Antibes is an incredible summer destination for foodies and is one of my favorite towns on the French Riviera. It’s where I passed my boat license a few years ago and I’ve been lucky enough to visit most years since I’ve been living in France. The old town features a very large port and there’s plenty of fishermen bringing in incredible fish and seafood from the local waters. Thankfully so much of the catch gets sold directly to local restaurants and boy, you’ll taste it.
If you’re visiting Antibes want to avoid the tourist traps (which unfortunately, there are many) then read on to discover the best restaurants in Antibes.
If you want to discover more about the beautiful town then check out my complete guide to Antibes. Save this post to read later!
Where to Eat in Antibes France
Just like the surrounding towns of Nice and Cannes, there’s plenty of really good eating spots in Antibes. The following list is in no particular order and are restaurants that I’ve found to be consistently good. I think you’ll eat well here and in my opinion, these are the best restaurants in Antibes!
La Petite Escale
La Petite Escale is a gem of a bistro that’s hidden away in the back streets of the old town. It’s small with only the owner-chef in the tiny kitchen in the back. Despite the size of the kitchen, they serve up some incredibly complex and delicious food. It’s all classic French food here with a few international twists peppered around the menu. Like any good restaurant, the menu changes with the seasonal produce that comes in from their local suppliers.
The menu, like the kitchen, isn’t big so i’d recommend not coming with fussy eaters. If you’re a fish and seafood fan then you’re in for a treat here. Locally caught fish is treated with respect and despite the complexity of the main dishes, I’ve always found the cooking to be spot on. During my last visit I ate an incredible dish of Seabass, Monkfish and shrimp that were all flaky, moist and tender.
An entree of bream ceviche was impressively done and really hit the spot. Fresh, zingy and perfectly seasoned – it’s the kind of food you want to be eating the in the summer.
It is very popular with locals so i’d definitely recommend reserving in advance.
What to know before you visit
- Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Open for lunch and dinner
- You’ll need to reserve in advance during the summer
- They have a fixed price menu
- They close for breaks occasionally – check out their Facebook page for updates
Address: 30 Rue Fourmillière, 06600 Antibes
Tel: 09 87 39 94 98
Website: https://www.facebook.com/restaurantlapetiteescale/
Le Vauban
Le Vauban is another fantastic restaurant in the centre of the old town. They serve up really good, refined Provençal classics. Don’t expect a modern vibe here – the decor is very old school and classical in the small restaurant. You’re more likely to find older locals here than the younger crowd! That said, the food is superb – it’s unpretentious yet modern and very accessible.
I always go for their ‘Menu Vauban’ which includes entree, main and dessert for €49 per person. I should add that it also includes amuse bouche (snacks), a pre-starter and a pre-dessert. It’s really good value for money in the Riviera! Their menu does change with the seasons and what’s available from their suppliers.
A beautiful cucumber gazpacho starts off the meal followed by a killer asparagus, octopus and grapefruit tartlet. The star for me is their incredible veal, Niçoise vegetable and panisse (chickpea fries) dish – it’s the south of France on a plate. Veal fillet is served blushing pink and finished with a veal jus. The vegetables are a tiny dice and are perfectly seasoned (think a modern ratatouille). The panisse are crispy and oh so soft in the middle. Delicious.
For dessert they have a classic chocolate mousse. It’s not the basic kind however. The mousse is incased in a chocolate dome and finished with a side of maple syrup ice cream.
Finally their wine menu is small but has some incredible bottles from across France that are very reasonable given the quality. They mainly have small producer wines that are frankly given the price point, sublime.
What to know before you visit
- Closed Mondays and Tuesday
- Open for lunch and dinner but note that their last table is early (12-2pm, 7-9:30pm)
- You can reserve online
Address: 7b Rue Thuret, 06600 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 34 33 05
Website: https://www.levauban.fr
Don Juan – Chez Jules
Featured in the Michelin guide, Don Juan (part of 3 restaurants opposite each other in the same group), is a great spot to try traditional Provencal food in the old town of Antibes.
To clarify, Don Juan is the more refined restaurant of the 3 with Chez Jules serving up simpler bistro style food. The third restaurant features Italian inspired dishes.
