally the grandest of them all – the immersion of movements with progressive nuances featuring seven salty and two sweet movements.

Sublime Villa Victoria

On a hillside overlooking Cannes, Villa Victoria awaits your visit with mesmerizing panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and Cap d’Antibes. Fabulous floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning mirror-clad pillars refract the natural light in open spaces. Eight remarkable bedrooms One of the salty “movements” at La Palme d’Or.can host up to 16 people. An exceptional in-home spa and sauna offer guests a world of relaxation in body, mind and soul, not to mention being able to lounge around the heated, outdoor pool or soak in the indoor hot tub. Villa Victoria provides the ultimate luxury respite while you are in Cannes.

When you entrust your luxury vacation plans to LVH you can be assured we will always find the best places for you to dine. We will also provide you with elegant, refined, private accommodations with full services and an itinerary that coincides with everything you hope your holiday will be. We will also provide support around the clock. We want to make sure every moment of your time away meets or exceeds your expectations. Whatever your getaway dreams are, we do our utmost to make them a reality. We invite you to reach out to an LVH client services team member who will start to plan your French Riviera vacation whether you are traveling to attend something specific or to delve into the culture, history or in this case, the culinary scene of the area.