01
Planning before arrival
From RSVPs to reservations, we map the week to your priorities before you board.
When In · Cannes
A confident week on the Côte d'Azur.
Whether you are experiencing Cannes Lions, the Film Festival, brand activations, beach houses, and/or the quiet moments in between, we've mapped your week, and made it personal.
YOUR WEEK, ORGANIZED
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
02
Hotels
Where to stay based on your meetings, panels, and dinners, not just star ratings.
03
Transportation
When to walk, when to call a car, and when to take the boat. Time and shade considered.
04
Restaurants
Reliable lunches, considered dinners, and the spots locals quietly keep for themselves.
05
Beach clubs
From legendary to under-the-radar, matched to who you're with and what you need.
06
Networking
Reminders, context, and warm intros that turn hallway moments into real relationships.
07
Brand activations
Worth the line, worth the detour, or worth skipping. We tell you straight.
08
Hidden gems
A natural-wine bar, a rooftop, a 6pm window on the Croisette. The week's small luxuries.
09
What to wear
By venue, by hour, by weather. Linen at lunch, tailoring at the Palais.
10
What to prioritize
If you only have two days, do these three things.
11
What to skip
Brand drops, long queues, dinners that don't pay back. We're honest about it.
12
How the My Cannes center helps
Your day, rebuilt every morning, quietly, around what matters most.
Neighborhoods
Where the week actually happens.
Cannes is small, but it is not one place. Here's how each zone feels, and who it suits.
Neighborhood
La Croisette
beach houses · hotel terraces
The seafront boulevard where the beach houses, hotel terraces and most brand activations sit during festival weeks.
meetingsnetworking
polishedbusy
WHEN IN note
Flat and walkable end to end in about 25 minutes; shade is scarce at midday.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Neighborhood
Le Suquet
old town · local restaurants
The old town on the hill — cobbled streets, small restaurants and the best view over the bay.
quiet dinnersgolden hour
quietlocal
WHEN IN note
Steep cobbles and stairs — not for heels or a tight schedule.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Neighborhood
Palais & Festival District
official programming · screenings
The Palais des Festivals and the streets immediately around it — official programming, screenings and badge-gated venues.
panelsofficial sessions
officialfast-moving
WHEN IN note
Everything here is within a five-minute walk, but security lines add time.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Neighborhood
Vieux Port
yachts · evening dinners
The old port, yachts and the restaurants that ring them — where a lot of the quieter evening business happens.
dinnersone-on-ones
relaxedclassic
WHEN IN note
A ten-minute walk from the Palais along the water.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Events & activations
What's on, and whether it's worth it.
Only what's still ahead. Past activations don't linger here.
Activation
Amazon Port — Cannes Lions 2026
Vieux Port · 2026 · Amazon
One of the most comfortable places to recharge between meetings. A favorite for creators, founders, and brand teams looking for a quieter place to connect.
meetingscoffee
WHEN IN note
Historical: Cannes Lions 2026 (22-26 June 2026). Not confirmed to return in 2027 - always check the brand's own channels before planning around it.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Activation
Meta Beach House — Cannes Lions 2026
La Croisette · 2026 · Meta
Home to creator conversations, AI demonstrations, Instagram, Threads, and Meta's latest creative tools throughout the week.
creatorsAI
WHEN IN note
Historical: Cannes Lions 2026 (22-26 June 2026). Not confirmed to return in 2027 - always check the brand's own channels before planning around it.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Activation
Inkwell Beach — Cannes Lions 2026
La Croisette · 2026 · Inkwell Beach
One of the most respected networking communities during Cannes, bringing together executives, creators, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders.
executivesnetworking
WHEN IN note
Historical: Cannes Lions 2026 (22-26 June 2026). Not confirmed to return in 2027 - always check the brand's own channels before planning around it.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Activation
Canva Creative Cabana — Cannes Lions 2026
La Croisette · 2026 · Canva
Hands-on workshops, creator education, and one of the most welcoming communities during Cannes.
creatorsworkshops
WHEN IN note
Historical: Cannes Lions 2026 (22-26 June 2026). Not confirmed to return in 2027 - always check the brand's own channels before planning around it.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Activation
Pinterest Manifestival — Cannes Lions 2026
La Croisette · 2026 · Pinterest
A beautifully designed experience focused on creativity, inspiration, and emerging consumer trends.
trendsinspiration
WHEN IN note
Historical: Cannes Lions 2026 (22-26 June 2026). Not confirmed to return in 2027 - always check the brand's own channels before planning around it.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Activation
Reddit Community Deli — Cannes Lions 2026
La Croisette · 2026 · Reddit
A relaxed environment focused on authentic conversations and community-led marketing.
communitiesbreakfast
WHEN IN note
Historical: Cannes Lions 2026 (22-26 June 2026). Not confirmed to return in 2027 - always check the brand's own channels before planning around it.
Verified by WHEN IN · Last verified September 2026
Where to stay & gather
Hotels, beach houses, brand spaces.
