As you’d expect from a place that immediately conjures up images of glitz and glamour, Cannes spoils its visitors with a dazzling array of nightspots.
During the Cannes Film Festival exclusivity revs up several gears as Hollywood's elite flocks into town. Here’s a guide on where to go to rub shoulders with the rich and the famous, from swish nightclubs to sophisticated cocktail lounges.
On any given night, the crowd at La Baoli on Port Pierre Canto will include the likes of Monegasque royalty, yacht-hopping billionaires and Hollywood A-listers. So when the Cannes Film Festival rolls around each year, there is no hotter place to party than at this in-demand nightclub.
Temple-like doors open onto an Asian-inspired lounge. This begins the night as a place to dine on modern Mediterranean fare and sushi rolls while cocktails and champagne can be enjoyed on rooftop terrace Cloud Nine or on the open-air veranda, with tiki lamps, palm trees and white canopies.
But by midnight, the venue gives way to full-blown festivities. A club of La Baoli’s calibre unsurprisingly attracts a roll call of big name DJs, who get the international jet set up on the dance floor with hip hop and electronic beats. Looking for some exclusivity? Book ahead and bag a spot in the VIP room.
Ultra-luxe Gotha Club exploded onto the scene in 2011. Capable of hosting up to 2,500 revellers, it’s one of the biggest nightspots on the French Riviera and attracts the brightest stars in town during the fortnight-long film festival as well as throughout its glittering summertime season.
A private lounge bar and several VIP booths are arranged on different levels around a colossal dance floor while the crowd spills out onto an al fresco terrace. As for the décor, white chandeliers, tufted banquette seating and magnums of champagne scream Cote d’Azur glamour.
Located on Cap de la Croisette, Gotha Club is in a prime position to welcome the world’s elite as well as renowned music acts. Past artists who have performed here include Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg and P Diddy and Wiz Khalifa, David Guetta and Lil Wayne are just some of the names that have appeared on the bill.
Sleek and slick, Le Bar L’Amiral ranks among the best piano bars in France. No less could be expected from a watering hole belonging to La Croisette’s swanky five-star Hotel Martinez and the celebrities who come here for a drink during the film festival are sure to agree.
With Art Deco styling, photographs of movie stars lining the walls and bow-tied bar men, the venue oozes old-fashioned glamour. The live piano music playing most nights only enhances the ambience, with singing taking place out on the terrace during the summer months.
Come here to escape the more raucous nightlife of the Riviera and sit back and relax over a martini or whisky, joining a long line of famous faces who have frequented the bar over the decades.
A late-night piano bar, La Chunga is in the midst of a renaissance. Taken over by new management in 2013, the Cannes institution is currently reliving its glory days of the 60s and 70s from its central spot in the city.
Small, intimate and smothered in sophistication, the venue seduces with its soft lighting and cosy armchairs. An original Mediterranean menu ensures nobody goes hungry here before 11pm, then live entertainment revs up the party atmosphere with festivities in full swing until five in the morning.
Movie stars from the festival have been known to pack into La Chunga post-midnight, sampling signature whisky sours at the bar, keeping under cover at a dark corner table or throwing shapes on the dance floor.
Despite only launching in 2015, Chrystie has already made a name for itself among the well-heeled. Fusing cutting-edge cuisine, inventive cocktails and an ultra-glam party scene, it’s the ultimate bar-lounge concept for festival-goers looking for an upscale night out which ticks all the boxes.
Bite-sized culinary delights concocted by Lawrence Beaumont are served on huge sharing platters while cutting-edge cocktails are expertly shaken at the central bar. Then, as midnight approaches, the venue transforms into a vibrant showcase of live music and cabaret performances.
Enchanting all who enter is the innovative décor which provides a masterpiece in modern Art Deco style. A bar topped in gleaming black marble sits beneath a cherry blossom light feature, emitting a rosy glow reflected in the artwork and exposed brick walls, and a gold DJ booth peruses the scene.
Nikki Beach has held court at the Cannes Film Festival since 2003, hosting premiere parties, industry events, charity galas, celebratory lunches and press junkets. Located just steps away from the glittering Boulevard de la Croisette, the pop-up never fails to draw in the major players of Hollywood.
Among the A-listers spotted at Nikki Beach Cannes over the years are Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Chris Pine and Robert de Niro. And when it’s not hosting a celebrity-packed bash, it’s open daily for lunch until late, serving up signature Nikki Beach dishes, cocktails and fresh DJ beats.
The pop-up is also adorned in the beach club brand’s trademark décor. Expect whitewashed wood, natural materials and plush oversized day beds for an ultra-luxe take on barefoot beach chic.
