From morning to midday and evening ….
Getting around the Côte d’Azur just got a lot easier now that Uber has partnered with boat rental platform Click&Boat to launch a skipper-led boat booking service from mid-June until October. With Cannes, Nice and Saint-Tropez all en-route, and a fleet of approximately 4,000 boats at your fingertips, the only question is where to start? Here’s a suggested itinerary for a day trip along the coast.
ANTIBES OLD PORT
Begin the day in Antibes, one of my favourite spots for coffee and shopping. Try La Torref de Fersen, hit the beach at Plage de la Gravette, pick up provisions from Marché Provençal (Petit Monsieur is good for a quick espresso), then Click&Boat in seconds with a fleet of skippered vessels bookable in minutes.
ÎLES DE LÉRINS
Just 15 minutes off the coast of Cannes, Îles de Lérins are the Riviera’s best-kept secret with crystalline coves, pine-shaded shorelines and a 17th-century monastery making its own wine since before anyone heard of rosé season. Enjoy a swim off the back of the boat and explore the archipelago before setting off for Golfe-Juan. This sun-bleached fishing village has several waterfront restaurants for a leisurely lunch. Michelin-approved is the farm-to-table Bistrot du Port where its signature bouillabaisse for two is divine.
NAMMOS CANNES
Set off for Cannes and make your way to Nammos at Palm Beach on the Pointe Creosote. Now in its third season, the acclaimed beach club has introduced a new terrace, elevated pier, outdoor DJ booth and beach-facing bar. The kitchen serves Mediterranean flavours with Japanese influences, from fresh seafood to signatures like Aubergine Mille-Feuille and Spicy Crab Tartare. Enjoy in-house sets from midday, with live singers and five international DJs playing all summer long.
HOTEL BELLES RIVES
If heading back to Antibes, stay at Hôtel Belles Rives, famous as a haven for literary icons including Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. It’s also F Scott Fitzgerald’s former home where he began writing his final novel, Tender is the Night (1934) – in which the protagonist wears a Burberry coat. This season, the hotel’s Art Deco glamour has been reinterpreted through a Burberry lens; the brand’s signature check decorates the interiors across the hotel, including the original 1920s lift. Guests can even cool off with Burberry ice lollies on the famous terrace or at The Fitzgerald Bar. Throughout the summer, there’s a whole programme of Burberry-branded experiences, including waterskiing.
Should you want to stay in St Tropez, another legendary retreat with a new look is Belle Epoque landmark hotel COMO Le Beauvallon, whose former guests included Winston Churchill and Audrey Hepburn. It arguably boasts some of the best views and access to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez on the entire Côte d’Azur.
From a private jetty, guests can board a COMO speedboat for a complimentary eight minute transfer to St Tropez; a second boat offers lifts to the beach clubs of Pampelonne. Other facilities include a posh Shambhala wellness retreat and beachside dining spearheaded by world-renowned chef Yannick Alléno.
Even if you’re not staying, Beauvallon is open to visitors – make a beeline for the Rotonde lounge, a rooftop terrace where the views and vibe make for a great lunch spot. Afterwards, stroll around the gardens – a highlight is an intriguing architectural structure, the Toyo Ito Pavilion, formerly built for the 2002 Serpentine Gallery summer party. It’s based on the algorithm of a cube and is a striking space framing the views.