Beach Club
Bijou Plage
La Croisette · €€€
Long-standing family-run private beach, restaurant and cocktail bar at Pointe Croisette.
a slower lunchescaping the festival
chicrelaxed
WHEN IN note
Far enough east that it stays a locals' beach even in June.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsBeach Public
Plages publiques de la Croisette
La Croisette
The free public stretches of sand between the private beach concessions along the Croisette.
a free swimsunset
centralbusy
WHEN IN note
During Cannes Lions much of this seafront is taken over by brand activations - the public sections shrink but do not disappear.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsBeach Public
Plages publiques du Boulevard du Midi
Free public sand beaches running west from the port towards La Bocca.
a free swimmorning reset
localunfussy
WHEN IN note
The side of town where Cannes is still a normal seaside city during festival week.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsBeach Club
Vega La Plage
La Croisette · €€€
Private beach and Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of the Croisette, near the Palais.
beachfront meetinglunch near the Palais
polishedseafront
WHEN IN note
Walking distance from the Palais, which makes it a realistic lunch slot between sessions.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsEat & drink
Lunches that work. Dinners that matter.
Cafe
Armani Caffè
La Croisette · italian
Italian café-restaurant on the Croisette with an indoor room and an outdoor patio.
coffee meetingpeople watching
polishedcroisette
WHEN IN note
A civilised place to hold a morning meeting when every beach club is still being reset.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Astoux et Brun
Vieux Port · seafood · mediterranean
Cannes seafood institution serving oysters and shellfish platters since 1953, a few steps from the Palais.
dinner with a clientlate arrival
classicbustling
WHEN IN note
Open late and used to walk-ins, which makes it a reliable fallback when a festival dinner falls through.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Aux Bons Enfants
Vieux Port · french · provencal
Small Provençal kitchen on rue Meynadier cooking from the Forville market.
local cookingsolo dinner
unpretentiousneighbourhood
WHEN IN note
Tiny room. Turn up early or accept a late table.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Cannelle
La Croisette · mediterranean · french
Bistronomic brasserie on rue des Serbes cooking homemade dishes, a block from the Croisette.
walk-in lunchsolo dinner
bistroeasy
WHEN IN note
A block off the Croisette, which is usually the difference between waiting and sitting down.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
L'Éponyme
Palais & Festival District · mediterranean · french
Mediterranean and traditional French cooking on rue de Bône, off the main festival routes.
dinner away from the crowd
calmlocal
WHEN IN note
Far enough from the Croisette that you can actually hear the person opposite you.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
La Môme
Palais & Festival District · mediterranean
Chic Mediterranean dining room on rue Florian, a short walk behind the Croisette.
impressing someonegroup dinner
glamorousloud
WHEN IN note
Books out first during both festivals - reserve weeks ahead, not days.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
La Palme d'Or
La Croisette · gastronomic · mediterranean
Michelin-starred dining room inside the Hôtel Martinez, facing the Croisette.
celebrationclient dinner
refinedspecial occasion
WHEN IN note
The tasting menu is a full evening - do not book it on a night you have an 8pm party to reach.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsCafe
Le Café by Vesuvio
La Croisette · italian · mediterranean
Croisette brasserie and café with wifi and air conditioning.
laptop hourcoffee meeting
busycentral
WHEN IN note
Wifi and air conditioning on the Croisette itself - useful between meetings.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Le Cosi
Le Suquet · mediterranean · french
Gastronomic Mediterranean cooking on the main street of Le Suquet, with vegetarian dishes on the menu.
quieter dinnervegetarian options
intimateold town
WHEN IN note
Uphill from the Palais - allow fifteen minutes on foot and do not do it in heels.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Le Dauphin
Palais & Festival District · french · provencal
Traditional French and Provençal cooking with vegetarian dishes, minutes from the Palais.
fast lunch near the Palaisvegetarian options
simpleconvenient
WHEN IN note
Close enough to the Palais to work as a between-sessions lunch.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Le Jardin
french
Garden restaurant on avenue Isola Bella, away from the seafront.
long lunchoutdoor seating
leafycalm
WHEN IN note
Outside the festival footprint - budget a taxi rather than a walk.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsRestaurant
Nabucco
Vieux Port · italian · mediterranean
Italian and Mediterranean cooking beside the Forville market, with gluten-free and vegetarian dishes.
gluten-freevegetarian options
relaxedmarket side
WHEN IN note
One of the easier places to eat well when someone in the group has a dietary restriction.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsHidden gems
The quiet things only a local mentions.
Island
Île Sainte-Marguerite
Vieux Port
Twenty minutes on a boat buys you the only genuine silence available during festival week.
half a day offswimming
WHEN IN note
Check the last return sailing before you go - missing it is a very expensive mistake.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsCulture
La Malmaison
La Croisette
A quiet, air-conditioned room in the middle of the loudest street in Cannes.
thirty minutes alonea break from the sun
WHEN IN note
Small enough to see properly in half an hour.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsWalk
Le Suquet's old streets
Le Suquet
The view from the top reframes the whole week, and it costs nothing.
a walk that clears your headsunset
WHEN IN note
It is a climb on uneven stone. Flat shoes, not festival shoes.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Market
Marché Forville
Vieux Port
It is the one part of Cannes that runs on local life rather than the festival calendar.
a real morningbreakfast
WHEN IN note
Go early. By late morning the best of it has gone.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsFood Street
Rue Meynadier
Vieux Port
The cheapest good lunch in Cannes is assembled here, not ordered at a table.
picnic lunchbeach supplies
WHEN IN note
Build a picnic here and eat it on the public beach - it is the best value hour of the week.
Official source · Last verified September 2026
Open in MapsA guiding principle
I will never prioritize advertisers over you, bestie.
Every recommendation is based on your goals.