Winter warmers in Antibes

When it comes to warm ambience in the winter-time, it is simply impossible to beat Le Brulot Restaurant (not to be confused with Le Brulot Pasta a few doors along). Downstairs you’ll find tables crowded between exposed stone walls and vaulted ceilings, a happy clamour of diners, and the whole place gently warmed by the wood-fired oven which cooks the famous crispy skin duck fillets, roast lamb, and delicious whole fish baked with lemons and olives. This is authentic Provencal food to warm your belly and your heart, and is best washed down with a bottle of good local red. A top spot that cannot be beaten for a rustic, delicious wintry meal.

Just because the weather is cool, doesn’t mean that you don’t want a view of the water while you eat. The Royal Antibes Hotel down on the seafront has a stylish café/restaurant serving excellent modern Italian food, with a huge open-air terrace for warmer winter days, and big glass windows in their restaurant so you can look out on the Mediterranean if the weather pushes you inside. On a sunny day you’ll see a few sailboats out skimming the water, but it’s also the perfect place to be on a wild and windy day when the palm trees whip their fronds in a fury and kiteboarders streak across the bay on the howling winds. No matter what the weather, the food coming out of the Cafe Royal restaurant kitchen is excellent and there’s a sense of Riviera glamour to this place that can be difficult to find in Antibes during the quieter months.

The cosy, family-run creperie, Cesar Caffe, is the ideal place to hunker down in winter, with French windows looking out over the street and terrace tables for the sunny days. Take a newspaper, settle in, and eat French savoury crepes ‘galettes’ loaded with oozy fillings and cheese, accompanied by a pichet of Normandy cider. This café is on a busy stretch of street just down from the covered market, so even in winter you’ll have some great people-watching, with locals stopping to chat to each other and the sounds of the bustling market carrying on the air. With good service and an even better atmosphere, this is a good choice for lunch.

For something a little different and to bring back those memories of springtime, La Taille de Guepe will not disappoint. Each dish is decorated with delicate flowers and petals that ensure you'll have an attractive dish in front of you as well as adding to the flavour of your meal. The setting offers a truly unique ambience with a pretty neon glow and birdcage style seating, perfect for those cosy autumnal evenings.

There’s nothing quite like sitting on the beach in dead of winter, feet in the sand, and looking out at the sparkling sea as you enjoy a glass of rose and a restaurant-quality meal in the warm sunshine. Unfortunately, none of the Antibes or Cap d’Antibes beach clubs remain open through the winter, but several do remain open for lunch year-round in Cannes - just two short stops away on the train. Head over to our Cannes winter restaurant guide to find out where you can take advantage of those perfect winter days that make every visitor instantly want to pack up their lives and move to the Riviera.

There are plenty more good restaurants open in the winter in Antibes, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on your wintertime favourites! Get involved and let us know in the comments.