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Dining in Europe > Cannes Cannes is very cosmopolitan, and very few residents are originally from the town. A lot of tourists following in Lord Broughams nineteenth-century footsteps have chosen to make Cannes their home. No surprise then that a culinary journey in Cannes is a voyage in itself. Choose between Italian, Creole, Armenian, American, Greek and Mexican food; but if you prefer rustic French, theres plenty of that too. Here is a quick run down on Cannes cuisine - traditional gastronomic fare at the local exotic brasseries, fine ice cream and confectionery shops, not forgetting the tea rooms and cafés where you can simply have a drink. Something for all tastes, guaranteed. Lets go against tradition and begin with the best. There are four restaurants which share this reputation: La Villa des Lys, La Palme d'Or, le Royal Gray and the Belle Otéro. At this level of excellence, it is difficult to recommend one over the other. You can decide by choosing which palatial hotel you wish to eat in, as these four renowned restaurants are to be found in the Majestic, the Martinez, the hôtel Gray d'Albion and on the seventh floor of the Carlton. In the neo Etruscan décor at the Villa des Lys , the young chef Bruno Oger, a modern day Merlin, will enchant your taste buds. You only have to utter the names of the dishes to be won over: oven roasted bass and risotto with black olives and golden fennel, or knuckle of pork with sage or mild spices The internationally renowned Palme d'Or hardly needs an introduction. Christian Willer, the talented chef of this establishment, expertly prepares regional dishes: cold coconut soup with truffles, Saint Pierre with tomatoes, olives and courgette flowers, spicy shrimps with cannelloni and a vegetable ratatouille. Even though these ingredients are common in the region, they are seldom prepared with such refinement. The luxurious and modern hôtel Gray Albion also offers a first rate meal at the Royal Gray. Michel Bigot has replaced Jacques Chibois as chef here, and the food remains delicious. Only the best produce is used and the chef has a remarkable sense for combining different flavours. Try the warm salad of lobster with ceps, creamy mushroom soup and foie gras. The décor is also very stylish. As for the Belle Otero, on the seventh floor of the Carlton, cuisine from the south of France prepared by chef Francis Cheveau reigns supreme here. For a more low-key evening, the following places, although less prestigious, are guaranteed to please. A meal at the Case Créole combines flavours from different lands. At Chez Freddy Spain takes pride of place (but the restaurant also prepares good dishes from Provence); Mexico Loco serves crazy Mexican fare; the Piazza and Vesuvio offer good Italian cooking; Out of Africa serves strange and fascinating specialities; the Restaurant Arménien is an original spot right in the middle of the Croisette. The Canna Suisse restaurant offers tasty Swiss specialities at a very reasonable price. Finally for fans of American cooking, Planet Hollywood is only a few steps from the Palais des Festivals. If exotic cuisine does not tempt you, book a table at the Bec Fin, whose dishes, price and service are all of the best quality. Another good place for traditional French cuisine is the Auberge Provençale which has old fashioned recipes. Those who like fish should go to the famous Mal Assis, or for a more typical fish restaurant the Poisson Grillé. As with the majority of port towns Cannes has a large choice of fish and seafood restaurants: Comptoir de la mer, Coquille, etc. If you simply want to quench your thirst with a good drink or ice cream, there are many places to try. Firstly the Farfalla has a pleasant terrace and a great atmosphere. Morrisons has very nice décor and some of the best beers in Cannes. This bar attracts a foreign clientele and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. The Caffé Roma (which also offers some good Italian dishes) is a delight in summer or winter, that is if you are lucky enough to find a seat. And for those who prefer tea rooms there is Rohr, a classic, and Haagen Dazs, which will seduce Swiss chocolate lovers in a different way - with its pancakes, and cookie or walnut and pecan flavoured ice creams. For those who prefer not to eat out, there is an excellent choice of take-aways. A favourite is Aux Bons Raviolis - perhaps the best fresh pasta place in Cannes. Those with a taste for fine food should try the Pause Caviar. The Comtesse du Barry offers a nice compromise between luxury and simplicity. Finally for a good wine to accompany all these dishes takes a trip to Nicolas. Prices in the restaurants and bars include service charge. Now all you need do is feast under the palm trees... Entertainment in CannesThe Mediterranean sun and sea of Cannes, so vital to the palm trees that cover the local landscape, also nourish the festive and lazy tendencies of visitors. You're in Cannes, after all ' enjoy yourself! Start with the white sandy beaches. They may not be the worlds biggest, but they have their advantages. Most, like the Plage du Martinez (Martinez Beach) and the Plage Calao (Calao Beach), are private, which means they feature all the comforts you can dream up, from sunbeds and refreshments to waterskiing, parasailing, and jetski excursions. The water, of course, is blissfully warm, at least in the summer. After a long day of sunbathing and relaxation, its time for a bite to eat and an evening of dancing in one of Canness numerous and varied nightclubs. The Cat Corner attracts a diverse, young and raucous crowd, always prepared to party until dawn. The same can be said of the gang at Farfalla, where a friendly atmosphere is the key to a great party; the same holds true for Opéra (not the opera, but a club called the Opera), Janes Club at the Gray d'Albion Hotel, and Jimmy'z, a bourgeois discothèque with a huge dance floor. For the visitor looking for something a bit more highbrow, the handful of museums in Cannes, while disappointing in number, are of uniformly high quality. On the Croisette, you will find the gorgeous Malmaison, a former private mansion featuring a program of temporary art exhibits. At the summit of Le Suquet is the Musée de la Castre (La Castre Museum), which boasts a panoramic view of the city and environs, as well as collections highlighting Mediterranean archaeology and musical instruments from the world over. Just next door is the church of Notre-Dame de l'Espérance with its intriguing ex-votos (commemorative plaques and artworks) giving thanks for the Virgins favors. On the island of Sainte-Marguerite, one can visit the prison where the Man in the Iron Mask was held, and admire a significant collection of nautical pieces, at the Musée de la Mer (Museum of the Sea); note, too, the newly restored Roman frescoes. Finally, Cannes also boasts a number of art galleries to rival any in France, including the contemporary-minded Galerie de Cannes (Cannes Gallery), the Galerie Alexandre Léadouze (Alexandre Léadouze Gallery) and the Atelier Bernard Payet (Bernard Payet Studio). But maybe, seeing as you are in a film buffs paradise, you'd rather catch a movie. Cannes has no enormous multiplexes, but the three main local cinemas - the Arcades 3, the Star, and the Olympia - are all near the center of town And don't forget that Cannes hosts festivals all year round: the Festival de la Plaisance (Pleasure Boat Festival; note, too, that yachts and small craft may be rented all year round in Cannes at Yacht and Boat, Camper et Nicholsons, and other establishments), the Festival International du Film (International Film Festival), a wonderful Festival de Danse (Dance Festival) whose scope is ever increasing, and the MIDEM are just a few of the events held here annually. Finally, Cannes is ideal for a shopping spree, notably in the numerous boutiques on the Rue d'Antibes and the Boulevard de la Croisette. The clotheshorse will find both prestigious houses like Chanel and familiar chains like Zara. Fashion is well served in Cannes. With its attractions for every taste and every budget, Cannes is fun for everyone! Dining in Europe > Cannes
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