Ah, the French Riviera, or as the cool kids say, the Côte d’Azur — the epitome of coastal chic and extravagant living. Armed with my sunglasses, sunscreen, and an insatiable craving for some sun, sea, and beach time. I was excited for a change of scenery and ready to embrace the glitz and glam of this dreamy destination.

As we’re on the French Riviera, the budget ultimately drove the decision on where to stay (yes, my reality), which proved quite daunting given the number of luxury resorts available.

As luck would have it, I found a darling 18th-century Bed & Breakfast, La Bastide du Bosquet. Located in a quiet neighbourhood of Antibes and within walking distance of town and local beaches. It was perfect! Anaïs was our lovely host of this family-operated B&B. With just four suites, it was the ideal spot to call home for three days. And it didn’t break the bank!

Breakfast was an absolute joy and served in the garden, accompanied by our host’s entertaining conversations and the best coffee ever! It was such a treat to stay at La Bastide du Bosquet; definitely, a highlight.

Antibes – Around Town

To our surprise, Antibes turned out to be much larger and livelier than we anticipated, especially when the evening rolled in.

We walked along the promenade towards the harbour and through the winding streets of the old town, discovering the vibrant heart of Antibes. For a truly fun experience, check out the Antibes Market, which is open Tuesday to Sunday mornings from mid-June through August.

A delicious seafood dinner at L’Oursin completed our day, which is located in the lively Place des Martyrs de la Resistance. This bustling square is home to various shops and restaurants, including Ferni, which was another restaurant recommended to us. Sadly, there were no tables available. With that, make sure to reserve ahead.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence – Lunch at La Colombe d’Or

It’s a quick 30-minute drive from Antibes to the gorgeous little town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera. It’s a haven for attracting the famous, which is due in part to La Colombe d’Or.

Since its opening in 1920, La Colombe d’Or became a who’s who of visiting artists. Pablo Picasso, Mark Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Walter Kandinsky, to name a few. Subsequently, with their arrival, many artists followed suit, and the walls were soon covered by paintings, which were often exchanged for a stay or a few meals, creating an amazing art collection.

After learning about La Colombe d’Or, and its illustrious history, I had to book us in for lunch! Which, by the way, was amaaazing, further checking off another box of fabulous places to visit. However, my only regret is not reserving a hotel stay, even if just for one night. The pool alone had my jaw dropping!

Cap d’Antibes – Beach Day at Plage de la Garoupe

The beaches are crowded!

I’ll be honest; it’s a shit show trying to claim a postage-stamp spot at the public beach. However, most beaches of the Côte d’Azur are private and pricey. As much as I would have liked to splurge on a fancy sunbed with a pretty little white umbrella, the voice of reason kicked in. So instead, we decided to save our euros for a later treat.

And yes, I had sunbed envy, but, hey, they were crammed on their beach too…

Cap d’Antibes – Après la plage (aka our treat)

After soaking up the sun at the beach, we hit the road for a coastal drive—in search of a special spot for happy hour and a perfect way to end our trip.

En route, I spotted the renowned Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, an exquisite chateau with sprawling lawns, gorgeous gardens, and an infinity pool carved into the rock with unbelievable views. Ya, no, we didn’t stop there…

We continued our drive, passing a few smaller beaches, which were much more peaceful than the one we had just left. Eventually, we made our way to the Belles Rives, a beautiful ocean-front resort and once home to F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda from 1925-1926. The hotel has a great vibe, and if you’re a bit of a history buff, you will love this.

I loved our three days in Antibes. However, the French Riviera has so much more to explore we hardly scratched the surface. Wish we had more time. Until next time, Côte d’Azur!