The façade of all 3 restaurants is very old Provencal and each table outside decorated with a container of very fresh looking vegetables.
The food is relatively simple but very done well. Cod fillets are steamed and served with an Aïoli (garlic mayonnaise) and local, steamed vegetables. Seasonal courgette flowers are stuffed with a ricotta & tomato mix and served with fried courgettes and courgette purée. Their fish ravioli with truffle are well done and come with a killer seafood bisque.
What to know before you visit
- Closed on Wednesday and Sunday evenings
- Open for lunch and dinner (12-2pm, 7-10:30pm)
Address: 17 Rue Thuret, 06600 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 34 58 63
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ledonjuanantibes/
Chez Mô
There’s plenty of spots to eat great, local seafood in Antibes and I think Chez Mô is up there. Located next to the Square Albert 1st (at the end of a very nice coastal walk), its expansive terrace offers views across the bay to the headland of the Cap. It’s a perfect spot for a glass of wine and oysters watching the sunset for apéro.
The original restaurant started in 1989 and was reinvented in 2014 finally becoming Chez Mô named after the current owners father.
Their expansive menu features a massive variety of locally caught fish dishes, seafood and home made sushi. There’s their classic dishes that stay on the menu year round including grilled fillets of Turbot, Sea Bream and John Dory with varying accompaniments. I’d recommend taking their locally caught whole fish that can cooked to your liking (grilled, steamed or ‘Meunière’) and usually (depending on the size) can be shared.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day of the week
- Food served non-stop throughout the day
- You can reserve a table online
Address: 46 Bd Albert 1er, 06600 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 34 33 54
Website: https://www.chezmo-antibes.fr
Maison de Bacon
If you’re looking for a tasting menu/fine dining experience in Antibes then Maison de Bacon is a killer option. Located south of the town on the Cap d’Antibes, it’s not somewhere where you’ll be able to walk to but it’s certainly worth the excursion.
The classy restaurant has a beautiful view across the bay and it’s somewhere where you’ll want to stay hours. I’d definitely recommend asking for a table on their semi-open, shaded terrace – the views are incredible!
As you’d expect the food is mainly fish based and it’s superb. It’s completely a la carte at Maison de Bacon although they do have a great value, 3 course set-menu for 69€ at lunch times. Entrees include a rich, complex fish soup (which I’d recommend instead of ordering their Bouillabaisse) and also a stunning seasonal fish (because you don’t know what will be caught that morning!) carpaccio.
For the mains I always go for their locally caught, fresh fish. You’ll have a choice of Seabream, Seabass, John Dory, Turbot or Rascasse (a Mediterranean rock fish). These are cooked to your liking and served with a side of your choice.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day of the week
- Open for lunch and dinner (12-2pm, 7-10pm)
- You can reserve a table online
Address: 664 Bd de Bacon, 06160 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 61 50 02
Website: https://maisondebacon.fr/en/
Plage Keller – Le César
Plage Keller has to be one of my favorite spots on the Cap d’Antibes (the headland that’s south of the town itself). It’s about a 20 minute drive or taxi from the town and for, it’s well worth the trip. It’s perhaps not the most gastronomic spots in this guide but the food is well done and the ambiance is fantastic.
Featured in our Best Beach Clubs in Antibes guide, the spot is a fantastic place to come to chill out on a sun lounger and have a spot of lunch. It’s also a fantastic night time spot and gives incredible views out towards Nice and even towards Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
If you’re coming for the food then you’ll be happy. There’s plenty of great meat and fish options on the menu and despite the area, I think it’s OK price wise (you can do a lot worse in the Riviera!).
Local John Dory is grilled and served simply with a sauce vierge (a kind of Provençal version of a chimichurri) and Veal chops are grilled to a perfect blushing pink, covered in a deluge of truffle and finished with a slick demi-glace.
What to know before you visit
- The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner
- You can reserve a table online (you need to call for the beach)
- If you want to reserve a sun lounger on the beach, you’ll need to book this weeks in advance during the summer
Address: 1035 Chem. de la Garoupe, 06160 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 61 33 74
Website: https://www.plagekeller.com
Want to discover more great restaurants in the South of France? Click to read my recommendation!
