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Cannes Lions is one of the most electric weeks in the industry calendar. The meetings? Never-ending. The ideas? Fast-flying. And the rosé? Free-flowing. But if you want to make the most of it, you need to know where to go to recharge, that isn't just the obvious hotel bars.
Our team has been to Cannes more times than we can count. Here are the hot spots recommended by our seasoned veterans.
You don't need to be a guest to make the Canopy by Hilton your go-to spot during Lions week. Sitting opposite the Old Port and just a five-minute walk from the Palais des Festivals, it's an easy anchor point whatever your schedule looks like. Head to the rooftop Marea Restaurant & Cocktail Bar on the 7th floor for panoramic views of the Bay of Cannes and the Lérins Islands, perfect for a sunset drink or a client catch-up away from the chaos of the Croisette. The ground-floor Café Crème does solid coffee and an à la carte brunch daily, either sit-down or to go. If you need to decompress mid-week, the spa offers day access with an indoor-outdoor pool facing the Mediterranean.
An institution since 1953, Astoux et Brun is the seafood brasserie in Cannes. Three generations of the same family have been running it, and the formula hasn't changed: enormous platters of fresh oysters, shrimp, lobster, and shellfish, shucked on the street, paired with a chilled glass of rosé. It's steps from the Palais des Festivals, which makes it perfect for a long lunch or a late-afternoon wind-down. Note: they don't take reservations, so arrive early or be prepared to wait – it's worth it.
Luigi has been a Cannes fixture since 1956, and a 2021 renovation by Parisian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi gave it a new life without losing its soul. Sitting directly across from the Hôtel Martinez on Rue Latour-Maubourg, it's the kind of place where dinner starts with live piano and ends somewhere closer to dancing. The menu leans Italian, homemade pasta, veal Milanese, a chocolate praline dessert you shouldn't skip, and the Bellinis and Negronis are exactly right. It's open Wednesday through Sunday evenings and can accommodate private events, which makes it a strong option for team dinners or client entertaining.
Not everything at Cannes needs to be a scene. La Petite Bohème on Rue des Frères Pradignac is the kind of casual spot the locals lean on, relaxed, unfussy, and a welcome counterpoint to a week of high-stakes lunches. Good for a quieter evening when you need to come up for air.
This one has a story worth telling at dinner. Da Bouttau is the oldest restaurant in Cannes, founded in 1860 by Alexandre Bouttau and tucked into the cobbled streets of Le Suquet, the old town. In September 1946, Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso sat here and discussed what would become the Cannes Film Festival. The menu is Provençal through and through, bouillabaisse, wood-fired meats, daube Provençale, crêpes Suzette flambéed tableside. Picasso, Sean Connery, and George Clooney have all made it here. It's a Michelin-listed selection, and the Cotton Club jazz lounge in the old wine cellar runs live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Cannes Lions rewards the people who show up prepared. Knowing where to take a contact for a real meal — not just another sad conference spread — is part of the job. We'll be there too. Come find us. Book time with the Akkio team.
Transform your campaign workflows with powerful AI that delivers measurable results.